Beyond the Hammer book cover

Beyond the Hammer by Brian Gottlieb Summary

Beyond the Hammer
Brian Gottlieb
4.46 (228 Reviews)
Leadership
Business
Entrepreneurship
Overview
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Author
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Overview of Beyond the Hammer

In "Beyond the Hammer," Brian Gottlieb revolutionizes leadership through five powerful pillars that transform toxic workplaces into high-performance teams. Endorsed by Wolfgang Puck as "inspiring for entrepreneurs," this part-fiction, part-strategy guide reveals why the best leaders never rely on hammers alone.

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Key takeaways

1

When Everything Falls Apart at Once

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A three-inch gap shouldn't ruin your life. Yet there George Warren stood, staring at a misaligned kitchen island that violated building codes and cost him $42,000 to fix. The client's words echoed in his head: "We don't have a problem. You have a problem." He wasn't wrong. George had inherited his family's remodeling business after his father's sudden death, and now everything was crumbling. Project managers didn't care. Customers complained constantly. His best people were jumping ship to competitors. He worked 80-hour weeks micromanaging every detail, yet things only got worse. The harder he ran, the further behind he fell. Sound familiar? This crisis plays out daily in businesses everywhere-not because people are lazy or incompetent, but because of a fundamental leadership gap that most organizations never address.

2

The Invisible Force That Changes Everything

3

Why People Stay or Walk Away

4

The Ripple Effect of Every Word

5

Where Growth Becomes the Culture

6

The Daily Practice of Great Management

7

From Dozer to Developer

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Beyond the Hammer isn't just a book — it's a masterclass in Leadership. To help you absorb its lessons in the way that works best for you, we offer five unique learning modes. Whether you're a deep thinker, a fast learner, or a story lover, there's a mode designed to fit your style.

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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comments
254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

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