The Diary of a CEO review and summary: Steven Bartlett’s 33 laws of business and life, which of them matter most when you work for yourself, and where the book overreaches.
Steven Bartlett built a social media agency in his early twenties, became the youngest investor on Dragons’ Den and turned his podcast into one of the biggest in the world. The Diary of a CEO book distils what he learned into 33 short laws. Some are excellent, some are familiar, and almost all are easy to read on a busy day.
★★★★☆4.3/5
My verdict: A punchy collection of business laws from a UK founder, best read a few laws at a time.
The cheapest way to read it is free: start an Audible trial and use your credit on this one.
Listen free with an Audible trialTry Kindle Unlimited freeSee it on Amazon UK
Best format: Audio. Bartlett narrates and the laws are short and story-led, which makes them easy to dip into on a walk. A paperback is handy if you want to flick back to specific laws.
Why listen to me? I have been self-employed for 20 years (side hustler, then solopreneur, now business owner), I have coached 500+ creators and business owners, and I get through most of my business reading as audiobooks on dog walks. I review books for one reason: to tell you whether this one earns a place in your week. Read client results.
Jump to:
⚡ QUICK ANSWER: The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett gets 4.3/5 from me. It sets out 33 laws of business and life across four pillars: the self, the story, the philosophy and the team. Each law mixes Bartlett’s stories with research and podcast lessons. It suits founders and freelancers who like short, actionable chapters.
What The Diary of a CEO is about
Steven Bartlett dropped out of university in Manchester, co-founded the social media agency Social Chain and later joined Dragons’ Den as its youngest investor. His podcast, The Diary of a CEO, interviews entrepreneurs, scientists and athletes, and the 2023 book is subtitled The 33 Laws of Business and Life.
Each law gets a short chapter that combines a story from Bartlett’s own career, a few findings from psychology or business research, and lessons he picked up from podcast guests. The result reads more like a set of essays than a single argument.
The Diary of a CEO summary
The 33 laws are grouped into four pillars. The first, the self, is about building yourself before you build anything else. Its first law, fill your five buckets in the right order, argues that knowledge and skills come first, followed by network, resources and reputation, and that people who chase reputation early end up with nothing to back it up.
The second pillar, the story, is about how you communicate. Bartlett argues that how you tell a story often matters as much as what you are selling, and he includes laws on the power of a strong first impression, on being unusual enough to be noticed and on getting people to say yes. The third pillar, the philosophy, covers mindset and decision-making, including laws on out-failing your competition, sweating the small stuff and treating pressure as a privilege.
The fourth pillar, the team, is about hiring and culture. Bartlett argues for being obsessive about hiring, building a cult-like sense of shared purpose and creating teams that raise each other’s standards. This part is the least relevant to solo workers, though it becomes useful the moment you hire a freelancer or an assistant.
Throughout, the book is designed to be skimmed and revisited. The chapters are short, and each law ends with a clear one-line summary.
The one idea worth the price: Fill your buckets in order. Skills and knowledge first, reputation last, or the reputation has nothing behind it.
Key ideas and takeaways
Build the self before the brand
The five buckets idea is a useful check for anyone starting out. If you are pouring energy into a personal brand before you have the skills to deliver, you are building on sand.
Out-fail the competition
Bartlett argues that the people who win are the ones who run the most experiments and fail the most often. For a one-person business, that means testing offers, content and prices quickly rather than polishing one idea for months.
Story beats facts
People remember stories. The laws on storytelling apply to every sales page, pitch and YouTube video a self-employed person ever makes.
Small things are not small
Bartlett’s law on sweating the small stuff is a reminder that details, such as how fast you reply or how your invoice looks, shape how clients feel about you.
VIDEO
Bartlett’s laws are built on his own setbacks. This is one of mine, and what it taught me about building something you cannot be fired from.
My honest take
I enjoyed this more than I expected. I am wary of founder books that turn every anecdote into a law, and some of that is here, but the best laws are sharp and the short chapters suit how busy people read.
The five buckets idea is the one I wish I had heard at the start. I wasted time early on trying to look established before I had the skills and the track record to back it up. These days I tell new freelancers to obsess over getting good and getting results; the reputation follows. My guide to going from employee to entrepreneur follows the same order.
It is also refreshing to read a business book by a British founder. The references and the culture feel closer to home than most of the American titles on this list.
Read it a law at a time. Taken in one sitting, the laws blur together; taken one a day, they become small nudges you can act on.
Got the laws, but not sure which to act on first?
Books compress experience; coaching speeds it up. I have spent 20 years self-employed and coached 500+ people through the same problems this book tackles. A free call is a fast way to turn what you read into a plan for your week.
- You have read the books but nothing has changed yet
- You are working long hours without much to show for it
- You want a second pair of eyes on your business or channel
Where it falls short
Some laws feel thin, and a few are familiar ideas with a new name. The research backing is sometimes light, with single studies carrying a lot of weight.
The team pillar is less useful for solo freelancers, and the tone occasionally slips into the motivational style of social media clips.
The honest caveat: It is a collection of lessons rather than a system. You will need to choose the three or four laws that fit your situation and ignore the rest.
How it compares
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is the other popular book of collected wisdom from a founder and investor.
| The Diary of a CEO | The Almanack of Naval Ravikant | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 33 laws with stories and research | Curated quotes and essays |
| Focus | Business, branding and teams | Wealth, judgement and happiness |
| Tone | Energetic and practical | Calm and philosophical |
| Best for | Founders and freelancers building a brand | People rethinking wealth and life |
Read Bartlett for practical business laws and Naval for the deeper thinking about what the business is for.
Who should read it (and who should skip it)
Read it if you like short, punchy chapters, you are building a personal brand or a small team, or you already enjoy the podcast.
Skip it if you want a single, joined-up framework or you are tired of founder-led business advice.
How I would use it if you are self-employed
- I would audit my five buckets honestly and pick the emptiest one to work on this quarter.
- I would run three small experiments this month (a new offer, a new content format, a new price) instead of one big polished launch.
- I would rewrite my main sales page or channel trailer as a story rather than a list of features.
- I would pick one small detail clients notice, such as reply speed or invoice design, and make it better.
People also read
If The Diary of a CEO lands for you, these are the reviews readers open next.
People also ask
What are the four pillars in The Diary of a CEO book?
The self, the story, the philosophy and the team. The laws are grouped under these four headings, moving from personal development to communication, mindset and finally building a team.
What is the first law in The Diary of a CEO?
Fill your five buckets in the right order: knowledge, skills, network, resources and reputation. Bartlett argues that people who chase reputation before building skills end up with little to back it up.
Is The Diary of a CEO book the same as the podcast?
No. The book is a set of 33 laws drawing on Bartlett’s career, research and lessons from guests, while the podcast is a long-form interview show. Fans of the podcast will recognise some stories.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Diary of a CEO book worth reading?
Yes, especially if you like short chapters you can act on. The best laws are sharp and practical, though some are familiar ideas. It works best read a law or two at a time.
How many laws are in The Diary of a CEO?
There are 33 laws, grouped into four pillars: the self, the story, the philosophy and the team.
Who is Steven Bartlett?
A British entrepreneur who co-founded the social media agency Social Chain, joined Dragons’ Den as its youngest investor and hosts The Diary of a CEO podcast.
Is The Diary of a CEO useful for freelancers?
Yes. The pillars on the self, story and philosophy apply directly to freelancers building skills, a brand and a client base. The team pillar becomes useful once you start hiring help.
Is The Diary of a CEO book based on science?
Each law includes some research, but it is mainly built on Bartlett’s experience and stories from his career and podcast. Treat the research as support rather than proof.
Is The Diary of a CEO on Audible?
Yes, and Steven Bartlett narrates it. If you are new to Audible, the free trial credit can cover the audiobook, and you keep it even if you cancel.
Final verdict
The Diary of a CEO earns 4.3/5 from me. It is uneven, as collections of laws tend to be, but the best laws are worth the price, and the short chapters make it one of the easiest business books to fit into a busy self-employed week. The cheapest way in is a free Audible trial (your credit covers this book and it is yours to keep) or a Kindle Unlimited free trial. Prefer paper? Find it on Amazon UK.
About the author: Alan Spicer is a UK-based YouTube Certified Expert (since 2017), self-employed for 20 years, with six YouTube Silver Play Buttons and 500+ creators coached. He has grown channels including Coin Bureau Trading and Woof & Joy, and reviews the books that shaped how he runs a solo business. Fuelled by tea.
Related reading
Want the shortcut from reading to results?
I am a YouTube Certified Expert with 20 years of self-employment behind me, six Silver Play Buttons and 500+ people coached. Bring your goals to a free discovery call and leave with next steps.
Disclosure: some links in this review are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible and Kindle Unlimited). If you sign up or buy through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Free trial lengths and terms are set by Amazon and Audible, so check current terms before you sign up. Star ratings are my own editorial scores.
