Business for Bohemians: Live Well, Make Money

by Tom Hodgkinson

Everyone should work for themselves. But don't cashflow forecasts, tax returns and P&Ls all sound a bit of a faff?

Fear not: help is at hand. In Business for Bohemians, Tom Hodgkinson combines practical advice with laugh-out-loud anecdote to create a refreshingly candid guidebook for all of us who aspire to a greater degree of freedom in our working lives.

Whether you dream of launching your own startup or profiting from your creativity in your spare time, Business for Bohemians will equip you with the tools to turn your talents into a profitable and enjoyable business. Accounting need no longer be a dark art. You will become au fait with business plans and a friend of the spreadsheet. You will discover that laziness can be a virtue. Above all, you will realise that freedom from the nine-to-five life is achievable - and, with Hodgkinson's comforting, pragmatic and extremely funny advice at hand, you might even enjoy yourself along the way.

Tom Hodgkinson is the founder and editor of The Idler and the bestselling author of How to be Idle, How to be Free, The Idle Parent and Brave Old World. In 2011 he and his partner Victoria opened the Idler Academy in London, an independent bookshop, coffeehouse and cultural centre which offers online and real-world courses in everything from philosophy and calligraphy to business skills and self-defence.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Self Help, Entrepreneurship

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2016

About the author

Tom Hodgkinson (b. 1968) is a British writer and the editor of The Idler, which he established in 1993 with his friend Gavin Pretor-Pinney. He was educated at Westminster School. He has contributed articles to The Sunday Telegraph, The Guardian and The Sunday Times as well as being the author of The Idler spin-off How To Be Idle (2005), How To Be Free (released in the U.S. under the title The Freedom Manifesto) and The Idle Parent.

In 2006 Hodgkinson created National Unawareness Day, to be celebrated on 1 November.

Reviews

[da AL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like having a successful, down-to-earth, cool friend share their experience.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good introduction to all sorts of aspects of running your own business, useful for those who have not yet started and people like me, who have been self-employed for a while but are curious to learn how others do it.
It is not a how-to book - rather a description of the author’s own experiences, with some great guidance thrown in.
It’s somewhat of a cautionary tale as well as a helpful read.

[Richard Newton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great guide for anyone starting a small business - or running one and not being sure why it isn't going better. There is little truly original here but it's a good collection of sound advice wrapped up in some lovely writing. It's practicality comes from it really speaking to the reality of the very small startup. The author is also very honest about his own failings and business struggles which makes it appealing and enjoyable read. If you want to be a billionaire, look elsewhere, if you want to run a successful small business you love, this could be perfect.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really a business book and not really a Bohemian view of working life. It kind of lands in an unsatisfactory middle ground. And, for such a good writer and speaker, the dry realm of business defeats even Tom Hodgkinson's usual wit and wisdom. With the lack of other examples to draw upon it slips into rather dry stories about the Idler which in itself is not such a bad thing if it added to the content or illuminated a point, but it rarely did. It's a shame as I had high hopes for this book.

[Waleed · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a business book this is pretty useless. 'Business for Morons' might be more accurate. But Hodgkinson is always an entertaining writer, and there are a few nuggets here.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of the book is excellent, and if the rest of the book had been like this, I would have given it 5 stars. the author gives really useful advice on how to remove the chaos that often exists, leaving you more time to concentrate on the things that matter, i.e. creating!

However, the last 100 pages felt more biographical than offering ideas on how to run a business.
I guess if you have no business experience whatsoever, then the horror stories Hodgkinson recounts might be quite useful.

[Garret Keogh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for those looking to start a business but think that somehow it may be in conflict with their general values. You don't have to be a tory to be a business person but you do need to understand business and you can be a good capitalist - and still stay loyal to your principles! Having run businesses big and small, I can't recommend this book enough. There are enough big ideas to inspire and as many practical ideas to get your through the highs and lows of pursuing your dream.

[Hussein Al-Sahlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grabbed this book instantly after reading the synopsis at the back. Great writer, I felt like he was talking to me. Many useful tips we're generously given. What inspired me to read is how the author gives an insight about how it feels like to start a business with zero experience, not the system not the sequence of how everything should be done, no. He actually said what a few will only share, the experience. Although short but it was to the point. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the journey of starting a business and how it feels like, on a day to day level. I've given it 4 stars not because it lacked anything, but because it feels like only the bohemians would suffer, don't let the name fool you, I am no bohemian but I could resemble in many ways to his experience. Infact his book suits everyone that never started up a business. Would love to meet him one day in his Academy, and will surely buy something and never complain about his coffee, it clearly kills him, everytime people complained and never spent a penny hahaha.

Edited again 17/4/2020.
I am not going to reduce the star rating. I read it again, the author is a good story teller, I can't deny he's a good one because he can get you hooked while reading. But I went through the pages faster the second time around. I read it the first time where I had no idea about start ups or running a business from the ground up what I thought was valuable information was mere chit chat. It did open my eyes on a few things but it is considered personal experiences and his way of thinking/ personality. I wouldn't recommend this book to someone looking for business advice, if my first review gave away that impression I apologize. But in the end, it was a nice story. If he ever reads this review I would advise him to release podcasts about his experiences, I can't deny that he's a good story teller. 4 stars remain because it was a joy.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom is a brilliant writer, and I have read a lot of his other ‘Idler’ books. This one is full of great advice and Tom explains it all through his own experiences, which are very funny and so his book is a great pleasure to read. Highly recommend you read this book if you are wanting to go into business for yourself. I personally have a micro-business, so wanted to learn some practical advice from one of my favourite authors.

[Dr. Tobias Christian Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being an entrepreneur can be good because you create your own thing: your own business.

Good rules of the book: price setting, funding and
When to keep going? When to give up? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

15.11.2020: Auf Deutsch ist das Buch ähnlich, jedoch sind die Beispiele im englischsprachigen Raum zu sehen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Mind the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

December är deklarationsdags för egenföretagare i UK. Den här boken talade därför till mig just nu. Utifrån titeln anar man ju att innehållet skiljer sig från annan businesslitt och thank heavens för det; hur förena frihetslängtan med the daily grind och bokföring? är det verkligen värt att anlita någon nördkonsult för sökordsoptimering? och liknande frågeställningar förekommer.

Bra bok. Det allra mest personliga kunde strukits, såsom alla dessa vänner det anekdotiskt refereras till. Det och lite unken shaming av några dysfunktionella, t.o.m. namngivna (?), praktikanter. Gratis arbetskraft är ju per se problematiskt, det förstår t.o.m. bohemer.

[Caitlin Kunkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This hit me exactly the right way. Extremely helpful and funny!

[Margot Note]

"Now, though they do not look it at first sight, the petite bourgeoisie are the true revolutionaries. They are the ones who take the risk and open the store. They start the small business. They are not content to follow the path of professional or employee. They are the anarchists, the ones who take responsibility, the ones who do not allow themselves to shift the blame on to boss or government" (80).

"Keep doing what you want to do and don't get distracted by what is known as the 'shiny stuff'" (100).

"Don't try too hard. Do not waste your energy pushing in the wrong direction" (224).

[Femke · Rating 2 out of 5]

You get the idea when you read the chapter heads

[Jan Krames · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes from podnikani pro bohemy
Business zalozeny na predplatnem, mesicnim a rocnim clenstvim.
Shopify a Gocardless jsou firmy ktere umoznuji opakovane platny
Nebo jeste Paypal ale 3,5% z kazdeho prodeje

Podnikatelsky zamer slouzi mne a investorum pro prehled a cil a jak toho dosahnout.
Prihlasit se do crowdfundingu jako investor a inspirovat se jejimi podn zamery a pak do sveho pridat humor.

Zaznamenat si par poznamek k napadu - poslani, vasen, trhu, tymu, konkurence, znacka, jak se dostat na trh, moji moudri muzi, kontext, financovani

Napsat si rezijni naklady = fixni naklady

Ucit se neustale o ucetnictvi. Udelat si vykazovku, balance sheet a cash flow

Udelat si sablonu na faktury. Adresa, udaje k bankovnim uctu a platebni podminky. Kolonka splatnosti ihned.

Udelat si system. Prijate faktury, uhrazene faktury.

Google drive

Vedeni ucetnictvi online - Freeagent

Negooglovat ale koupit nebo pujcit nejakou knihu uvod do ucetnictvi/ucetnictvi pro zacatecniky

Uctovat nejvyssi cenu co si troufnu a umim si oduvodnit. Vzdy jde s cenou klesnout.
Koupim brambory za 3 pence, nakrajim, usmazim dam do leskleho obalu a prodam za sedesat minci. 57/60*100 = 95% hruba ziskova marze
Stanoveni cen = vymyslim cenu, tu zdvojnasobim a prictu dph
Prozkoumat trh a kvalifikace konkurence a kolik si uctuji. Nebyt ani moc levny, ani moc drahy. Mozna lehce nad.

Investovat do tvorby online kurzu 6x30 minut, diskusni forum na discordu napriklad a poznamky k tomu nebo neco.

Vyber platebniho systemu, kartou, prevodem, paypalem a pak Acceptcards

Webovky - profi fotky
Reference
Podpora z profese, marketing influenceru
Dat vzorky = free lessons na par minut
Poradat akce = skupinove lekce nebo workshopy
Stanovit si cile - KUV = klicove ukazatele vykonnosti. Napriklad odber newsletteru, kolik lidi reaguje na fb, kolikrat zminka v tisku.

Prodavat neco co je krasne nebo uzitecne

Clenstvi v klubu a predplatne casopisu

Na webovky si dat video, kde se predstavim, dam ochutnavku toho ceho nabizim.

Najit si svuj styl ktery se mi libi. - Iman Gandzhi napriklad

Vyhrat si se zalozkou “o nas” na webovce

Program Sprout podivat se
Platforma Etsy
Squarespacw, shopify, wordpress, wix

Udelat vlastni podcast a tiktok

Zapojit google analytics

Socialni site - planovat prispevky

Newsletter tools - mailchimp nejsnazsi asi, taskrabbit, surveymonkey, ymlp
Font courieln new staromodni

Vyjednavani
Nikdy nedelat ustupky sam sobe - cena podle mne vysoka? Zalezi co rikaji ostatni, ne ja
Nelpet prilis na konkretnim vysledku - zamyslet se nad alternativou
Nespechat
Na prvni misto postavit vztah
Poradne si vse naplanovat, ale byt se svymi plany opatrny
Nejdriv se snazit pochopit
Dokud druha strana mluvi, stale vyjednava
Trochu jim tu horkou pilulku osladte
Nabidnete alternativy
Dejte najevo, ze jednani se blizi ke konci
Nekdy to dobre nedopadne

Zamestnat spravne lidi a spravnym poctivym procesem - tzn. Overit doporuceni/reference - zajima mne dochvilnost a poctivost a pak udelat interview.
Ucit zamestnance
Nepouzivat bezplatne pracovni agentury
Prijmout fakt ze jsem sef

O informovani ze nabiram mam mit na webovych strankach, rozeslat newsletterem a pak jeste moznost pouzit naboroveho konzultanta jako napriklad spolecnost Reed

Pri zamestnavani zamestnancu je potreba nastavit
Spolecny cil
Nechat je delat v cem jsou dobri a co je bavi a nekdy i udelat spinavou praci (rozpis sluzeb)

Delegovat = predat odpovednost, at si to udelaji jak chteji, ale at to funguje

Moudrost nejistoty - Alan Watts

Schuze kazdy tyden ve stejny cas, pritomnost povinna.
3 casti
1. Cisla a klicove ukazatele vykonnosti z min tydne a mesice. Porovnani s minulym rokem.
2. Plany na nadchazejici tyden, rozdelit ukoly a poreferovani o jejich plneni z ubehleho tydnu
3. Otazky a problemy - kazdy at rekne alespon 2

Pri spolupraci s partnerkou nebo blizkymi
Mit oddelene role
Naplanovat pravidelne meeting. Udelat seznam ukolu. A pak zapis z meetingu. Udelat si agendu meetingu a tam se klidne pohadat ale v soukromi se tomu snazit vyvarovat.
Mit na schuzkach prostrednika - to nevim teda

Therbligy

Senecovy dialogy precist
Epikterova rukojet

Kniha problemu - psat si co je spatne a pak na to vymyslet system
Stoicka filozofie nejlepsi pro podnikatele
Sebeuspokojeni je spatne a proto se potykame stale s neuspechy, abychom nebyli moc pysni

Vzdy mit nejaky plan B, nekoukat jen na jedno reseni problemu

Bill Drummond a Charles Handy jehi dva guru

Crowdcube webovka kde se da udelat crowdfunding - 6 mesicu priprava - business plan, projekce, videa, webovky. Setkat se osobne s investory pokud mozno. Od nich proudi nejvice financi.



Doporucena literatura
Dennis Felix how to get rich
Lymer Andy Teach yourself small business accounting
Keith Murningham Do nothing, how to stop overmanaging and become a great leader
Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Seneca letters from a stoic
Xenofon oikonomikus
James Reed Why you? 101 interview questions you will never fear again
Eric Reis the lean startup (o experimentovani s novymi produkty)
Alan Watts the wisdom of insecurity
Gino Wickmman get a grip on your business - o vytvareni systemu
Mark Vernon the idler guide to ancient philosophy



Nejake zkratky

AIDA - get Attention Interest about a product Desire to own a product Action to buy or order. 4 steps to sell a product.

AOV - Average order value

API - Application program interface - rozhraní pro programování aplikací

ATL - Above the line - nadlinková reklama ve velmi viditelných médiích

CMS - Content management system - redakční či publikační systém pro správu nejčastěji webového obsahu

CRM - customer relationship management - je zákaznicky orientovaným podnikatelským přístupem, který se vyznačuje aktivní tvorbou a udržováním dlouhodobě a oboustranně prospěšných vztahů se zákazníky

CTA - Výzva k akci je marketingová metoda, které se používá k vyvolání aktivity nebo akce ze strany čtenáře

CX - Customer Experience - je v podstatě všechno a všichni s čím zákazník přijde do styku při využívání produktu nebo služby

DNS - Domain Name System - je hierarchický systém doménových jmen zapojených do internetové sítě

Goodwill - dlouhodobý nehmotný a neměřitelný majetek společnosti, mezi nějž patří např. hodnota značky, duševního vlastnictví, vztahů Goodwill může být podhodnocený nebo nadhodnocený - to je otázka k diskusi.

Greyhair - člen představenstva, kterého si najímá mladá začínající firma. Je starší a v podnikání zkušenější než zakladatelé- Jeho přítomnost by měla investory ujistit, že návrh firmy je důvěryhodný.

HIPPO - Highest paid person's opinion

HTML - Hypertext Markup language - Název značkovacího jazyka používaného pro tvorbu webovek, které jsou propojeny hypertextovými odkazy.

FOOTFALL - Systém měření návštěvnosti či počtu osob v obchodních centrech, obchodních sítích, obchodech atd.

GA - Google Analytics

HANDSELLING - Termín používaný v knihkupectvích pro doporučení konkrétní knihy zákazníkovi poté, co jsme vyslechli jeho preference a potřeby.

HNWI - High net worth individuals - osoby s vysokým čistým jměním = boháči. Podnikatelé se často zaměřují na tuto skupinu a to nechutným způsobem.

HODNOCENI ZAMESTNANCU

GROSS MARGIN HRUBA MARZE

INSOLVENCNI - Nemít dostatek aktiv nebo hotovosti k zaplacení toho, co dlužíte.

INTRAPRENEUR - Jednotliec, který sice ve velké společnosti pracuje jako zaměstnanec, ale vnáší do ní podnikatelský způsob myšlení vytvářením nových produktů, služeb či systémů.

IP - Intellectual property - duševní vlastnictví (např. nápadu)

IPO - Initial public offering - první veřejná nabídka akcií, tedy případ, kdy firma shání peníze prodejem akcií na burze.

KAIZEN - změna k lepšímu

SKANZEN

KONTROLNI PODIL - znamená, že jeho vlastník má více než padesát procent akcií společnosti, a proto má hlavní slovo při rozhodování.

LIFESTYLE PODNIKANI - současný termín pro domácky průmysl- Jde o drobné podnikání, které majitelé často provozují z domu, což jim ponechává dostatek času na jiné oblasti života, jako je rodina nebo přátelé a které nemusí mít ambiciozni plany rustu.

PLNENI - proces vyřízení objednávky zákazníka. Když dostaneme objednávku, vyřídíme ji buď prostřednictvím zásilkového prodeje nebo prostrednictvim webovych aplikaci

POS POINT OF SALE - Pokladní místo

PPC PAY PER CLICK - Když si zřídím reklamu u googlu budu platit určitou částku pokaždé když někdo na moji reklamu klikne.

RIZIKOVY INVESTOR - někdo kdo pracuje pro firmu která využívá peníze lidí k investování do podnikání, kde se očekávají vysoké výnosy. Důsledkem může být tlak an podnikatele. Vyhnout se jim.

SEM - Search engine marketing - forma internet marketingu zvyšující viditelnost stránek ve výsledcích vyhledávačů pomoci optimalizace a podpory marketingu.

SEO - Search engine optimization - metodika vytváření a upravování webových stránek tak, aby jejich forma a obsah byly vhodné pro automatizované zpracování v internetových vyhledávačích. Proces, kde zajišťuji aby moje firma se objevila na titulní stránce vyhledávačů.

SHRNUTI PRVNI VETOU - stručné shrnutí schůzky nebo podnikatelského rozhodnutí, které se předkládá pracovně vytíženým sefum, kteri nemaji cas na přečtení celého dokumentu.

SNADNO DOSTUPNÉ OVOCE - Něco co lze snadno a rychle prodat, nebo snadno získané příležitosti

SSL - Secure sockets layer - je protokol ktery zabezpecuje sifrovanou komunikaci a autentizaci komunikujicich stran. Neco s emailovým nastavenim.

SUS - SEXY UPSHIFT - Jedna se o proces, pri kterem internetovi supermaniaci vezmou nepritazlivy druh podnikani a ucini z nej moderni výkonnou firmu. - Naruseni trhu

UGC - USER GENERATED CONTENT - internetovy server, jehož obsah tvoří zdarma uzivatele. Pak se k nemu pripoji reklama = money

UPP - uzivatel prilis pitomý - vtip

URL - uniform resource locator. Webová adresa co zacina http://

USP UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION - Něco, co můj produkt nebo služba může nabídnout narozdíl od ostatních

WYISWYG WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET - označuje způsob editace dokumentů na pc. pri kterem je verze zobrazena na obrazovce vzhledove totozna s vyslednou verzi dokumentu.

YTD - year to date

[Pedro Anjos · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny and witty account of the experiences of a man who dreams of living a bohemian, artsy life while succeeding as a business owner and manager.

As a management consultant with a business education I am biased, but I found the business insights present in this book very 'common-sensical', basic and inferior to what can be found in other, more focused and ‘serious’ business books.

But this is to be expected even from the cover. What sets this book apart is not the brilliant business insights but the window into the life of an aspiring bohemian, philosopher, artist and general lover of contemplation who is at the same time an ambitious business manager striving for success – and this book really delivers on this.

The author describes very funnily how he learned about the several aspects of running a small business first hand, and is very honest about his achievements (he shares turnover and profit figures, which are cool data-points that help us put a dimension on his financial context). He also details the challenges of balancing all these efforts with his family life. Throughout the book his vision of the world and the things he values (freedom, appreciation of the simple things in life, family) color his writing, making it relatable and human.

As an introvert working in business who finds himself often dreaming about a life of contemplation filled with books, art and time for thinking and writing, I was inspired to hear how the author reserves for himself 4 hours to think, read and work on his own every morning before jumping into meetings and other engagements his business demands. Maybe something to implement in my life...

Overall this is a cool account of an interesting, somewhat unconventional life which can inform the reader's life choices and decisions, business-related or not.

[Ashley Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

My girlfriend bought this for me, as she knows I love a good business book, and I'm glad she did.

Most of the books I read tend to concern the creative side of business, and by that I mean marketing/advertising - not creative accounting - so it was nice to read something like BFB which was more of a generalised look at business.

In case you, like me, hadn't heard of Tom Hodgkinson before - he runs a publication called 'the Idler' - which deals with (successful) slacker culture and the kind of idealism that swept the wealthier parts of Great Britain before the industrial revolution kicked in. There's more than a touch of philosophy among these pages and that's refreshing, because I'm always looking for different perspectives in this life.

While I'm not a slacker by design, that doesn't mean that I've never felt 'idle' at times when I should have been productive, and I'm sure many of you reading will nod your head and agree with that - so a lot of this book is very relevant.

This point was laboured in another book I read fairly recently 'Business for Punks' and again it is relevant here. The point in question? The fact that, no matter how idealistic you are and no matter how much you hate corporate systems, you need to understand them before you can ever hope to take them on. Ever tried running a business without knowing how to do the accounts? Excuse the pun, but it just doesn't add up - you need to live it, before you can idly adapt to it.

So in short, some of the business stuff maybe basic for the more senior among us - but the refreshing philosophies and reflections on pre-industrial idealism are just as relevant for today's audience as they ever were for Dr. Johnson and co.

Cheers, Tom, you've written a good book.

[Lee Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone currently going slightly insane in an office job that's unbelievably boring, I've been pondering self-employment for some time, and I really do think it's time to make some moves in that direction. I was very pleased to find this book, as Tom Hodgkinson is one of my favourite authors - I love "How To Be Free", and read it on a regular basis.

This book is part business guide and part biography, reflecting the author's experience in setting up and running The Idler Academy. It's got plenty of humour and cautionary tales in it, along with practical advice that stems from his philosophy that life should be fun and relaxed - this should extend into how you make your money.

I was pleased to see some references to Charles Handy in here, one of the much more human business gurus out there, and there's plenty of suggestions for further reading, and ideas to spur you into action.

If you want a bog-standard how-to guide, you probably won't like this book much, but if you've ever thought you might be able to make some money out of things you're passionate about, you'll find plenty in here that's practical and helpful. Very easy to read straight through in a couple of days, but certainly a book I'll keep on the shelf for future reference.

[Jay French · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not the target market for this book. While I occasionally think of myself as a Bohemian, I'm far from it, with a business and IT background. I've read plenty of books that are about starting businesses. This is of that kind, but with a twist in that the target is for non-traditional businesspeople. Remember the famous textbook/class "Physics for Poets"? This is the same kind of vibe. Hodgkinson provides some pointers as to how to do things for business, things like using spreadsheets. The book doesn't claim that you need to do all the steps in running a business, but you do need to understand what those steps are so you can understand the experts that you use. I didn't find these parts of the book all that insightful, but again I wasn't the target market. I can imagine your run of the mill Bohemian without prior business training would pick up good pointers here. I really enjoyed the stories of Hodgkinson building his Idler business, though. I found his "war" stories interesting, and often humorous. And I found his website, one I hadn't heard of before, quite interesting in its own right. Glad I read this and would read more by the author.

[Caroline Donahue · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I wish I had been given this book ten years ago when I first tried starting my own business. I think I would have succeeded or failed more gracefully. Since that time, I have learned to love the spreadsheet, one of Hodgkinson’s wise lessons from this book. I learned new tips that were helpful, and was tremendously reassured to find that wanting to succeed in business is not incompatible with the bohemian dream. Both practical and fun, I think this would make an excellent graduation present or gift for any new business owner, even if you’re giving that gift to yourself.

[Scott Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version, but it's not listed here on Goodreads. It's a great surface primer for what you need to do for a business when you're on your own or leading a small enterprise. It reinforced for me that I'm already doing a lot of what's suggested (which is evident by my relative lack of stress when tax time rolls 'round). Plus, learning basic spreadsheet skills has, in many cases, proven to be a valuable skill. I think our kids should be learning a lot of these skills as part of their basic education, but that's likely fodder for a totally different book!

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contains some moderately interesting business philosophy, unfortunately slips easily into the world of common sense.
Has a useful glossary of business terms at the back and raised one or two valid points. Regrettably he chose to spend a whole chapter defending himself against online critics. Somehow makes this review feel strangely impotent.
Worth a flick through but business bible it isn't!

[Aloysius · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning is interesting then ever less so.

[Helios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hodgkinson draws from his own experiences, particularly his journey of establishing a small bookshop and academy in London. He shares not only his successes but also the numerous mistakes he made along the way, providing readers with a realistic view of what it means to be self-employed. This transparency is refreshing; he openly discusses financial figures and the challenges of balancing work with family life. By doing so, he demystifies the entrepreneurial process, illustrating that success often comes from learning through failure.

A central theme in the book is the tension between the desire for artistic freedom and the realities of running a profitable business. Hodgkinson advocates for understanding traditional business principles—like accounting and marketing—while also encouraging readers to infuse their personal values into their work. He emphasizes that one does not need to abandon creativity or anti-consumerist ideals to succeed in business; instead, these can coexist harmoniously.

Hodgkinson's writing style is accessible and relatable, often weaving together references from philosophy, literature, and pop culture to enrich his points. For instance, he juxtaposes classical ideas with modern entrepreneurial challenges, making his insights resonate across different contexts. This approach not only entertains but also invites readers to reflect on their own values and motivations in pursuing business ventures.

