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Ploductivity: A Practical Theology of Tools & Wealth
Plod, don't sprint. Be fruitful like a tree, not efficient like a machine.
In this book, Douglas Wilson both considers the theology behind technology, work, and mission and advice on how to be productive—and to think about productivity—in the digital age.
We should not rush to buy each and every new iPhone or fancy new gadget, but neither neither should we reject the new technology out of nostalgia for the good ol' days when people worked with their hands or starved. Instead, we are called to see modern technology as wealth and tools that we can use, whether for good or for ill. The key is wisdom and the ability to create the right habits and the regular discipline to use what we have been given.
Ploductivity: n, 1) the practice of plodding away at a pile of work, instead of frantically trying to sprint through it all
2) being stable and graceful, like a buffalo upon the plains, not frantic, like a prairie dog or roadrunner
In this book, Douglas Wilson both considers the theology behind technology, work, and mission and advice on how to be productive—and to think about productivity—in the digital age.
We should not rush to buy each and every new iPhone or fancy new gadget, but neither neither should we reject the new technology out of nostalgia for the good ol' days when people worked with their hands or starved. Instead, we are called to see modern technology as wealth and tools that we can use, whether for good or for ill. The key is wisdom and the ability to create the right habits and the regular discipline to use what we have been given.
Ploductivity: n, 1) the practice of plodding away at a pile of work, instead of frantically trying to sprint through it all
2) being stable and graceful, like a buffalo upon the plains, not frantic, like a prairie dog or roadrunner
122 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
About the author
Douglas Wilson
295 books4,205 followersI write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
January 9, 2020
“Plod, don't sprint. Be fruitful like a tree, not efficient like a machine.” The first half of this book is good; the second half is really good.
January 20, 2020
I am grateful to have read Pastor Wilson's book on "productivity" which is heavy with practical Theology. If Jesus is Lord of all, and He is, then all our efforts to be fruitful in this life should not begin with having the right planner, the right habit tracker, and the right productivity app, but with a right understanding of what the Bible says about the means (wealth) we have been given to be productive and fruitful.
I was heavily convicted to use all the mini pockets of time through my day to advance the Kingdom of God and bear much fruit where God has planted me. We know we don't have a life to waste, but what do we do with the 10 mins of wait in the post office line? The 10 minutes in the coffee shop waiting for our friend to arrive? In the commutes we have? Are we wasting our lives in pockets of time of 10 minutes each?
I was heavily convicted to use all the mini pockets of time through my day to advance the Kingdom of God and bear much fruit where God has planted me. We know we don't have a life to waste, but what do we do with the 10 mins of wait in the post office line? The 10 minutes in the coffee shop waiting for our friend to arrive? In the commutes we have? Are we wasting our lives in pockets of time of 10 minutes each?
February 26, 2023
Simply wonderful and very encouraging. Highly recommend this to everyone! Fruitfulness.
Read again, February 2023. Absolutely wonderful!!!!
Read again, February 2023. Absolutely wonderful!!!!
December 15, 2019
Really helpful. You can read it in a couple of hours. If you're looking for help knowing "which" tools to use, don't read this. Pastor Doug is more concerned that you know what tools are *for* and that you approach them with the kind of heart that God will multiply, thirty, sixty and a hundred-fold. If you can become the ploductive person, the ploductive tools reveal themselves. Along this vein, Tim Chailles has a helpful productivity book where he gives an overview of some of the best modern tools.
Read it in conjunction with Wordsmithy if you're looking for more applications of how to become a ploductive person in the realm of knowledge, reading, and writing.
Read it in conjunction with Wordsmithy if you're looking for more applications of how to become a ploductive person in the realm of knowledge, reading, and writing.
November 23, 2020
Short and practical.
Main points:
- We are created by God to do good works; therefore we should work diligently and strive to master our work.
- Technology is a form of wealth and a blessing from God that we should use to advance His kingdom.
- Wealth can also be a snare for us (Deuteronomy 8) that we must combat with gratitude and dependence on God.
- Ambition and progress are good things if they are guided by the Lord and within His design, and bad if they are not.
- Plodding, or working on something a little bit over a long time, reaps a huge harvest in the end even if it's hard to see the results day-to-day.
Main points:
- We are created by God to do good works; therefore we should work diligently and strive to master our work.
- Technology is a form of wealth and a blessing from God that we should use to advance His kingdom.
- Wealth can also be a snare for us (Deuteronomy 8) that we must combat with gratitude and dependence on God.
- Ambition and progress are good things if they are guided by the Lord and within His design, and bad if they are not.
- Plodding, or working on something a little bit over a long time, reaps a huge harvest in the end even if it's hard to see the results day-to-day.
January 22, 2020
Short and to the point! Just like we need it. Loved it. I need to read it again. Here is one gem from the book: "...productive work requires a rhythm, a metronome. Long distant runners settle into a pace." Mr Wilson is talking about plodding. Read for 10 minutes a day and many pages will be read by the end of the year. Very good advice. Read it.
July 25, 2020
Helpful
Practical guide for a Christian view of technology, wealth, and productivity. Enjoyed thinking through technophile vs. technophobe discussions and the “Servants in your pocket.”
Practical guide for a Christian view of technology, wealth, and productivity. Enjoyed thinking through technophile vs. technophobe discussions and the “Servants in your pocket.”
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February 10, 2023Video promo here.
January 6, 2024
An outstanding book. I did not necessarily read anything new or that I had not heard before. Instead, this was a poignant reminder that all of life and the work we do while we are here is an opportunity to grow as a Christian and glorify God.
If I had to choose a “newish” lesson it would be about how being a productive worker applies not just to projects around the house or writing a book or planting a garden. It also applies to what I do for a living.
Anytime I consider or reconsider a mindset that encourages me to growth and I can immediately see ways to implement it, it makes me excited.
I commend this book to anyone who is afraid of technology and sees it as evil. I also commend this book to anyone who thinks that working for work’s sake is somehow not enough.
If I had to choose a “newish” lesson it would be about how being a productive worker applies not just to projects around the house or writing a book or planting a garden. It also applies to what I do for a living.
Anytime I consider or reconsider a mindset that encourages me to growth and I can immediately see ways to implement it, it makes me excited.
I commend this book to anyone who is afraid of technology and sees it as evil. I also commend this book to anyone who thinks that working for work’s sake is somehow not enough.
June 11, 2021
A tremendously helpful book that focuses on basic principles instead of some of the specific ways of managing your day or a project. It helps you shape how you think about wealth and time management. One of the main things I was reminded of was that minutes matter. Don't waste 10 minutes here or 15 minutes there. Use it wisely and over time those minutes add up. Also he does a good job of seeing wealth of all kinds as a good, but something that is corrupted by our sinful hearts. Our hearts are the issue not the tech.
January 18, 2022
This is an enjoyable, convicting, and practical book. A must read for anyone who wants to be faithful with the time, skills, and gifts God has given them.
May 14, 2024
Fine stuff.
It’s really interesting how Wilson connects his Postmill eschatology to Productivity.
It’s really interesting how Wilson connects his Postmill eschatology to Productivity.
January 25, 2020
The first part is a chiropractic adjustment on how to think about work/tools/the universe. The second part is the "tip" part. A lot of valuable, original thinking.
January 5, 2023
Much more theoretical than I thought, but I appreciated how he built his practical argument from a very strong theological foundation.
January 15, 2022
Extremely helpful. No hot takes or hacks, just a look at what the Bible has to say about tools, work, and wealth. I particularly appreciate the connection Wilson makes between technology and wealth. His point is that technology is a kind of wealth, and thus what Scripture says about wealth can be applied to technology: it’s a blessing, but one which can be misused and thus one we need to be careful with. There’s no need for faithful Christians to be Luddites (something I need to hear!)—instead, Christians should seek wisdom and use the tools at their disposal to do good work for the Kingdom.
Also helps explain how DW is able publish a book a month.
Also helps explain how DW is able publish a book a month.
January 26, 2022
Absolutely a highly recommended read! I was so blessed by Doug’s theology of technology/tools, it’s relationship to his optimistic view of future history and man’s responsibility in that redemptive work. I also appreciated how he gives “legs” to his theology through his explanation and examples of how to “plod” away at our work just like leaven in the Kingdom.
My favorite take away from the book was his exhortation to be a well planted tree that exponentially produces fruit rather than a maxed out machine!
My favorite take away from the book was his exhortation to be a well planted tree that exponentially produces fruit rather than a maxed out machine!
August 10, 2024
Another helpful book here by Wilson. Large changes are brought about by small changes. You don’t start reading 200 books a year overnight, but you can begin by reading one chapter of a book a day. The goal is not be overwhelmed by the weight of your duty - often there are multiple pathways to success. Some things require immediate action and chimp-like energy, in cases of emergencies and deadlines. But most things in life, specifically the types of things that require the formation of habits, require steady, consistent, plodding activity- or plodactivity.
What Wilson gives us here in this book has been a message he has been teaching for years. Others have written on the same topic (see Atomic Habits), but Wilson ties this all together by bringing in both the duty and the telos of man. We don’t want to simply become Christians who happen to have good habits. We want to form good habits because we are Christians. Well worth your time.
What Wilson gives us here in this book has been a message he has been teaching for years. Others have written on the same topic (see Atomic Habits), but Wilson ties this all together by bringing in both the duty and the telos of man. We don’t want to simply become Christians who happen to have good habits. We want to form good habits because we are Christians. Well worth your time.
June 17, 2021
Great book from perhaps the one of the most qualified persons to write on such matters. Doug has been extremely prolific for years, so I truly appreciate his insight. His basic thesis is that if you chip away at things bit by bit, you would eventually get done. Not a novel idea, but one needs explaining from a Christian perspective over and over again. He also does a good job seeing all of our technological resources as wealth that can be used for the glory of God. Highly recommended.
January 27, 2022
A book on slow and meaningful effectiveness from a man who has accomplished an exceptional amount in his life, including the writing of many books, and the founding of several successful organizations. Inspiring, challenging, encouraging, and immediately helpful. In the author’s words, “…hopefully the last productivity book you will ever have to read.”
May 26, 2020
I've been waiting for this book all my life. I recently described myself as the duck paddling like hell below the surface, but a friend corrected me: "You're a duck upside down, paddling like hell above the surface for all the world to see." This is true. And Doug's book is an fantastic escape from that lust of efficiency. I'm rather pleased to say I didn't exactly sprint through it, but chipped away at it throughout a busy day at work, reading a chapter whenever I got 5 minutes.
A few golden one-liners:
"Do you want to be efficient like a machine, or fruitful like a tree?" (8)
"Two words that do not go together are control and future." (48)
"Every blessing a Christian ever receives is from a pierced hand." (50)
"Whatever you worship in place of God is another thing you lose." (62)
"If my body is a living sacrifice, this means that everything it rests upon is an altar." (67)
"Finitude is one of our glories." (71)
"The only way our work can be large enough is if it is submitted entirely to the will of God." (73)
"With regard to starting things, the trick here is to act like you know what you're doing, make the decision to go for it, and then God sends capable people to help you implement the vision." (109)
"The central work you should want [God] to bless is your labor as a father." (112)
A few golden one-liners:
"Do you want to be efficient like a machine, or fruitful like a tree?" (8)
"Two words that do not go together are control and future." (48)
"Every blessing a Christian ever receives is from a pierced hand." (50)
"Whatever you worship in place of God is another thing you lose." (62)
"If my body is a living sacrifice, this means that everything it rests upon is an altar." (67)
"Finitude is one of our glories." (71)
"The only way our work can be large enough is if it is submitted entirely to the will of God." (73)
"With regard to starting things, the trick here is to act like you know what you're doing, make the decision to go for it, and then God sends capable people to help you implement the vision." (109)
"The central work you should want [God] to bless is your labor as a father." (112)
Read
October 19, 2021I read this book because I received it free from my job. Usually, I’m all for “death of the author” in terms of separating an author’s character/morality from their work—but, in this case, because the author is unfortunately not dead, I regret that he’ll make money off people buying this.
October 4, 2023
Fantastic book on work, wealth, and productivity. As Christians living coram deo, we should strive for good quality work, and seek to be wise with the wealth we create by our hard work. He who is wise in little will be wise in much.
June 18, 2021
I greatly enjoyed this book, and am filled with motivation, plans, and love for Jesus. A book on productivity with a hot shot of Christ-exalting Postmillennialism is just what the Doctor ordered. Important reading for the building of the next Christendom.
March 14, 2023
Concise and sound.
January 27, 2023
“…productive work requires a rhythm, a metronome. Long distance runners settle into a pace. Rowers in crew fall into what they call ‘swing’. This action, performed at this pace, methodically and deliberately, will in fact get us where we are going.”
December 30, 2022
When you're an idiot like me, and you are laboring to become less idiotic, you often feel beholden to read books recommended by your theoretically less-idiotic friends (in this instance, hat tip to the West Sarcoxie Township Republican Precinct Committeeman). A relatively small number of times I have read books thus recommended by such friends and been sorely, sorely disappointed. I am somehow unsurprised to find that "Ploductivity" is such a book.
November 13, 2021
Great thoughts from Wilson on the value of small but deliberate steps towards great tasks. I really enjoyed thinking about his discussion comparing and contrasting knowledge/expertise and man-hours, his take on our constant 9,000 servants whom we may use wisely or foolishly, and his distinction between doing things rightly and doing right things. His take on laziness was pretty convicting, but he also had a lot of wise advice for overcoming it. One of my other favorite ideas showed up in the afterward--about his view of leadership while building Christian community. Wilson humbly asserts that great leadership isn't so much about doing great things, but providing leadership while depending on God to supply incredible individuals to catch the vision and team up to make things happen. I will be coming back to this one.
December 19, 2023
Doug Wilson is one of my favorite authors of our day. His brilliance and wit keep you deeply engaged with the text, no matter what he’s writing about. This book was a quick, incredibly helpful read. From one who has quite possibly mastered the productivity game, Wilson offers practical, theological instruction for reasons why we should, and reasons why we can, continue to plod away at the task at hand, whatever they might be. Highly recommend.
December 29, 2020
Some good principles here. Wilson argues that we should view our wealth (including tools and technology) with "glad suspicion." While I agree, Wilson's emphasis tends toward "glad," while mine tends toward the "suspicion." That being the case I think there's much more to be said about the need to master the tools of technology, in such a way that they don't end up mastering you.
December 10, 2023
To listen or read, understand, and then apply the principles Doug discusses in this book is more difficult than it first seems. If the practical and mostly missed bvious wisdom he expresses can be followed you will be able to accomplish many things. A little effort as often as your able and what evere you are working towards will eventually be completed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews