Didn't discuss any exceptions to these rules that would be required for a functioning society. For example, never speaking ill of another would also mean never protesting against someone's poor leadership etc because if would require speaking badly of them. Another exception would for example be the "always do your best" agreement. Sometimes not every task requires your best. Although your beat each day may change, that still doesn't negate the fact that your best isn't always necessary and actually a huge waste of your own resources for little reward. For example, let's say I'm making a quick lunch for the family. I COULD do my best and whip up something extravagant, but that isn't realistic or necessary every day. Is a PB and J my best? No, I could easily do more, but is it worth the sacrifice of time every day? No. I felt similarly about every agreement. Overly simplistic view of how society and people function. Has a religious aire to it I didn't like even then it's supposedly non religious. If everyone acted exactly as this book suggests all the time, they would seem very weird and robotic. Don't even get me started on "don't take things personally". Yes, we don't want to take everything personally but often times we do need to take criticism to grow. We should care what others think of us to a degree to function in society and not harm others.