Discipline by Subtraction

The Art of Strategic Laziness

James R Snoddy, Amy Jane Harris, Habiba Babar

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Paperback

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English

Madder Lion Press
06 July 2025

Management decision making; Time management; Advice on careers & achieving success

What if the real key to productivity isn't doing more-but doing less on purpose?

Discipline by Subtraction: The Art of Strategic Laziness is a provocative manifesto for anyone drowning in overload, addicted to optimization, or caught in institutional inertia. Drawing from two decades in combat zones, diplomatic trenches, and federal bureaucracy, James Snoddy delivers a field-tested doctrine for reclaiming time, clarity, and agency.

Rejecting the cult of hustle and the tyranny of to-do lists, Snoddy argues that most modern systems-whether personal, organizational, or governmental-fail not because they aren't doing enough, but because they refuse to stop doing the wrong things. Through real-world examples, strategic frameworks, and darkly funny observations, this book shows how to systematically eliminate waste, distraction, and low-value obligations.

At once philosophical and practical, Discipline by Subtraction bridges behavioral science, systems theory, and decision analysis to teach you how to:

Delete low-ROI tasks, meetings, and metrics without guilt Design subtraction systems that free up mental bandwidth Prioritize actions based on return, not tradition or optics Build scalable strategies that resist scope creep and burnout Survive and thrive in institutions driven by additive logic

Whether you're a policymaker, entrepreneur, creative professional, or just someone trying to stay afloat in a culture of overload, this book will help you stop optimizing what should be eliminated. It offers a counterintuitive but deeply logical lens on leadership, self-management, and organizational reform.

This is not a guide to working faster. It's a call to work smarter by working less-but working with ruthless precision.

If you've ever felt that ""more"" is the enemy of ""better,"" this is your manual.

By: James R Snoddy
Cover design or artwork by: Habiba Babar
Edited by: Amy Jane Harris
Imprint: Madder Lion Press
Dimensions: Height: 279mm, Width: 216mm, Spine: 10mm
Weight: 463g
ISBN: 9798999472700
Pages: 194
Publication Date: 06 July 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

James R. Snoddy is a former U.S. Army infantry officer, Foreign Service Officer, and strategic architect. As a rifle platoon leader, he led 480 combat missions in Iraq, negotiated agreements at the UN and with partners in the EU, Asia, Middle East, and Caribbean, and advised senior U.S. officials across federal agencies and the National Security Council. A Johns Hopkins-trained writer and founder of the seven-figure Jeep brand Jammock, he developed Discipline by Subtraction as a doctrine to reclaim time, clarity, and bandwidth-by design, not effort. He lives in New York with his wife and son, balancing all of this--career, company, and chaos--in the same 24-hour day everyone else gets.

Reviews for Discipline by Subtraction: The Art of Strategic Laziness

""Clear, precise writing... actionable methods for improving daily efficiency... making detailed systems feel approachable."" - Jamie Michele, Readers' Favorite ""Every section... was filled with insight and practical principles... opened my eyes to incredible ways I could become an effective time manager."" - Stewart Brian, Readers' Favorite ""Excites me... goes beyond cutting things out-it's a diagnostic on my mind, a way to reclaim time and alleviate mental chaos."" - Peggy Jo Wipf, Readers' Favorite