Hard Easy: A Get Real Guide to Getting the Life You Want

by Arthur F. Coombs III

Everyone says they’ll start tomorrow . . .

. . . but why not turn tomorrow into today?

In this dynamic self-help book, Art Coombs challenges you to take up the mantle of Hard Easy. From remarkable stories to real-life examples, he demonstrates why it’s better to put in effort now and reap the rewards later.

In this book, you’ll learn:
* How to turn away from instant gratification
* How to find a purpose, a plan, and a vision
* How to set big-picture goals

Weaving his own experiences with the neuroscience behind every day decision making, Coombs offers tools to help you evaluate all your choices—old and new. You’ll find yourself sucked into his humor and heartfelt stories, only to reflect on his teaching long after.

Challenge yourself now and see the culmination of your choices through the lens of Hard Easy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

301 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2020

Reviews

[San · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to mention this right off the bat, Hard-Easy is possibly the most practical self help book I've ever read, not only for young adults but relevant to various age groups. This takes the spot in for best practical books, that also leaves a lasting impact, as the author makes it clear that your action and their impact on your future is on you. Sow the seeds right now is crucial, and to give time and patience to see result will reap you the reward.

I loved the use of personal life and practical examples to emphasize on each point, which made this book stick with me, I couldn't believe what a journey it was reading the book from Introduction to final chapter. Not only that, the books also widen my perspective patience, empathy and giving back.
The author himself seems to be a man of deep understanding about life, and preparing for the worst, as one's bad action not only effects themselves but 10s, 100s or even 1000s other people from family to close friend and community at large. Working hard and kick lizard brain's butt, will get you kick started, once you choose hard, you get addicted to choosing hard, as easy will follow through and you'll be glad you took the difficult step to change.
Thank you to VORACIOUSREADERSONLY and author for suggesting and sending me a free e-copy of this book in an exchange for honest review.

[Jennifer Hunsaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is seldom that I read a book of this nature and find myself wanting to shout, "Hallelujah" from the rooftops. From the introduction to the final page, I had to stop myself from doing just that. Coombs does a masterful job introducing the concept of Hard-Easy living and outlining a step-by-step process for incorporating it into your life, your business, your family relationships, and your friendships. This idea of doing the hard things now in order to enjoy the results at a later time seems elusive to so many people in our instant-information, high-speed, fast-paced society. Yet, it truly is the secret sauce. If more managers, leaders, and parents read and adopted this way of thinking, productivity would increase, families would flourish, and more of us would enjoy successful lives both at home and at work. This will become one of my recommended reads to everyone in any kind of leadership position.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great! This isnt a regular book just telling you this is the direct major changes you need to make to be successful. This book helps focus on the little changes daily that can be made that help focus on what you want. This is a simple concept that is followed back by science! He makes sure to notice that the good feelings when you do something you need to do, to not procrastinate to do what you need to do and basically making better choices. Definitely recommend!

[Ann Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is either going to be hard-easy, or easy-hard, so which way will you choose? Arthur Combs drives home this pointed question through stories and anecdotes ranging from his argument with a horse, to a random suggestion of skydiving, and even whom to settle down with. Challenging, but not intimidating, Hard-Easy exposes the fallacy of choosing no work as a form of work is exactly what makes life more difficult. An optimistic and encouraging book that enables the reader to see the reward of deliberately choosing the difficult path is the effortlessness that comes after facing the difficulty, first.

[Diana Stockdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This newest book by Arthur F. Coombs is a book I thoroughly enjoyed and unexpectedly couldn’t put down as soon as I got a peek at it. I will definitely be buying it for all of my adult children and grandchildren. I especially liked the recaps and the 'Pause & Think' questions to ask myself at the end of each chapter. I also really enjoyed that as Coombs taught a new principle, he would help explain it through a story, and then back it up by scientific facts. His anecdotes and other short stories made it more personal and relatable as well.
Also, in “Hard Easy” he talks about the fact that he’s dyslexic. That’s pretty incredible to me that someone with such a difficult challenge like that was able to still do well in school, business, and even write books. I can’t wait to show this to some of my grandchildren who also suffer from the challenges dyslexia presents in their lives. For those who are in college, he has some really useful tips on how to do well there and even how to make sure you have the right kind of people/friends in your life.
I recommend this book to everyone from teenagers to grandparents. We can all learn more and grow from doing the work upfront (hard) and then being able to reap the rewards and relax later. I'm thinking the audio book would probably be great too, especially for those who like to listen to talk radio while driving to work. I just felt better about so many things afterwards.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're in the market for a straightforward, broadly applicable guide to getting back on track in your life, Hard Easy: A Get-Real Guide to Getting the Life You Want, by Arthur F. Coombs III is a solid choice. The book's central tenet, that working hard up-front makes things comparatively easier, isn't a revolutionary concept. But the author does an admirable job of laying out and reinforcing the premise in a series of brisk chapters, each covering a different aspect of how to apply this rule. The chapters come complete with relatable anecdotes, review guides, and mental exercises. The best argument in favor of the book is how broadly applicable its advice is. Be it in school, work, or relationships, Coombs lays his life philosophy framework across the challenge in question and shows the reader how to approach it. Not every chapter landed for this reader, but despite this, the book is a good read for anyone who feels that they are ready to embrace a new and more focused way of looking at life.

[Karen Pellett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hit home at the right time for me. Mr. Coombs explains clear and concise the long-term consequences of following the easy path versus the more difficult one. The examples from his own life helped me to connect to the reality of the natural law of Hard: Easy and Easy Hard. Within minutes I'd identified several applications of this law in my own life. I am taking his advice though to weigh my micro-choices before plunging headlong onto a different path. Overall this was a great read for self-actualization, though I'd prefer a little less swearing (but that's a personal preference).

[Melissa Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book “Hard Easy,” by Art Coombs! Art is a wonderful storyteller and uses his stories to really bring to life each of the self-help pointers illustrated in this book.

As a wife, mother, and business owner, I found multiple ideas in “Hard Easy” that I was able to immediately put into play. One of my favorite things about this book is the real life application at the end of each chapter. I love it when books give me immediate tools and work to do that helps me put into play the personal growth principles taught. I think this book can be a real life changer!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book for anyone who has the general belief that procrastination and daily decisions impact your future. This book is full of examples of how choosing hard now allows for an easier later.

[Kristin Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arthur F. Coombs III, in his new book Hard Easy: A Get-Real Guide For Getting The Life You Want, writes about the two ways of living life. He takes examples from his own life to show the reader how living a Hard Easy life works. At the end of each chapter he provides a helpful recap and several thinking points so the reader can learn to apply the principles to their own life.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to live a better life. While reading this book I found myself putting it down mid chapter to practically apply Hard Easy to my own life.

[Adriel Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Easy: A Get-Real Guide for Getting the Life You Want is a self-help book that teaches you one simple principle, but then expands on it from multiple points of view. You truly can get the life you want, if you're willing to do what's necessary to get it. And, no, I don't mean "removing" people standing in your way or lying and cheating and sleeping your way to the top. (I may or may not have read too many mafia books this past week.)

Coombs teaches the simple truth that the more hard work you put up front, the easier your life gets on the back end. I have long lived my life in a Hard-Easy manner in certain areas of my life. Other areas of my life have been truly Easy-Hard. But that'll be changing. Coombs helped bring all of that into focus and really let me see where my weaknesses and strengths were. What I should be working to improve, and helping me recognize and enjoy the fruits of where I've been working hard for a long time.

It's truly simple: If you do the hard work now, things will be easy later; if you take it easy and waste time now, the hard is going to hit when you show up unprepared. But while it's a simple concept, it's most definitely not an easy one to live. In fact, you're going to find that even starting to make decisions based on the principle of Hard-Easy is very, very, very difficult. 

Coombs not only explains the principle, but he addresses some things like common excuses, common obstacles, common tools you can use, and much more. He tells you up front that even if you're excited, it will be more difficult than not. He does not pull punches. 

Like I'd said, I had already been living this way (without having a name for it) for many years (in some areas of my life). But as I was reading this book, I began to look around and see how much it applied to not only every single area of my life, but also nearly everyone and everything around me. Having a name for it now, and a plan, means that I have a goal that I can move forward with. And THAT is how you get the life you want.

I definitely recommend reading this book. So much so that I'm making everyone above the age of 12 that lives in my household read it. Partly so that we have a common vocabulary, but also so that everyone else can begin making some Hard-Easy choices to have awesome lives. After all, that is what I want for my kids: to see them succeed in living a life full of value.

I was sent a copy of this book to review. I would pay thrice the price to have it, though.

[Slmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Law of Hard-Easy delineated within this book is a highly beneficial practice in daily life. I call it a practice because this book recognizes the pitfalls led by a mindset of instant gratification and reminds us that every amount of effort put in towards our own betterment matters and helps for accumulating more and more abundance with greater ease in the long run. From the get go, the author emphasizes on the importance to check in with ourselves and only apply what resonates. I personally appreciated this from a self-help book because it sets the tone for each of us to follow our intuitive voice during such a personal process of learning to love and be the ultimate version of ourselves in every moment. One overarching aspect of the book I enjoyed was the emphasis placed on the choices we make and taking responsibility for our thoughts and actions rather than playing the victim for our current circumstances. Similar to the saying, “What you reap is what you sow,” the Hard-Easy journey offers a starting point in the process of self-analysis, showing us that with focus and dedication we can achieve lasting and positive change within our realities. The author uses both research and real life stories as examples that bring the Hard-Easy teachings to life in a simple digestible format, providing readers with greater context for the wisdom shared by the life lessons of human experiences scattered throughout the book. An easy read packed with reflection exercises at the end of each chapter, this book is designed to guide readers through the process of self-empowerment one step at a time. I would recommend this book to readers seeking a change and that are ready to start creating a shift in the way they have been living their lives. I see this book as a first stepping stone, offering readers the necessary foundation of introspection needed to explore the path of self-inquiry at its finest.

[James W · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Hard Easy: A Get-Real Guide for Getting the Life You Want,’ by Arthur F. Coombs III, is an accessible, thought-provoking ‘how-to’ guide aimed at helping anyone looking to improve their life.

By drawing upon examples from his own life (such as his struggles with procrastination), Coombs provides readers with a bevy of anecdote-driven nuggets of actional advice that not only offer a fresh perspective on many of life’s hidden challenges but also are easily implemented.

That being said, Coomb’s is not at all interested in ‘quick-fixes’, arguing instead for realistic, sustainable solutions that will ultimately result in a lifelong change. Coombs not only ‘talks the talk,’ but he backs up his claims with loads of science and anecdotal references—I constantly found myself whispering, ‘Wow, that makes sense.’

As for the author himself, Coombs is a skilled writer who immediately engages with a conversational tone. The book is brilliantly paced, and the layout, complete with chapter summaries and topical challenges, is perfect for future reference. While the text is loaded with tips and pearls of wisdom, Coombs wisely weaves a subtle, highly-compelling personal narrative into his text, a choice that ultimately sets ‘Hard Easy’ apart from the ‘self-help’ fray.

As a self-improvement theory, Arthur Coombs’ ‘Hard Easy’ is a practical approach to gaining traction in your own life that only resonates that much more given these unprecedented times. Whether you’re looking to turn your life around, or simply looking for something to read, ‘Hard Easy’ is highly recommended.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this straightforward and easily digestible self-help book by Arthur F. Coombs, author of Don't Just Manage--Lead!

His newest book, Hard Easy: A Get Real Guide to Getting the Life You Want, is built on the simple concept of doing the hard work upfront. As Coombs puts it, the harder you work initially, the easier you’ll have it later (Hard-Easy). But if you postpone the hard work and take shortcuts, it will catch up to you (Easy-Hard).

“When we live Hard-Easy,” Coombs writes, “we see failure not as an impenetrable wall but as a stepping-stone to ultimate success.”

Coombs outlines a step-by-step guide guide to incorporate Hard-Easy principles into your work, relationships, friendships, and life.

Coombs weaves personal and professional anecdotes throughout to demonstrate real-life examples of living Hard-Easy. These anecdotes are charming, though I did feel his references to famous characters were a bit overdone.

One of the major concepts of the law of Hard-Easy is delayed gratification. Coombs discusses controlling impulse control over time. He says you have to work it like a muscle—the more you use it the stronger it gets. He also touches on how shame and complacency play a role in delaying hard work, and how grit can be used instead. He also speaks to avoiding modern distractions and retraining your brain.

I thought Hard-Easy was a good guide broken down into easily digestible chunks without being condescending.

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgive me, but I've never heard of Arthur F. Coombs III. That changed after reading this book because I went to purchase his other books. I'm not saying this book will change your life, but it could. I'm not saying you'll be as enthusiastic about the concept as I am at the moment. However, it could. It could also change your perspective on why certain situations and decisions play out in the complete opposite way you'd expect. You're going to learn the "Law of Hard-Easy" and "Law of Easy-Hard" real quick. Well, you're going to follow that throughout the book. If it feels like something your parents would say to you, well they probably have and perhaps, not in the same exact words. However, the concept is still the same: "Skimp now and pay later" comes to my mind. The idea is still the same as: "Work hard now and enjoy things later."

I absolutely loved this book and will be re-reading it again. It's just one of those books that you should reference from time to time. I really enjoyed the personal stories and the questions at the end of the chapter. How would you handle certain situations? Well, you have the opportunity to read and reflect. Absolutely nothing wrong with that idea! What are you waiting for? Go buy and read the book!

[Jamie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Law of Hard Easy

This book looks at what the author calls the “law of hard easy,” which he states is universal: If you choose the harder path now, things will be easier later. The author states the corollary is also true: If you go the easy route now, things will be harder later. Using examples from his own life, including as a parent, he shows what this means and how it plays out. I am not usually one who enjoys nonfiction that has so many personal stories, but I found this book to be an engaging read. As you might imagine, he looks at self-gratification from a variety of angles as well as excuses and shame. He also talks about things like finding your why, goal setting, purpose, vision, and planning. These all sound like things you could read in any self-help book, but this is all seen through the lens of hard/easy, which fundamentally changes the approach to them. While I may not agree with everything stated, this book got me thinking about the concepts and how they might apply to various choices that I have made and am contemplating. I always liked a book that does that.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[Hannah Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard Easy is an incredibly accessible book for its readers to hop on board with. Art Coombs, the author, did a phenomenal job at pitching us this seemingly simplistic idea, then proceeded to show us exactly why it could be simple and how we could do the work to make it our reality. To have ease and fulfillment in your life is supposed to be hard, but that's what makes it so easy to dream about.

Contradictory, maybe, but still effective. Coombs lays it all out for us with easy steps to be guided through the process. What I liked about the approach is that is was a more business plan for our lives, rather than self-help superfluousness. It was clear and direct and Coombs went even further to give us key takeaways for each chapter and questions to pause and reflect on.

In the book, Coombs offers readers the chance to take charge of their own lives in many small ways that could go on to have huge impacts. He simply asks that we take a chance, and I'm glad that I did.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always interested in self-help and life advice book and that's what drew me to read Hard-Easy. The concept of the hard–easy effect is a the a tendency to overestimate the probability of one's success at a task perceived as hard, and to underestimate the likelihood of one's success at a task perceived as easy. I thought this concept was pretty intriguing and I was curious to see the author life applications to this concept.

