10 Lessons I Learned from Derek Sivers' Useful But Not True
23 May 2026 #books #selfgrowthI’ve been stalking Derek Sivers.
OK, I’m not a psycho. Stalking writers is part of my reading strategy.
I already read Anything You Want. Binge-watching Derek’s interviews taught me about his succint writing style and his trick for better sentences.
This time, I finished Useful But Not True. Here’s what I learned:
#1. Perspectives are like timezones. They feel absolutely true, but that’s only for you.
#2. Rules are someone’s perspective. Like kids, you can play with the rules. The floor is lava…until red tiles save you.
#3. Someone’s “can’t” or “don’t” is their own perspective. They’re projecting their own can’ts and don’ts onto you.
#4. Your brain loves to come up with stories and explanations—and believe them. Your beliefs are like a picture hung upside down. Only reframing shows it was hanging the wrong way.
#5. You can’t choose your first thought, but you can always choose the next one.
#6. There’s no best choice. It’s the best one because that was the one you chose.
#7. You are your actions. Pretending is still being and doing. At a party, pretending to be social makes you social.
#8. Religion is about action. Every religion claims to be the true one. They’re useful, but not necessarily 100% true for everyone.
#9. Always test first. This reminds me of Kevin Kelly’s idea of prototyping your life.
#10. Always take the first step. That helps you change your perspective. “Start momentum.”