The System Is Unforgiving Book Review

[image error]First of all, this book reads awesomely well. I couldn’t put it down despite its flaws. In fact, those flaws made “The System Is Unforgiving” so enjoyable.

 

So, traditionally, let’s start the review with

CONS
1. The Bragging Style.

Half into the book I was sick of Allen stroking his ego. It seemed like he couldn’t let the chapter go without articulating how smart, hardworking, and cunning he was.

That was a bit unnerving, but definitely not enough to put the book down. I was sick of this style, yet I still wolfed the book in no time.

2. Repetitiveness.

I guess the editor dropped a ball here. For example, when it comes to the events during the Guantanamo assignment, the narration was going in circles at least three times.

I needed to read three times how inept and stupid (comparing to Allen; see: the bragging style) his Senior Chief Petty Officer was. How despicable were the Executive Officer and the Admin Officer. How smart Allen was to work the system and get access to the Commanding Officer and the Staff Jude Advocate in advance.

Gosh! It was enough to say it once. Seriously.

3. Moral Blindness.

Allen described at least a few times how he did something ethically questioning.

The best example was how he wrote horrible, and false, evaluations for his subordinate in the Philippines. Allen had a bunch of great excuses, which didn’t change the fact what he did, was simply wrong.

4. The System Is Forgiving.

I don’t exactly agree with the whole premise of the book; you’ll find more on that in my summary.

Yes, it’s true that one mistake can be fatal. But it doesn’t have to be. Even Allen himself admitted to multiple mistakes and still, he was able to navigate the system.

I suppose, the title Know the System and Your Life Will Get Easier wasn’t so catchy