Book SummaryBe More Pirate, by Sam Conniff Allende

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Be More Pirate

When we think about pirates, we usually picture brutal thieves, murderers, and rum lovers terrorizing the seas. In Be More Pirate, entrepreneur Sam Conniff offers a new perspective. He demonstrates how, during the Golden Age of Piracy from 1690 to 1725, pirates were innovators and disruptors who challenged an unjust political and economic order, made massive fortunes,...

Be More Pirate Summary Part 1: The Golden Age of Piracy

Before we can explore what it means to be a pirate, let’s discuss who the Golden Age Pirates were. Part 1 of our guide will provide a brief history of the Golden Age of Piracy and dispel a few modern myths about pirates of the past.

A Brief History of Golden Age Piracy

Conniff explains that the Golden Age of Piracy began in the late 17th century, a chaotic, rapidly changing period of history. Europe had just emerged from a half-century of constant, destructive warfare, and the old medieval feudal system was giving way to a capitalist economy. Elites consolidated their wealth and power through violent colonial ventures abroad and a thriving slave trade—leading to an unstable, unequal world.

(Shortform note: The turmoil of the 17th century wasn’t just limited to Europe and its colonies. During this time, the entire northern hemisphere was in the grip of the Little Ice Age, a period of global cooling that led to bitter winters, extensive droughts, and brief summers worldwide. Consequently, other empires and nations in the northern hemisphere experienced similar political instability to Europe. In China, [the Ming Dynasty...

Be More Pirate Summary Part 2: Why Become a Pirate?

Conniff explains that many of the same circumstances that pushed the Golden Age Pirates into their lifestyle exist in our modern world. And while we may not be able to steal a ship and raid the high seas, there are plenty of good reasons to embrace the pirate way of life. Conniff notes three similarities between the modern world and the world of the Golden Age Pirates: inequality, economic instability, and political instability.

(Shortform note: While Conniff advises against it, old-school “stealing ships and raiding the high seas” pirates still exist to this day, especially off the coasts of Southeast Asia and East Africa. Instead of stealing loot like Golden Age Pirates, modern pirates tend to hijack cargo ships and ransom them back to the shipping companies that own them. These pirates no doubt sense the instability of the modern world that Conniff refers to, and, like the Golden Age Pirates did in their day, have chosen to act on it.)

Similarity #1: Inequality

During the Golden Age of Piracy, monarchs and aristocrats accumulated wealth and power by...

Be More Pirate Summary Part 3: How to Be a Pirate

Now that we’ve provided some background on who the Golden Age Pirates were and why you should go pirate, we’ll explain what “going pirate” means. Conniff identifies four key traits that help pirates succeed: disruptiveness, equality, practicality, and storytelling ability. We’ll take a look at how to use these traits in your own life and provide examples from both Golden Age Pirates and those Conniff considers modern-day pirates.

Trait #1: Pirates Are Disruptive

The first and most important pirate trait Conniff discusses is disruptiveness, or the willingness to break rules and defy the mainstream. When used properly, disruption is a powerful force for positive change. We often accept the rules and norms around us without really considering why we should follow them or why they exist. But when someone stands up and openly rejects a rule they believe is wrong, they call attention to it—and can inspire others to do the same. This can call attention to an issue and pressure those in power to fix it.

(Shortform note: Not only can it change the world for the better, but disrupting the status quo can have personal benefits as well. In *[Difficult...

Be More Pirate Summary Part 4: Developing a Pirate Code

Conniff explains that to fully embrace the pirate life, you need a pirate code. In the Golden Age, these codes were the rules each crew lived by. They were living documents, constantly being updated, but still provided an overall vision and way of life. By creating your own pirate code, you can organize your own goals, values, and plans moving forward. No matter how complicated things get in practice, you’ll always have the code to refer back to when you need to remind yourself of the core values of your organization.

(Shortform note: The authors of Life Worth Living elaborate further on the value of a code or life philosophy, arguing that it helps you live more intentionally. They argue that when people lack a code, they tend to make big decisions based on instinct, often leading to poor decisions. But a life philosophy provides you with a list of the values and beliefs that matter most to you, which you can reference when making big decisions. This ensures your decision will be better informed.)

Let’s explore Golden Age...

Shortform Exercise: Plan Your Piracy

Apply the pirate mindset to a goal or obstacle in your life.

What’s an area in life where you can become more pirate? Is it your career, your business, or something else? How would going pirate benefit you in this area?