While Business for Bohemians may not provide exhaustive technical guidance on topics like bookkeeping or detailed operational strategies, it excels in offering a philosophical framework for approaching business with authenticity. Hodgkinson encourages readers to prioritize what they love while being mindful of the practical aspects of running a business. His perspective serves as both inspiration and cautionary advice for those who romanticize entrepreneurship without recognizing its inherent challenges.

In conclusion, Hodgkinson's book is a valuable resource for aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to embrace their creative identities while navigating the practicalities of business. It champions a balanced approach that values both freedom and responsibility, making it an essential read for anyone looking to forge their own path in the world of self-employment.

[Sarah Grable · Rating 4 out of 5]

I added this book to my TBR list after listening to author Tom Hodgkinson, along with Chris Guillebeau, interviewed on The Secret Library Podcast.

My favorite thing about this slim little business book is the truly real-world perspective that it takes on running a small business. A miniscule minority of business endeavors are going to land as Fortune 500 enterprises, with the vast majority ending in failure. For the average "bohemian" who starts a business with the dream of being free from enslavement to the corporate rat race, the risk of diving in without a reality check is huge. This author has made the mistakes and chronicled them here so you don't have to. He pulls aside the enticing curtain of the dream of running a bookshop cafe to reveal the litany of everyday hurdles to be jumped, from making sure the taxes are paid to managing recalcitrant staff and organizing your books. And he doesn't mean the ones on the shelves for sale.

Hodgkinson also delves into the philosophy of freedom and self-employment, and the seeming difficulty of being in business for profit while promoting a lifestyle of anti-consumerism. I particularly enjoyed his passages discussing the tradeoffs between more lucrative employment and the frequently-thankless hustle of self-employed business.

If you're looking for detailed how-to's of bookkeeping and business management, this is not your book. But there are thousands of those out there. This is a lovely, philosophical book that will both inspire and warn the free-spirited aspiring businessman. As a bonus, delightfully written; anyone who can tether classical Greek philosophy with references to The Sex Pistols has my vote.

[Marek Bílek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pěkná kniha všeobecných rad nejen k podnikání, ale obecně k myšlenkovému nastavení, jak vnímat práci, kterou děláte. Aneb jestli ji děláte pouze pro peníze a jinou radost vám nepřináší, je to prostě špatně. Hodgkinson čerpá z mnohaletých zkušeností, kdy střídal podnikání a zaměstnání a vybírá důležitá poselství z obou. Problém jen je, že když už se dostane ke konkrétním radám, jsou bud vztažené na starší populaci (například nerozumí sociálním sítím), nebo se týkají britské populace, což není úplně typický okruh zákazníků starého kontinentu. I tak se kniha čte dobře, není nouze o vtip a některé rady jsem si vzal k srdci.

[Rooz Izadi (Spacewalk) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books that I’ve ever read. It’s fun and easy to read, highly informative (it gets to the point, naming specific tools, apps, authors, etc) and of course, efficiently structured and bluntly written. It’s honest. Brutally, and hilariously honest. Big thanks to Tom for writing this piece of gem.

“The whole point of being a bohemian in business is to escape slavery. If you end up becoming your own jailer, then something has gone wrong. Try to avoid the temptation to build a cage for yourself, however comfortably furnished that cage might be.”

[Jennifer Jank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a step-by-step, hand-holding type of guidebook, if that's what you're looking for. But it was a great look into how the author's business changed over time and why he made the changes that he did. I also GREATLY enjoyed the fact that the book is pretty adamantly anti-hustle culture, that earning money is for the pleasure of working less and not more. People who want to be a business titan aren't the audience for this book, but if you want to run your own business and keep to your own principles I think it's very helpful in that regard.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay to begin with. It really didn't tell me anything new. However, toward the end, I really started to dislike the book and the author. It began when he was writing a chapter about dealing with customer complaints, etc. Which is a completely valid topic for business owners. However, he then spent the majority of the rest of the book complaining about being a business owner, trying to get sympathy, and telling anecdotes where he was a real jerk. I just wanted to tell him to listen to his wife and be grateful she hasn't left.

[Anand · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real, practical, and honest account of an idler to become a small business owner. A pretty practical concepts(negotiations/leadership) and frugal wisdom for every entrepreneur irrespective of the scale. The author openly discussed his mistakes(extra star), paradoxes and maintaining unconventional philosophy of being free and idle, doing what you love and making money to take it further for the benefit of the community at large.