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Ends.
From the back cover:
Ends.
Why we overlook endings for humans, products, services and digital. And why we shouldn't.
Ends.
Why we overlook endings for humans, products, services and digital. And why we shouldn't.
- GenresDesignBusinessNonfiction
242 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
2 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 30, 2017
Fascinating - and deeply frustrating. Joe Macleod thinks we don't think about endings enough. And indeed, he is right that we spend much more time on 'onboarding' than 'offboarding'.
How that simple, and correct observation, could sprawl into a sort of 'grand unified theory' running to 242 pages is a mystery. The author asserts that the lack of good endings is leading us to an unsavoury end (if you will forgive the pun). Macleod covers money, marriage, computer games, TV-series, travel - in fact any area you can imagine. He has something to say about all, and has quotes, facts and figures from a litany of sources. The focus is on what's wrong, what's lacking.
One of the author's suggestions is that you should be able to offset carbon as you book a flight - another that we'd all be happier if the series Friends had had a better ending after 200 episodes. And so it goes on.
That said, he does give a nod to 'the right to be forgotten'; the circular economy; the practice of recycling. As interesting as that is (and I learnt many a new factoid) it is a bit of a dog's breakfast - leaving you without a satisfactory finish: what exactly is a good end?
Starting with a clear idea of that - and an experienced editor - might have helped us all get to closure.
How that simple, and correct observation, could sprawl into a sort of 'grand unified theory' running to 242 pages is a mystery. The author asserts that the lack of good endings is leading us to an unsavoury end (if you will forgive the pun). Macleod covers money, marriage, computer games, TV-series, travel - in fact any area you can imagine. He has something to say about all, and has quotes, facts and figures from a litany of sources. The focus is on what's wrong, what's lacking.
One of the author's suggestions is that you should be able to offset carbon as you book a flight - another that we'd all be happier if the series Friends had had a better ending after 200 episodes. And so it goes on.
That said, he does give a nod to 'the right to be forgotten'; the circular economy; the practice of recycling. As interesting as that is (and I learnt many a new factoid) it is a bit of a dog's breakfast - leaving you without a satisfactory finish: what exactly is a good end?
Starting with a clear idea of that - and an experienced editor - might have helped us all get to closure.
October 10, 2019
I saw Joe speak at an event several months ago and his discussion on endings - and how bad we are at them - really struck a chord. I've thought about this for a while from a recruiting point of view - ie we tend set out to recruit someone for an undefined period rather than thinking about things like 'this a 3 year role for the person. Let's frame it in that way so they develop for the next thing AND let's build the succession planning in from the beginning'.
Ends speaks more to our level of consumerism - the relentless focus on getting 'new' customers and the on-boarding experience - and points to how we've distanced ourselves from thinking about a) the ending and b) the consequences of our 'blissful ignorance' and lack of ownership about what impact we are actually having.
While a little clunky and un-directed at times, in a world where 'shiny pennies', 'next generation' and the 'latest and greatest' are championed, Ends offers a thought-provoking perspective on where all of this endless moving on might actually end up. 4-stars
Ends speaks more to our level of consumerism - the relentless focus on getting 'new' customers and the on-boarding experience - and points to how we've distanced ourselves from thinking about a) the ending and b) the consequences of our 'blissful ignorance' and lack of ownership about what impact we are actually having.
While a little clunky and un-directed at times, in a world where 'shiny pennies', 'next generation' and the 'latest and greatest' are championed, Ends offers a thought-provoking perspective on where all of this endless moving on might actually end up. 4-stars
January 28, 2022
The history (and the present) of consumerism, and how the lack of proper ending in any life cycle is bad for everyone.
Depending on your reading style, I might suggest reading few first chapters to stress the issue & it's impact, and dividing the rest of book into smaller pieces to read over time later on (it's more like a collection of various scenarios). Even if you get the idea straight away, the examples from various settings are still really insightful.
The author is a talented writer and a remarkable storyteller. I will definitely reread both of his books again both in the nearer and farther future.
& while Ends is not a mandatory preread to Endineering, I'd say that Endineering is definitely a mandatory post-read to Ends
Depending on your reading style, I might suggest reading few first chapters to stress the issue & it's impact, and dividing the rest of book into smaller pieces to read over time later on (it's more like a collection of various scenarios). Even if you get the idea straight away, the examples from various settings are still really insightful.
The author is a talented writer and a remarkable storyteller. I will definitely reread both of his books again both in the nearer and farther future.
& while Ends is not a mandatory preread to Endineering, I'd say that Endineering is definitely a mandatory post-read to Ends
August 23, 2017
I had some pretty big expectations about this book because I attended a workshop about it. The beginning was interesting but as the book goes on it just becomes too repetitive. There were typos in the book as well...
July 14, 2019
Its an interesting topic. The book has some cool fun facts. But if you have an opportunity to see the author present somewhere live then his 20-30minute presentation is well enough to spark the same thoughts in you about your products experience and ends in general.
December 31, 2019
This was a very different book than I was expecting - it could have done with some tightening.
As a Christian though, I did appreciate the chapter on how religion has influenced how we view endings, waste, etc.
As a Christian though, I did appreciate the chapter on how religion has influenced how we view endings, waste, etc.
November 3, 2017
Not at all what I expected.
January 20, 2019
Very insightful and relevant topic. Well designed. Terribly executed as a piece of work - from storylining to writing to editing.
October 27, 2025
It was surely a unique perspective. Nicely organized book, but keep in mind that it was his first book :)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews