The New Work Manifesto: 25 Ways to Make Work Happier and More Successful

by Bruce Daisley

‘Bruce Daisley is on a mission to change the world of work.’ The Times

In the course of a career at the helm of companies including Google, YouTube and Twitter, Bruce Daisley has become fascinated by the culture of the workplace. And in his hugely popular podcast Eat Sleep Work Repeat, he has talked with leading experts about how best to make our jobs happier and more fulfilling.

Now, in The New Work Manifesto, he will be sharing the fruits of his discoveries. Its succinct chapters range across all aspects of 21st-century office life, tackling the key questions and offering inspiration, empirically tested insight and down-to-earth practical answers in equal measure. Are lunch breaks for wimps, or do they actually make us more productive? Is it true that you can improve team performance simply by moving the location of the kettle or coffee machine? And what is a Monk Mode Morning, and why do people swear by it?

If you’re not happy with the status quo, if you think things could be done better, if you’re seeking greater fulfilment at work and a life that is a little less fraught, The New Work Manifesto will point the way.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Self Help, Productivity, Psychology, Management, Cultural

224 pages, Paperback

Published January 24, 2019

Reviews

[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Joy of work is an essential ingredient needed for an individual and company to succeed.

The customers will be happy only if the workers are happy at their work.

I remember an MNC that was the number one in the world by a massive margin in its field but had unsatisfied workers and poor work ethics. This, in turn, led to unsatisfied customers. This God complex by the company officials led to people quitting their jobs and the customers discarding the company as a whole. This company is not even in the top 10 list in the world today. This all happened within just four years. Everything started only because the workers were pressured and unable to enjoy their work. It is in this situation that books like this gather importance.

"There are things each of us can do to make our job, at the very least, a little more enjoyable. ”

Bruce Daisley tries to discuss many methods that increase the team performance and overall productivity of the company. There are many MNCs today where this book will be helpful as there are still many unsatisfied workers in many successful companies. If the company heads don't tackle this problem soon, many number-one companies today will not even be in the competition in just a few years.

This book will be useful not just to people working in big companies but also to those working in small companies or doing their own business, both big and small scale ones.

I must confess that I didn't find much new information in this book as I expected to get from it. Still, I liked the way the author structured this book. If you are someone who is interested to know more about motivation and productivity at work, this book will be a decent choice.


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[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be your bible for work

If you've reached a point in your work life where you're stuck in a rut, or maybe you lead a team and need some ideas on motivating them, then this is the book for you.

In fact, even if you quite like your job but feel there's something else to make it better, read this book.

Packed with anecdotes, tips, genuine research and topped off with Bruce Daisley's cheerful, readable prose, The Joy Of Work is - as the title suggests - an utter joy.

If you read this and still end up complaining that your job sucks, you must be mad.

[Supinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written book that examines most facets of work culture and opines on mechanisms that can be utilized in order to make the work experience more enjoyable and conducive to productivity. Daisley makes many valid points in a book that he has assembled, in the main, from long-form discussions on his podcast.

My notes and the salient points that resonated with me are:

The work builds on Cal Newport’s idea that deep work is the key to fulfilling work rather than the hapless repetition of mundane tasks that fail to push individuals out of their comfort zones. Daisley calls his concept of deep work Monk mode.

Daisley focuses on a mechanism to spur creative thought – he attributes this concept to the author James Webb Young and his book A Technique for Producing Ideas. Webb Young states that “an idea is nothing more nor less than a new combination of old elements”. New concepts are created when we spot ways in which to amalgamate old ideas together to create something new. Daisley order 3 processes in which we can do this:
1. Gather raw materials
2. Digest the material
3. Unconscious processing

The importance of sleep is emphasised – like a lot of other reports published recently, Daisley underlines the importance of getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Deviating from this has serious consequences for our health and productivity.

This idea ties in with my own priorities in which I feel that no higher purpose is that of productivity. Productivity requires a balance of deep focused work and relaxing sleep. A mechanism should be sought in which high-quality focus can be attained – this could be in the form of simply putting on headphones.

The creation of a positive affect zone; in which simply by arriving to work with a positive attitude can ameliorate many of the problems associated with the workplace. This does not mean simply going along with issues that disturb values within you, but instead making sure that you reciprocate social capital in order to create a more conducive atmosphere to getting things done. Increasing social capital means approaching problems with a positive mindset, smiling, remembering people’s names – being present in all interactions and saying hello.

Research has indicated that being asked to recall happy events led to increased performance on a whole range of specific tests. Individuals who were more positive were more open to new ideas.

Breaking up complex tasks into a checklist.

Having a WHY, one can overcome any HOW. Victor Frankel was able to endure the horrors of the concentration camps because he had the why of wanting to live through his experience in order to tell others of the horrors that he has witnessed. To tell others the stories of those that had perished and would die. The trick here is to reframe a situation in order to get at the why.

Talk about issues and problems straight away; make sure that the leader kicks off by saying what he or she did wrong or could have done better.

Find out about the SCUM methodology.

When meetings are conducted only one member of the team/family should be allowed to speak at any one time.

Conduct a pre-mortem. Think seriously about what could possibly go wrong with the plan before you implement it.

[Deepak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of common sense backed up with research. The epilogue made me quite sad :-(

[P · Rating 2 out of 5]

- Decent read that was engaging and had inspiring case studies
- How practical are the tips? Daisley does acknowledge some challenges in implementing these shifts but I still don't feel empowered
- A lot of it feels like it needs to be from the top down
- Modern workplaces are distracting for sure and it made me a bit more conscious about what I can do to have a more productive workflow (a reminder)

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been running away from corporate books for a couple of years. This year I received 2 recommendations which partly washed away my disappointment. If 9 lies is a great book, but difficult to put into practice the next day as it deals mostly with concepts, this one is packed with things you can change immediatly. One might argue some of the practices are common knowledge. But then why fail in following them? I would anytime relisten to this book on Audible.

[Niall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across Bruce Daisley on Emma Gannon's Ctrl Alt Delete podcast and was eager to hear more, so I purchased this as an Audiobook. This was a great decision, as Bruce read with both clarity and enthusiasm - I just wished I had a pen and made some notes. I would have liked a few tips on enjoying your job for freelancers and those who work remotely or from home, as this seems to be the future of work, but Bruce tended to focus more on office culture and the office environment, which was still fascinating (there's a whole book to be written about the failure of open plan offices). We spend so much of our waking lives at work, and still in offices, so we might as well in enjoy it. Bruce shows us not only how to enjoy what we do, but to love it!

[Dancall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Work has become all-consuming for many of us. We get emails throughout the day and night, seven days a week (especially if you work for a global company), have too many meetings, and have too little time to be creative, let along productive. There are even people who boast about how many emails they write, how much time they spend in meetings, and even how little sleep they get.
This book aims to make work fun again, by both setting limits (a ‘Monk Morning’ where you are known to be out of contact), encouraging collaboration (move the kettle to encourage teams to meet), and finally be far more energised (keep teams lean - adding people to an already late project makes it even later).
I loved it. It all makes perfect sense, and is well presented with anecdotes, frequent footnotes, and clear action points at the end of each chapter. I'm looking forward to putting some of them into action!

[Daniel Hrenak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prijemna motivacia a obcas aj pripomenutie toho co v beznom pracovnom zivote spravit iba o kusok inak, aby sme sa v nej mali spolocne vsetci lepsie. Nie su to zasadne veci, kazda prinesie mozno len drobnu zmenu, ale postupne a ich vrstvenim sa da (asi) docielit vela.

[Divya Mangotra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very excited to read “The Joy of Work” but it just didn’t land for me. The advice was generic and stayed on the surface, and the book felt more like an extended blog post than something genuinely valuable. I will not recommend it.

[The Contented · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book with fun tips to think about.

[Karina Jacobus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very basic and light.
It could have been reduced to a 10% of its length without losing much of it's insights.
If light is what you are looking for, and you haven't read anything on the topic yet, you might enjoy it.
I was a bit disappointed.

[Kristin Smith Bemis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had some wonderful ideas and strategies to try; however, I got bored with the endless anecdotes. The ideas really apply only to the corporate world.

[إسلام جمال · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Informative Book

I liked the idea of Sociometric Badges.. sociometric badges combine traditional ID badges with smartphone technology, and make it possible to monitor workplace dynamics. Now, all the data behind an employee’s movements and interactions can be recorded and analyzed.

[Stuart Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excited to try some of these tips at work. Although probably not all transferable from business to healthcare.

[Liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mainly for business owners and managers capable of changing their approach to the environment and their employees. Anyways, some ideas were inspirational.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The HR community is currently obsessing over the future of work. What is it and how do we implement it.
Bruce Daisley had it pretty much figured out, pre COVID, in 2019 when he published this book.

This is a book packed with not only theories on how humans get great work done but also practical tips on how to implement it. Bruce details it all with clarity and enthusiasm - two things I love in a business book.

I also loved how he structured the tips/ topics under:
Recharge
Sync
Buzz

If you feel you have no control over your environment, try making incremental changes by picking one idea under each of these headings for yourself or recommend them to your team.
If you have a team you can make huge changes in how they feel about work by again starting with just one idea under each heading and implementing it well.

In summary though, this is a leaders and HR handbook for creating a positive environment with an ending that packs a huge punch and puts it all into perspective.

[Yuen Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books about workplace or management are usually not my leisure readings but once in awhile I make exceptions. This is a book I will recommend for all who works with teams and aspires to help make workplace a bit better for the team. Essentially the books is split into 3 sections, recharge (re-energies self at individual level), sync (build connection at team) and buzz (create work culture with psychological safety and positive affect).

I am sure a lot of us read these before in HBR and countless other management articles. It is good that the book stitches these ideas neatly together. The writing is economical, with short chapters with elaborations with various social science discoveries (again nothing new to most). Perhaps it’s because I am a believer in many of these practices about bringing joy to workplace (not that I do all of them well though). Still, one wishes more, especially managers to know and practice some of these. There are also mentions of remote working arrangements, which are timely.

“Everyone wants to do a job that they are proud of. We all love the sense of delight that comes from laughing with colleagues... I have revelled in finding evidence that will silence the bullies who say lunch breaks are for wimps, or who think workplaces should be filled with fear and anxiety rather than chat and laughter. The sadness is that so much of this evidence tends to be hidden away in specialist publications and research papers. What I’ve set out to do here is to share it”.

“Our satisfaction come from having autonomy (the freedom to get things done and to have a personal impact), mastery (a sense that we are getting better at it), purpose (an understanding of why we are doing the job), and a voice (a say in what happens)”.

“4 particular trigger traits (of a bad manger) were identified : incompetence, lack of consideration, secretiveness and uncommunicativeness”.

[James Ingram · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this feeling really cynical, but having read many good things about it, and looking for just some inspiration and benefit. It's really, really accessible. And really, really not complex. But that's the charm - it demistifies but is also shorn of bullshit and jargon. It's actually quite charming and readily applicable.
There's not the greatest range of sources, and I found the repeating references quite annoying, thinking there must be a wider, more compelling range of individuals, sectors, and literature to engage and consult. But actually, much of the examples and referencing is fine.
Two big questions though. First: how does any of this hold up in a time of enforced homeworking (and how relevant will much of it be the the new normal with some forms of blended but widespread home/ office working at all levels)? Second: it's probably quite easy to fundamentally undermine many of the suggestions thinking from the perspective/ constraining realities of working life for parents/ carers, and those who are disabled/ neuro-diverse.

[Sakib Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some days when getting through a day at work can feel like an epic struggle. You’ll be facing a fast-approaching deadline while coworkers seem to be lined up at your desk vying for attention, and the number of unread emails in your inbox is reaching staggering new heights. It all seems like more than any one person can possibly manage!

Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to reclaim peace of mind – and, while you’re at it, increase productivity. While finding ways of working undisturbed can be part of the solution, as author Bruce Daisley makes clear, there is a less intuitive part of productivity: the social aspect.
Yes, we need to block out distractions while we work, but there are limits to how much time we should spend working before the harmful effects of exhaustion set in. Plus, what we do when we take our much-needed breaks can also have a tremendous impact on our well-being and overall efficiency.

We need to develop a different work culture. One in which we have time and space in the mornings for working without distraction, for going on inspirational walks and having casual but productive conversations with coworkers. We need to put more emphasis on the social aspects of work by encouraging employees to take social breaks with their colleagues, where they feel free to open up and bond with one another. By working undistracted and being more social in the necessary breaks we take from work, we’ll be both happier and more productive.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

We need to develop a different work culture. One in which we have time and space in the mornings for working without distraction, for going on inspirational walks and having casual but productive conversations with coworkers. We need to put more emphasis on the social aspects of work by encouraging employees to take social breaks with their colleagues, where they feel free to open up and bond with one another. By working undistracted and being more social in the necessary breaks we take from work, we’ll be both happier and more productive.
Actionable advice:
Get plenty of sleep.
Sleep is probably the easiest way to boost your work performance, and it takes little effort. All you have to do is rest. 
Science has shown that enough sleep, typically 8 hours a night, not only improves concentration and performance the next day, but also makes you less likely to cave in to cravings for coffee or sweet treats. Plus, it just makes you happier. According to scientists, sleeping well reduces the amount of negative thoughts floating through your head. 
So start tonight! Turn off your computer and refrain from doing anything too stimulating after 9 p.m. Instead, relax and engage in soothing activities until you’re tired enough to lay down to sleep. Chances are, you’ll get a great night’s sleep. 

[Synthia Salomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We need to develop a different work culture. One in which we have time and space in the mornings for working without distraction, for going on inspirational walks and having casual but productive conversations with coworkers. We need to put more emphasis on the social aspects of work by encouraging employees to take social breaks with their colleagues, where they feel free to open up and bond with one another. By working undistracted and being more social in the necessary breaks we take from work, we’ll be both happier and more productive.
Actionable advice:
Get plenty of sleep.
Sleep is probably the easiest way to boost your work performance, and it takes little effort. All you have to do is rest. 
Science has shown that enough sleep, typically 8 hours a night, not only improves concentration and performance the next day, but also makes you less likely to cave in to cravings for coffee or sweet treats. Plus, it just makes you happier. According to scientists, sleeping well reduces the amount of negative thoughts floating through your head. 
So start tonight! Turn off your computer and refrain from doing anything too stimulating after 9 p.m. Instead, relax and engage in soothing activities until you’re tired enough to lay down to sleep. Chances are, you’ll get a great night’s sleep.”

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

TL;DR: Best read as a ‘top 10’ list, with minor sub-points; similar to Daisley’s previous work in ‘The New Work Manifesto’ (which should be a pre-cursor read to this; in fact should be included in the appendix of the book, for easy reference, as it underpins all of the points). Read if you’re stuck in a work rut, and only read the relevant point to you.

An interesting take on a modular book; practical tips and ideas on how to restore your personal joy in work. There is an assumption that you are in a decision-making capacity, or have agency, to be able to enact these changes. It does not take into account more traditional or hierarchical structures. One could make the argument that this book encourages people to discover their own unique voice within their companies, and encourages them to be a catalyst for change. If enacted, take caution for the costs of following through. Lastly, a lot of the anecdotes, and substantiations, tended to overpower the actual points which were trying to be made - but where they were metaphors (e.g. “Move the Kettle”), they proved helpful in unpacking the idea, and became the most stick of ideas.

The most powerful section is found in the conclusion, where Daisley unpacks his why through a personal work story that he and his team at large at Twitter had. Ultimately, the point that comes through clearly: the true joy of work is found in the company of extraordinary people that you get to keep around you, and if you find a place to ‘belong’ with them then all else should follow.

[Róisín Egenton Lawless · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listen to this as an audiobook, read by the author.

Overall, I think it would be useful for someone who is newly in a management role in a large or medium sized business or consulting firm.

What I liked: the author's research / evidence, stories & personal anecdotes, easy-to-navigate structure of book and suggestions of "what to do next". It was very easy to listen to, his enthusiasm for the subject is palpable and energising. Overall, it was a relatively short and engaging audiobook.

What could be better: this book is mainly for businesses (SMEs or corporate) and office-based work. A lot of the suggestions and concepts won't translate for other types of jobs like public service, where you may have less autonomy over decisions to implement ideas around office layout, use of headphones in work, etc. Many of the suggestions are also for office-based teams, and it would be useful to have more ideas in there for remote teams, particularly as many more people work from home since COVID. Also, I had heard a lot of these ideas before so didn't really feel I learned anything new, although it was useful to hear again as a reminder. I found some of it a bit repetitive.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was recommended this by a work friend and I found myself starting off fairly cynical but came around as I read more and more. I liked how the book has been arranged with three different sections that address different areas, namely recharge (focused on the individual), sync (focused on building team connections) and buzz (creating a positive and safe work culture). On first reading I've gained the most from the first section as work over the last few years has become almost all consuming for me so this had some great ways of taking that time back and in a logical way. The remaining sections also had some great ways to build and maintain good teams which I'll be looking to implement as a team leader and manager. I've certainly heard the core of some of these before but having them all pulled together with newer ones is rather handy. I've even started listening to Daisley's podcast to build on what I've read.

[Wulan Suci Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has managed to sum up very well for how to tips to solve relevant shared issue accross corporate people. But i think, ‘fall in love with work again’ has very wide definition, and it should hav been defined first in the beginning of the book. When I found myself finally need more (or less happier) about my work, I analyzed my issue and decided to change the company to gain more exposure and experience, yet I still feel something is missing eventhough I am in new environemt and I myself have practicing most of the tips in the book since begining.
However, The author does mention, on top of the tips he presented, the work should also provide authority, mastery, and purpose for us to feel happier. Which is helpful for me to frame why I still feel unfulfiled at work. So still good to read, especially for those who is experiencing burn out at work.

[Savannah Joiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS ABOUT WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO WHILE DOING YOUR WORK.HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR WORKING SKILLS. THEY ALSO TAUGHT ME STEPS TO TAKE TO MAKE MY WORKING SKILLS MORE CREATIVE AND MORE HAPPIER. THE BIG TAKEAWAY OR LESSON LEARNED IS DONT PILE EVERYTHING ON YOUR SHOULDERS TAKE BABY STEPS. ALSO MAKE YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS YOUR WORK GOOD. MEANING DONT GO INTO YOUR WORK SAYING ITS GOING TO BE BORING MAKE IT AS FUN AS POSSIBLE. I COULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE REASON WHY I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IS BECAUSE WE TEND TO GET OFF TRACK EASILY AND ALSO BECAUSE SOME WORK TEACHERS GIVE US IS REALLY BORING WORK SO WE HAVE TO MAKE A WAY TO MAKE TO MAKE IT MORE INTERESTING FOR US.

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce Daisley who has worked for some of the world’s biggest tech companies, Google, Twitter etc, provides his tips, based on actual research and experience, on how to create a job, a workplace that you feel happy in. Whilst I wouldn’t say there was fundamentally anything revolutionary contained within the book, the way it has been written almost gives you a manual of what you can do to make work more interesting and enjoyable. There are 3 main sections to the book, Recharge, Sync and Buzz, and contained within these sections are 30 ways of creating something from that theme. At the end of each of the 30 ways are some tips of how you can apply it your workplace. A book well worth reading, and experimenting with the 30 ways, after all we’d all rather be happy than miserable at work, right?

[Leonie Nicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

As expected, a loosely scientific summary of what helps to enjoy work. Quite interesting that there was a reasonable amount of scepticism/negativity towards remote working, which is obviously quite curious to read now. It would be interesting to read a version that was less individual-oriented and more about the organisation as a whole. It would also be interesting to see how this relates to the current period, which has demonstrated that the experience of remote working / outcomes are are not fixed and are related to the proportion of people working remotely, plus that it's not a binary one or the other - but you can (and it's probably preferable to) do a combination. Both things that the book doesn't consider.

[Lee Whitmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a leadership coach focused on culture and high‑performing teams, I found The Joy of Work an exceptionally practical toolkit for fixing the day‑to‑day experience of work. Daisley organises the book into three domains – Recharge, Sync and Buzz – offering 30 concise, research‑backed interventions that any modern organisation can start testing immediately.

What impressed me most is how effectively he translates behavioural science into simple rituals: protecting deep‑work time, designing better social spaces, and intentionally building positive affect and psychological safety. These are exactly the levers that shift a team from burnout and disengagement towards sustainable performance and a stronger sense of belonging