I didn’t know who Robin Sharma was, so I didn’t exactly know what to expect when I downloaded this book to my Kindle. It was obviously some type of self-help book centered around ritualizing a morning routine, and because I’m currently trying to optimize mine, I gave it a try. It was an interesting, quick read, and I’m glad I gave it a shot. The book can be summarized in 3 sentences thus:

To increase your productivity, prosperity, and overall well-being, rise at 5am every morning to focus on yourself. By moving, reflecting, and learning in respective 20 minute increments for 1 hour every morning before anyone else is awake, you will live a more authentic, fulfilling life. Even though (like all change) it will be extremely difficult at first, unnatural after that, and automatic after 66 days, rising early is a keystone habit that will impact all other areas of your life by generating momentum for the rest of your day.

Sharma takes an unusual approach to this self-help advice: the book is a story, about an entrepreneur and an artist who go to a motivation seminar and befriend an eccentric billionaire, who takes them around the world while teaching them his secret methods. Constructing a narrative enables Sharma to reiterate the same points in multiple ways; the billionaire will lay out the framework for a specific habit, which the other characters then question and reword, allowing the billionaire to expound further. This writing strategy proves effective in that you will not misunderstand any point in the book, but it does get repetitive. I highlight a lot of my nonfiction books, but because so much of the writing was redundant reinforcement of the same topic, my highlights were much scarcer with the 5AM Club.

Nonetheless, the book is a fast read and provides valuable insights regarding the science of forming habits as well as offering many additional strategies and tools for being healthier, happier, and more productive. It’s a great starting point for establishing a morning routine, or for mixing up an already established one. I award the book 4 out of 5 stars for its usefulness and breezy reading experience. Many people refuse to read self-help, but when it’s an easy and entertaining experience, you can enjoy the journey while also learning something new.