Amazon.com Customer Reviews
Part of the story - Review written on November 20, 2006
Rating: 3 out of 5
11 customers found this review helpful.
I mainly listened to the audio tapes of this book, although I also own the paperback. Emmett's book is helpful in a number of ways. She shows you many aspects of the mindset you will need to overcome procrastination. However, there came a point where this book could take me no further in my battle against procrastination. That's when I turned to the Wikipedia article on procrastination, and perhaps more importantly, the Wikibook on Overcoming Procrastination. Starting with those resources, I launched into my own trip of self-discovery which has led to a breakthrough in my procrastination. Eventually, you need to deeply understand who you are, your life up to this point, and why it is in your best interest not to procrastinate. Anyway, this is my experience.
DON'T PUT OFF UNTIL TOMORROW....... - Review written on February 11, 2006
Rating: 5 out of 5
23 customers found this review helpful, 2 did not.
Who would put off writing a review of this book? Not me - I don't procrastinate. If you believe that, there's a bridge I can let you have for next to nothing. Truth is, I'm the world's worst at putting things off, especially what I don't want to do. But, I'm getting better, much, much better. All thanks to the good natured, pragmatic advice from Rita Emmett.
A recovered procrastinator she knows of what she writes and speaks. She delves into the reasons why we procrastinate, and helps us change that behavior. We learn how to establish goals and more importantly how to attain them.
All of this is delivered with humor and understanding. We hear such nuggets as "God created company so that the hou
se gets cleaned." and "If certain things in your life are always hard to find, it's probably because they don't have their own special place to be put." Which naturally leads to a discussion of our spaces, both at work and at home. How can we arrange that space so it is most helpful to us?
Emmett doesn't claim to be clairvoyant but when she discussed a procrastinator's behavioral patterns it felt as if she had a direct line to me. There's a lot of good information in this three hour audio, so don't put off listening.
- Gail Cooke
Easy reading, shallow content - Review written on April 03, 2004
Rating: 1 out of 5
54 customers found this review helpful, 5 did not.
If you are serious about ending your procrastination then do not waste MORE of your time reading this book. The author gives plenty of tips, common sense advice, and even famous quotes but in a very disorganized and unstructured manner. The whole book is like a long pep talk, full of good intentions but failing to solve the problem: your procrastination. I'm sure that you've tried most of the tips in this book (writing a To Do List, planning your work, scheduling, etc.) so it does not make sense to buy a book that basically tells you to try them again. Oh, you'll try them for a week or two (again, for the n'th time), and then go back to procrastinating, because that's what we procrastinators do! We start something and then never finish it! In the back cover, Frank McCourt (author of Angela's Ashes) calls it a "light-hearted book", proving that even the editor knows this is not a serious book on procrastination, and uses McCourt's comment to sell the book as easy reading, but definitely not serious content. I recommend Neil Fiore's NOW HABIT. It's deeper, structured and a serious read. Not a "light-hearted handbook".
This stuff works! - Review written on March 30, 2004
Rating: 5 out of 5
7 customers found this review helpful, 14 did not.
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
Awakener. Humiliater. Lifesaver. - Review written on March 23, 2004
Rating: 5 out of 5
18 customers found this review helpful, 8 did not.
I've pored over Lord-knows-how-many self-help tomes in my time, furrowed brow, best-intentioned, sincerity blazing.
Ms Emmett's is the first that made me go "Ouch!".
By the Nine Gods of Clusium, she has my number. 'Hypocritical Procrastination'? Bullseye. That chapter alone does it.
Even mid-reading, I was reaching for the phone to call my honey on some daft pretext; rising from my desk to go chatter with colleagues; re-shuffle papers ....
I actually slammed the phone down, stayed put, killed the CNN link ... told a colleague "Actually, I *am* busy right now. One hour from now?"
This is working for me. Ain't easy - a lifetime of indulgence and the most appalling self-delusion - but I need to folow its lessons and Emmett has the spot-on tone that gets to me.
Don't buy it: I have a lot of catching up to do and it might work for you, too, in which case that's one more rival I won't be overtaking. Bless you, Rita E. Right! Enuff of this time-wasting composing of a review; I have filing and ironing and writing to me mum to do, not to mention cold calling that swine of a landlord to fix my fridge. I'm a busy man and there's no perfect time to act; there's only now. Yoda had it right: Do or do not. There is no try.
How did she know I do that? - Review written on December 01, 2003
Rating: 5 out of 5
14 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.
This is not what I expected. When I picked up this book, I was prepared for some generic time management principles surrounded by some motivational hype that would pump me up and then leave me flat a short while later. I'm not quite sure why...I suppose I just thought that procrastination was more of a built-in character flaw than a lifestyle choice.
Am I glad that I was wrong! In the introduction, Rita Emmett explains that procrastination is not part of your character. Rather, it is a habit that can be changed. Using plenty of real-life examples, Emmett helps us identify areas of procrastination in our lives, discover their source, and apply proven strategies to overcome them.
This book helps you get right down to business. The format is very friendly, with quick tips, top ten lists, quotes and illustrations scattered throughout. It even has a few "extra credit" questions and activities to help you start applying what you have learned right away.
I opened this book as a skeptic. After reading it cover to cover, I'm a believer! My basement is the cleanest it has been in over ten years, my kitchen sink has a new fixture, and today I'm going to fix that annoying drip in the upstairs bathroom. What have you been putting off? Follow this handbook and get it done!
Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory
If you start, you will go to the end and be sad about it - Review written on August 23, 2003
Rating: 5 out of 5
12 customers found this review helpful, 3 did not.
I have never managed to read a self-help book. Not more than 10 pages, although many of them are not bad at all. But this book is simply wonderful. Rita is a pleasure to read. And she goes deeper and deeper and conquers you all way through. You will be surprised at how you will find yourself so often and again in each and every page as you have never done before.
All the games, all the plays, all the issues, all the hopes, all the dreams. Be prepared to meet yourself in a unique way.
You will rarely find something so simple and so good, a book so outstanding that you will be sad that you have reached the last chapter, even though this very book is showing you how much you have lost in your life...
This talk to your inner Self will reach you deeply. Be prepared.
Great book! - Review written on July 01, 2003
Rating: 5 out of 5
6 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.
I really enjoyed this book. The author puts it all on the line for us folks who are experts at procrastination. If you want to understand why you do what you do and how to change your behavior to increase you ability to move forward in life, this book is an excellent choice. If I were you, I wouldn't wait another moment!
And if you are looking for a book to compliment this one, then get James Clark's WADING THROUGH THE CRAP; it addresses this issue well and provides step-by-step instruction.
Great book! - Review written on February 04, 2003
Rating: 5 out of 5
6 customers found this review helpful, 2 did not.
I have read this book in PalmReader format and think that it is absolutely wonderful. I must admit that I started reading from Part 3 first and then worked my way from the beginning again. I have found many of the stories to be quite useful in identifying the behaviors that I do to procrastinate. I have been successful in using the reward technique discussed in the book. I also enjoy the inspiring quotes that accompany the end of each chapter.
All in all, a great book and I'm glad to have it on my PDA wherever I go.