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Summary: I procrastinated writing this review for 9 months
Review: ...now what does that tell you? Much of this useless book is spent trying to console the procrastinator in question ("don't worry, you're not alone--everyone procrastinates"). Like a horoscope guide, practically 80% of this book is devoted to personality-typing, i.e. "what kind of procrastinator are you?". The author feels that each type is unique, and not each one responds to "treatment" equally. What may work for procrastinator A, may not work for procrastinator B. Although amusing and somewhat entertaining (it details the many habits and mannerisms of every subspecies of procrastinators which you may identify with), this book doesn't deliver hard-hitting solutions or treatments for hardcore procrastinators (such as myself). It's more for laugh and sympathy. Filled with first-person accounts of former procrastinators and lots of anecdotes, the book is light reading which may seem inspiring at first, but doesnt "cure" any procrastinating habits. It really should be renamed "The Procrastinator's Support Group." Hey--it took me 9 months to write this review because I kept putting it off.
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Summary: This is the first book on procrastination...
Review: ...that I read all the way through...in 2 sittings. I liked it so much I sent an email to Rita Emmett to thank her! It is a very funny look at a not-so-funny problem. Rita is a self-proclaimed recovering procrastinator who spoke to me through this book. It is the first one that didn't tell me to "just do it" and instead told me how my fears contribute to my procrastination. She told me how to adopt what she calls anticrastination habits. I highly recommend this book to anyone who procrastinates and who wants to stop. Don't put off reading it.
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Summary: worth your time
Review: as a life long member of procrastination, i was amazed as to find someone who really understood all the reasons and rationalizations that went thru my mind. it's an insightful look at why one procrastinates and the steps to get out of it. the only thing more i would like to have seen from it is more motivation and steps from slipping back into old habits
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Summary: Don't waste your money or time
Review: As other reviewers have pointed out, this book is more a pep talk than a program of action. Its proposals for action won't be any surprise (make a list, set a timer and commit to doing a specific thing for an hour) and the little quotes at the end of every chapter run the gamut from truly inspirational to trite. However, everyone knows what they should be doing; the book aims to make you feel that you can actually do it. To that extent, it's very successful. You finish it feeling energized and capable of doing anything. Time will tell whether the feeling lasts, but at the moment I feel empowered and ready to take on a host of new things. Thanks, Rita Emmett!
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Summary: I was going to write a review
Review: but I think I will do that tomorrow.
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Summary: The Procrastinator's Handbook
Review: Do you think you are a born procrastinator? So did Rita Emmett. Do you think that clutter is a normal part of life? So did Rita Emmett. That's why I like and recommend the book. This isn't written by "Patty or Paul the Perfectionist," but by someone who learned how to conquer procrastination and now shares what she learned with us. I found it very readable: first, because the author's style is comfortable (and spiced with self deprecating humor); second, because it is practical--there are helpful hints for overcoming just about every type of procrastination. The author includes exercises and tons of tips. Most of us struggle with procrastination. This little book is a great resource to help each of us overcome this "dreaded affliction." Keep it on your nightstand and read a chapter a night for a week, take the actions recommended and it will make a difference in your life.
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Summary: Easy to Read, Educational
Review: Everyone procrastinates. Some of us are more prone to putting things off than others, but procrastination is a common human behavior. So, why a book for procrastinators? Who will read it? The people who really need such a handbook will put off reading it anyway, so what's the point? I began this book with a skeptical attitude. I read introductions. I often find some interesting gems in those opening pages. It happened with The Procrastinator's Handbook. Did you know that procrastination is a habit? And habits can be broken, changed? Hmmm. Procrastination thinking can significantly alter my performance and get in the way of my success without my even realizing it. I had never thought about procrastination that deeply. Part One was fascinating. The author explores a variety of types of procrastination. On almost every page I found myself nodding with an attitude of "yes, I can see that." And I'm starting to collect some tips about how to conquer the tendency to put things off. The vignettes are supporting my learning. This book is comfortable, easy to read. It's sort of like a friend telling you things you sort of know, but never really examined. New, acceptable information and insight. Learning. That's what this book is about. Yeah. And that sense is reinforced by the "extra credit" assignments at the close of each chapter. I remember extra credit work from school; most of the time the tasks were fun and more educational than I would want to admit. Same thing here. I like the quotes at the end of each chapter, too. They sort of underline the message of the chapter. Author Rita Emmett gives seminars on procrastination and the productive use of time. I felt like I was sitting in one of her seminars-gaining knowledge, insight, and inspiration in every chapter. She was talking to me. The tone of the writing gave me the warm, included feeling of sitting in a small seminar with Rita (see, I'm already talking as if the author is a personal friend who cares about me and my procrastination problem. Uh, oh. Folding down pages. And I feel myself making commitments to complete some of those unfinished tasks that I conveniently add to my to-do list so I can get them out of my face. Oops. She caught me. How does Rita know so much about what I do? Gotta keep this book at arm's length or this stuff will affect my thinking and even behavior. Too late. I'm into Part Two: Why We Procrastinate. Boy, does this sound familiar! By the time I get to the chapter entitled, "Help! I'm overwhelmed!", I'm eager for answers. I feel like I've joined Procrastinators Anonymous. I need answers. Solutions. Ideas for changing my behavior. Part Three: Proven Strategies for Conquering Procrastination. Hungrily, I move through 75 pages of techniques, highlighting, turning pages, making a few notes. Some of this material is not new, though maybe packaged differently. Most of what I'm reading, though, is fresh, focused ideas. This information and advice will help improve my life. I can feel it. The last paragraph of text in the book tells the story. "You can change your old procrastinating ways. Don't forget Emmett's Law: The dread of doing a task uses up more time and energy than doing the task itself. So go ahead and get started creating the life you want. You deserve a great one!" Works for me! It's time to make a difference in my life.
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Summary: This stuff works!
Review: Here is my review: "This neat little book helped me overcome my procrastination to write my book." Is there anything greater that the fact that it works? Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated
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Summary: A Recovering Procrastinator
Review: Here is the rest of the story-the one I wrote about Rita in my book for writers: Successful Nonfiction. Emmett's Law: The dread of doing a task uses up more time and energy than doing the task itself. The writing project was going so smoothly it was scary. Rita Emmett started at the top in approaching a literary agent, and her first choice accepted her. The book, with a working title of The Complete Procrastinator's Handbook, was a user-friendly, fun approach to helping people conquer procrastination. She sent off a rough draft of the manuscript to her agent, and it was returned with suggestions for a format, plus instructions that Rita polish it and return it as soon as possible. Then the winds of change tornadoed Rita's life. Family illness, death of a loved one and marriages of her children sent her life spinning, so she decided to "put the book on the back burner" while she concentrated on these more important life events. It was not procrastination, it was a choice, a priority-and that was reasonable. But she never communicated to this decision to her agent-and that was inexcusable. Three years later, Rita's life finally settled down. It was time to return to the book. She could not not do it. Although the contract had expired, she felt-morally and ethically-that she should give her agent the choice of working with her or not. More than that, she really wanted to work with the agent. But Rita was too embarrassed about the lapsed time, and she dreaded making that phone call. Thus began a year of procrastination-phony excuses, being too busy, anything to put that phone call as far from her mind as possible. The irony of putting off a book about procrastination was too painful to talk about. It added to her embarrassment. The day came when the dread of making that phone call was making Rita sick. She had hit bottom and she finally decided to summon her courage and use every trick in the book-her book-to make that call. The agent courteously listened to her and graciously offered to look at her new manuscript. Rita's procrastination had ended. The agent found a publisher, negotiated a wonderful advance, and that's the end of that story-and the beginning of Rita's life as an author-and as a Recovering Procrastinator. Rita writes from personal experience-she has been there! DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com
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Summary: Don't wait another day to buy this book!
Review: I believe we all procrastinate about something. Some of that isn't all that bad. This book, however, is helpful for the times we are blocked from living and loving fully. There is something for everyone. For me I now have a spiral book by the phone with ALL my "to do's" listed in one place instead of slips of paper all over the place. The chapter on blocks was most helpful. Once I named and faced the fear that holds me back I went to the phone and made a call that I had been putting off for months. It felt so good.
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