While I find hard-easy concept interesting, I found it too be bit harsh and abrasive especially for some examples the book uses to explain backup the concept. It's not something that would work out for me and I don't think it's something for everyone. But I do think the basis of it could be applied to situations in life which makes the text relatable to a wide audience.

[Ril Nala · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hard Easy: A Get-Real Guide to Getting the Life You Want” is not for the faint of heart. In this new book by Arthur F. Coombs III, he demonstrates to us that we can be the person we want to be despite any circumstances we are in if we work hard for it. The small, HARD choices that we consistently choose to do now will determine the kind of life we will have later on in life. What I loved most is that at the end of each chapter, he made a list of points that you can reflect on to help you gather your thoughts and plan ahead. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to make hard choices, delay gratification, and embrace hardships head-on to make their dreams come true!

[Ed Malaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Easy is an excellent book with a lot of great tips to improve your life. It gives a wealth of information, and helps you look at life in a new way to be more productive and experience maximum enjoyment. It’s not an easy change and it would probably be best to read over the book every few months to make sure you are on track, but each chapter has a summary of key points and lists a number of things you can get started on immediately. I especially liked the chapter on excuses because it sounded so much like me, I felt the author might know me.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their life by staying motivated and getting things done.

[Timea Tokes]

Read it in one go...

I didn't think I would say this, but I couldn't put this book down.

The no-nonsense attitude of the author, combined with him delivering exactly what he promised created an interesting mixture of informative, thought-provoking and inspiring read.

The idea of working hard now and have things easy later, and how to achieve that mindset was interesting enough, but I was particularly astonished when he gave an insight into how mental health can play a crucial part in the way we act.

I was truly impressed with both the book and the struggles behind it. I can only recommend read Hard Easy.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a quick and easy read for anyone - whether you have your life together or not. It's motivating and inspiring and teaches you different perspectives on life. No matter what you want to accomplish, work "hard-easy" and you'll get there.

The author uses his own real-life experiences to explain parts and steps within the book. Not every part will pertain to you but there are definitely some parts I read and thought to myself, "Oh, that's me."

Overall, this was well written and informative. This is one to go back to once in a while if a motivational boost is needed.

[Mattie Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living hard-easy was not a new idea to me, but reading this book helped me clarify why this plan works. Making difficult choices and sacrifices now will only make decisions in the future simpler. This book is filled with life lessons that we can all relate to in some way or another, and it holds its readers accountable by asking questions and offering challenges that require a lot of self-reflection. I would highly recommend this book!

[Asil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and I didn't think I would of finished reading it in a short span of time, however, I kept on reading since the stories and the examples throughout the book sucked me in. I believe that this could be a great book for parents and college students to understand you have to work hard initially to have an easier steady lifestyle in the future. Highly recommend.

[Cair-Paravel De Loulay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Coombs lays out a wonderfully descriptive approach to having a better and more satisfying life. He uses stories and parables to describe many connections and how to navigate the difficulties ahead of each of us. It was enlightening and enjoyable.

I received a free copy from Voracious Readers Only/Hidden Gems Books/the author in return for an honest review.

[Argenis Ovalle-Sánchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, brilliant. Coombs effectively communicates a life hack needed for success in life. Not only is it easy to read, I appreciate that he included credible personal anecdotes into the explanations. As well as little sumaries to help us readers stay on track. I needed this. Since I've been struggling with my inner self about this very same issues. Simply amazing.

[Vi Becker]

A great self improvement book. Several short stories highlighting long term goals and improvements vs instant gratification. Recommend reading this wonderful book. I'm looking forward to reading more of the author's books.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book. Well written. Smart. I recommend this book.

[Cary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m in agreement with the principles put forth in this book. I’m quite familiar with who this author was in his youth and even spent some time tutoring him. Living hard - easy is tough and I applaud all efforts in that direction. I think that there are reminders here for everyone to make their own lives better.

[Jean Torgeson white · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different approach.