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The Productive INTP
I believe that, like me, many INTPs are struggling to learn how to produce more—and more efficiently. They sense they aren’t as stupid as they feel. They just have to find a different way of getting things done because the old-fashioned way of doing things, the “just do it” way, eludes us. I can hear Shia LaBeouf in my head, “Just do it!” The Nike sign swoops in. Words appear under the Nike symbol, giving me a philosophy about life using the economy of three “Just do it.” But … but … but how? This book dives into that question from the perspective of the INTP personality type. How do we get these seemingly lazy INTPs out into the world and actually do things?
- GenresPsychologySelf Help
125 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2019
39 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Paul Peters
63 books5 followersPaul Peters is an elementary school teacher & author. In April 2012 he was awarded the 'Certified Classic' honor and a 5/5 star rating by The Neon Book Club Review, for his book: "The GREATEST JOB in the WORLD!"
His children's books are known for their high quality imagery and positive messages.
He currently resides in Monterey California with his wife and 3 kids, along with their dog Pico.
His children's books are known for their high quality imagery and positive messages.
He currently resides in Monterey California with his wife and 3 kids, along with their dog Pico.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 13, 2021
Some feedback before I get into the good parts:
1. A lot of repetitiveness. Some lines are literally repeated a couple of paragraphs later
2. A lot of background and needless storytelling to make a small point. Although, I can totally understand. As an INTP writer, I often do this.
3. I was hoping for a nice, delicious summary of all the tips at the end, step by step. Now I have to go back in and fish out the points.
4. The book could be more well-rounded and professional, but I am going to treat it as contraband passed in the underworld from one INTP to another to make their lives better. And hey, contraband can be as candid as they want to be.
Now on to the things I loved:
1. It's safe to say that this book is going to change the way I will go through my day. At least for as long as I can keep up with it.
2. I loved that all the information was backed up with scientific theories and links. A must for an INTP.
3. The story of Charles Crumb was life-changing for me, as it was for the author.
4. Nothing would make me want to be more productive than learning to hack my own cognitive functions to do it. This is going to be fun. I can't believe I never saw my Si this way before.
5. I immensely appreciate the author's method of going the real INTP way (WHY before HOW) in writing this book. This is the issue I have always found with other generic self-help books. I also liked that it talked about how to convince yourself to follow the steps instead of just giving blatant steps.
If you are an INTP wanting to be more productive so you can make your smart ideas, goals, and dreams come true, I highly suggest this book.
UPDATE (Two months later): I came here to change my rating from 4 to 5 stars. I've been following the ideas and tips provided in the book and so far I am WINNING at life. I am thriving and it's the most productive (but also happy) I have been in my entire adult life. You CAN really train your Si. I hope I keep maintaining this newly discovered system. Thank you, Paul Peters.
1. A lot of repetitiveness. Some lines are literally repeated a couple of paragraphs later
2. A lot of background and needless storytelling to make a small point. Although, I can totally understand. As an INTP writer, I often do this.
3. I was hoping for a nice, delicious summary of all the tips at the end, step by step. Now I have to go back in and fish out the points.
4. The book could be more well-rounded and professional, but I am going to treat it as contraband passed in the underworld from one INTP to another to make their lives better. And hey, contraband can be as candid as they want to be.
Now on to the things I loved:
1. It's safe to say that this book is going to change the way I will go through my day. At least for as long as I can keep up with it.
2. I loved that all the information was backed up with scientific theories and links. A must for an INTP.
3. The story of Charles Crumb was life-changing for me, as it was for the author.
4. Nothing would make me want to be more productive than learning to hack my own cognitive functions to do it. This is going to be fun. I can't believe I never saw my Si this way before.
5. I immensely appreciate the author's method of going the real INTP way (WHY before HOW) in writing this book. This is the issue I have always found with other generic self-help books. I also liked that it talked about how to convince yourself to follow the steps instead of just giving blatant steps.
If you are an INTP wanting to be more productive so you can make your smart ideas, goals, and dreams come true, I highly suggest this book.
UPDATE (Two months later): I came here to change my rating from 4 to 5 stars. I've been following the ideas and tips provided in the book and so far I am WINNING at life. I am thriving and it's the most productive (but also happy) I have been in my entire adult life. You CAN really train your Si. I hope I keep maintaining this newly discovered system. Thank you, Paul Peters.
May 5, 2020
“Big ideas were brewing in my head, but my execution of those ideas was worse than that of the people around me, the ones who didn’t seem to dream at all.”
I thought I was a failure for not being able to stick to one idea and see it to the end. I thought I was a failure because I felt intense resentment towards schedules and inflexible plans. I thought I was a failure because I desire freedom - freedom my peers do not seem to understand as they work contentedly in their 9-5 jobs. This book showed me that I am not alone in this. It’s especially fantastic to read such actionable steps to achieving my goals… All while not launching oneself into a spiral of despair while trying to adhere to rigid guidelines.
There were many points made in this book that truly resonated with me. For instance:
- It’s okay to have many interests. Putting time into interests, no matter how fleeting, helps to improve the overall “you.” Finding a trajectory that combines many of your interests is also favourable.
- Energy management is essential to maximize what you can do in a day.
- Small steps today accumulate to immeasurable dividends in the long-term.
- Taking care of our bodies includes exercise, diet, sleep, and meditation. I had no idea before reading this book how pivotal meditation was to increasing attention span. I, too, am self-diagnosed with ADHD and find my mind jumping from one idea to the next faster than I can carry out any tasks toward bringing the idea to fruition.
I will share a few of my favourite quotes:
- “You are moving around something sacred, like a potential “you” whom you could become if you kept up with the pursuit, allowing everything to die that kept you from moving forward and following through with your interests. You, as an INTP, should have interests that seem to repeat themselves throughout your life, but, unfortunately, obstacles and psychological baggage hold you back.”
- “You have to give yourself the freedom to pursue those things that are pulling you, that you come across and go, “Hmm, that’s interesting.” Take the spaghetti noodle and throw it onto the wall, see if it sticks. See if it’s something you want to learn more about and pursue further.”
- “The more disciplined you are with your energy, the freer you’ll be to pursue new ideas.”
- “Once you’re in the day, in the forest, you start to see what you’re really getting yourself into. At any moment throughout the day, you can stop and throw your to-do list into the trash, and then make a new one. “
If you are an INTP, I highly recommend this book.
I thought I was a failure for not being able to stick to one idea and see it to the end. I thought I was a failure because I felt intense resentment towards schedules and inflexible plans. I thought I was a failure because I desire freedom - freedom my peers do not seem to understand as they work contentedly in their 9-5 jobs. This book showed me that I am not alone in this. It’s especially fantastic to read such actionable steps to achieving my goals… All while not launching oneself into a spiral of despair while trying to adhere to rigid guidelines.
There were many points made in this book that truly resonated with me. For instance:
- It’s okay to have many interests. Putting time into interests, no matter how fleeting, helps to improve the overall “you.” Finding a trajectory that combines many of your interests is also favourable.
- Energy management is essential to maximize what you can do in a day.
- Small steps today accumulate to immeasurable dividends in the long-term.
- Taking care of our bodies includes exercise, diet, sleep, and meditation. I had no idea before reading this book how pivotal meditation was to increasing attention span. I, too, am self-diagnosed with ADHD and find my mind jumping from one idea to the next faster than I can carry out any tasks toward bringing the idea to fruition.
I will share a few of my favourite quotes:
- “You are moving around something sacred, like a potential “you” whom you could become if you kept up with the pursuit, allowing everything to die that kept you from moving forward and following through with your interests. You, as an INTP, should have interests that seem to repeat themselves throughout your life, but, unfortunately, obstacles and psychological baggage hold you back.”
- “You have to give yourself the freedom to pursue those things that are pulling you, that you come across and go, “Hmm, that’s interesting.” Take the spaghetti noodle and throw it onto the wall, see if it sticks. See if it’s something you want to learn more about and pursue further.”
- “The more disciplined you are with your energy, the freer you’ll be to pursue new ideas.”
- “Once you’re in the day, in the forest, you start to see what you’re really getting yourself into. At any moment throughout the day, you can stop and throw your to-do list into the trash, and then make a new one. “
If you are an INTP, I highly recommend this book.
August 9, 2020
Personally found it relatable and fun to read, has some interesting perspectives. The first half was especially captivating for me, the 2nd one less so. Overall definitely worth taking a look at for people who can relate to descriptions of INTP's.
Probably going to reread.
Probably going to reread.
Read
November 9, 2023TheProductiveINTP
Quotes
read the advice of very smart and productive people. They seem to give advice from and for their own type, even if they try stretching their techniques and principles to fit a wider audience. They still slip their personal type biases into their advice, whether they know it or not.
*****
Here’s a list of some of the sources that have consciously influenced this book:
Deep Work The Powerful Engagement The Tim Ferris Podcast Optimize with Brian Johnson David Perlmutter’s Books Spark: the Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain The Happiness Advantage The Happiness Hypothesis Twelve Rules for Life Driven to Distraction Unlimited Power
*****
Awaken the Giant Within Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
*****
After college there isn’t much you can do with a liberal arts degree
*****
reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.”
*****
So how do we get to the place we want to be? Old habits must die, and new habits must be created. We must create habits that put us on the straightest path toward the land where we wished to be. The process of creating new habits is painful. But we either go through with the process or we allow the suckiness of life envelope us, and possibilities disappear. The reality our freedom is that, by default, we either live in a shrinking world of our bad habits or we go through the process killing our evil habits, so we can create new one that will carry us to the promise land. This is the reality of freedom. These ones are zeroes that encapsulate life, because the relationship between discipline and freedom doesn’t seem to go away, even if we stop believing it.
*****
if you want to move forward, you have to accept that living is better than dying as a fundamental principle, e
*****
All types have an unhealthy side to them
*****
Most INTPs say their Ne is their greatest source of happiness in life, and as I look over my life I fully and completely 100% agree.
*****
Ne wants possibilities. Ne is always fighting against being locked in, which makes it difficult to follow a piece of paper—or whatever thing you choose—that says what you will do exactly for the day
*****
And this is why energy management is more important than time management. Energy management feeds the Ne. When you can do in a day grows with the more energy you have, while time management makes use of your energy more efficiently.
*****
Ne is a very, very energetic function. It’s very centered around the neurotransmitter dopamine.
*****
first thing to take out of your diet is sugar. Stay away from sugar, especially today’s laboratory invented high fructose corn syrup, otherwise known as HFCS. That stuff literally kills the brain, and as an INTP, your brain should be your most treasured asset. There are numerous studies after numerous studies showing that sugar damages the brain.
*****
There is nothing good about sugar except whenever it touches the pallet of the tongue. Everything after that, sugar sucks and is killing your brain.
*****
, I can go a long time without eating when I consume a lot of fat and protein, and I have constant energy throughout the day with no spikes or dips in energy.
*****
gotta eat, eat something that will help and not hinder. Eat something that will give you more freedom later.
*****
less sleep in the work place is like being on a stationary bike, where there might be movement, an image of looking busy, but the scene never changes. No one is making forward progress.
*****
Eating sugar is known to keep you up later at night. It causes you to get worse sleep. The energy matrix scares me because it’s not very forgiving. If you mess up in one area, you seem to pay for it in another.
*****
Okay, so you’re convinced you need better sleep. How? The first and greatest thing you can do for yourself is regularity. Fix your wake times. I don’t go to sleep at the same time every day, but I do have an alarm that wakes me up at the same time. Regularity is the biggest thing you can do right from the start.
*****
discovered that practitioners of meditation were better able to drop extraneous thoughts and return to whatever subject at hand, be it breathing, reading, writing, or dancing naked in the snow. Meditation helps one increase the ability to control his or his focus. It helps one return their mind to the task at hand. Basically, it increases one attention.
*****
Other types may have a better discipline than us when it comes to scheduling their day, and following through with the schedule, but that will be their discipline. They don’t have the crazy Ne function that seeks to explore new ideas and interesting concepts.
*****
You will never know how much you can get done. Sometimes it’s less than expected, and sometimes more. But without having a vision for the day, without using your imagination, you’ll have no idea what you’re going. The next day you will be in the forest, meandering around, not sure what you’re going, and you’ll find your place in the same area at the end of the day.
*****
Most SJs, at least all that I know, simply make to do list to structure their day. This is what I need to get done for the day. So make it to do list for your Si, and not a time schedule
Quotes
read the advice of very smart and productive people. They seem to give advice from and for their own type, even if they try stretching their techniques and principles to fit a wider audience. They still slip their personal type biases into their advice, whether they know it or not.
*****
Here’s a list of some of the sources that have consciously influenced this book:
Deep Work The Powerful Engagement The Tim Ferris Podcast Optimize with Brian Johnson David Perlmutter’s Books Spark: the Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain The Happiness Advantage The Happiness Hypothesis Twelve Rules for Life Driven to Distraction Unlimited Power
*****
Awaken the Giant Within Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
*****
After college there isn’t much you can do with a liberal arts degree
*****
reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.”
*****
So how do we get to the place we want to be? Old habits must die, and new habits must be created. We must create habits that put us on the straightest path toward the land where we wished to be. The process of creating new habits is painful. But we either go through with the process or we allow the suckiness of life envelope us, and possibilities disappear. The reality our freedom is that, by default, we either live in a shrinking world of our bad habits or we go through the process killing our evil habits, so we can create new one that will carry us to the promise land. This is the reality of freedom. These ones are zeroes that encapsulate life, because the relationship between discipline and freedom doesn’t seem to go away, even if we stop believing it.
*****
if you want to move forward, you have to accept that living is better than dying as a fundamental principle, e
*****
All types have an unhealthy side to them
*****
Most INTPs say their Ne is their greatest source of happiness in life, and as I look over my life I fully and completely 100% agree.
*****
Ne wants possibilities. Ne is always fighting against being locked in, which makes it difficult to follow a piece of paper—or whatever thing you choose—that says what you will do exactly for the day
*****
And this is why energy management is more important than time management. Energy management feeds the Ne. When you can do in a day grows with the more energy you have, while time management makes use of your energy more efficiently.
*****
Ne is a very, very energetic function. It’s very centered around the neurotransmitter dopamine.
*****
first thing to take out of your diet is sugar. Stay away from sugar, especially today’s laboratory invented high fructose corn syrup, otherwise known as HFCS. That stuff literally kills the brain, and as an INTP, your brain should be your most treasured asset. There are numerous studies after numerous studies showing that sugar damages the brain.
*****
There is nothing good about sugar except whenever it touches the pallet of the tongue. Everything after that, sugar sucks and is killing your brain.
*****
, I can go a long time without eating when I consume a lot of fat and protein, and I have constant energy throughout the day with no spikes or dips in energy.
*****
gotta eat, eat something that will help and not hinder. Eat something that will give you more freedom later.
*****
less sleep in the work place is like being on a stationary bike, where there might be movement, an image of looking busy, but the scene never changes. No one is making forward progress.
*****
Eating sugar is known to keep you up later at night. It causes you to get worse sleep. The energy matrix scares me because it’s not very forgiving. If you mess up in one area, you seem to pay for it in another.
*****
Okay, so you’re convinced you need better sleep. How? The first and greatest thing you can do for yourself is regularity. Fix your wake times. I don’t go to sleep at the same time every day, but I do have an alarm that wakes me up at the same time. Regularity is the biggest thing you can do right from the start.
*****
discovered that practitioners of meditation were better able to drop extraneous thoughts and return to whatever subject at hand, be it breathing, reading, writing, or dancing naked in the snow. Meditation helps one increase the ability to control his or his focus. It helps one return their mind to the task at hand. Basically, it increases one attention.
*****
Other types may have a better discipline than us when it comes to scheduling their day, and following through with the schedule, but that will be their discipline. They don’t have the crazy Ne function that seeks to explore new ideas and interesting concepts.
*****
You will never know how much you can get done. Sometimes it’s less than expected, and sometimes more. But without having a vision for the day, without using your imagination, you’ll have no idea what you’re going. The next day you will be in the forest, meandering around, not sure what you’re going, and you’ll find your place in the same area at the end of the day.
*****
Most SJs, at least all that I know, simply make to do list to structure their day. This is what I need to get done for the day. So make it to do list for your Si, and not a time schedule
April 13, 2021
I recently was re-introduced to the Myers-Briggs personality test and re-discovered that I once again find myself being an INTP. An INTP can be described as an introvert, who has bigger dreams and more thoughts than most people and tend to be less productive because of all these dreams and thoughts. The Productive INTP is a personal journey of an INTP who searched to figure out how he would get things done. As he takes us on his journey he gathers tools that can help most people, but especially INTPs.
Takeaways:
- Be wary about the input you expose yourself to
- Make To-do-lists that are short and start over when they start to unravel
- Doing isn’t an end. Doing is a tool for gathering information.
Critique:
This book is written with a stream of consciousness approach, which makes it very personal. But the book would have benefitted from having an editor, who could help with the layout and point out where Paul Q. Peters is jumping to conclusions without showing how he got there.
These are very INTP of him, since his focal point is the ideas and the solutions, and not the presentation.
Conclusion:
If you just found out that you are an INTP, or that someone you know is one, then this is a perfect place to start. If you know about it then this book might seem a bit unhinged. I really liked it, and I will definitely use it as a tool in the time to come.
Takeaways:
- Be wary about the input you expose yourself to
- Make To-do-lists that are short and start over when they start to unravel
- Doing isn’t an end. Doing is a tool for gathering information.
Critique:
This book is written with a stream of consciousness approach, which makes it very personal. But the book would have benefitted from having an editor, who could help with the layout and point out where Paul Q. Peters is jumping to conclusions without showing how he got there.
These are very INTP of him, since his focal point is the ideas and the solutions, and not the presentation.
Conclusion:
If you just found out that you are an INTP, or that someone you know is one, then this is a perfect place to start. If you know about it then this book might seem a bit unhinged. I really liked it, and I will definitely use it as a tool in the time to come.
March 22, 2023
Carl Jung divided the world into Introverts and Extroverts, but not a lot of people know, that he also divided the world into people with intuition and people with observation.
If you are intuitive, and 40% of the world is, they are also generally the Innovators, then this would be one of the most eye opening productivity books for you, and the one relevant to you. More so, as the title says if you are the Myers Briggs type of INTP!
If you are intuitive, and 40% of the world is, they are also generally the Innovators, then this would be one of the most eye opening productivity books for you, and the one relevant to you. More so, as the title says if you are the Myers Briggs type of INTP!
December 3, 2021
Great book for those INTPs that struggle
At times I felt as if he was writing about me personally. I took great comfort that I am not alone in the daily struggles and that there are helpful tips to navigate my daily life. I read it in one day, because I couldn't put it down and wanted to know more.
At times I felt as if he was writing about me personally. I took great comfort that I am not alone in the daily struggles and that there are helpful tips to navigate my daily life. I read it in one day, because I couldn't put it down and wanted to know more.
May 7, 2024
I scored an INTP on the MBTI test and I can say for myself that I never run out of ideas but I don't have time for anything. Most of the time I procrastinate.
I was already aware of many ideas presented in this book but hearing it from another INTPs makes them more valuable to me. I can tell from experience that the methods mentioned in this book have helped me such as wim.hof breathing technique, meditation, avoiding time scheduling but making to do lists.
The books really inspire you to take steps and let's test the other ideas offered in this book.💡
I was already aware of many ideas presented in this book but hearing it from another INTPs makes them more valuable to me. I can tell from experience that the methods mentioned in this book have helped me such as wim.hof breathing technique, meditation, avoiding time scheduling but making to do lists.
The books really inspire you to take steps and let's test the other ideas offered in this book.💡
February 4, 2025
my favorite part
I enjoyed the tidbit of information regarding doubt and how it’s a sign that you must transform in order to accomplish a goal.
I enjoyed the tidbit of information regarding doubt and how it’s a sign that you must transform in order to accomplish a goal.
December 18, 2025
This book was so much better than I expected, a very unique way to look and practice planning and being productive. I will definitely come back to this good book. I'd recommend it to any INTP.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews