Well, it's a pretty cool book ... but, I have to admit I haven't used one trick so far. Not sure why, but a lot of them seem unrealistic to me. I'm sure someone can use them, but most are not for me.

I purchased this book honestly thinking it'd be just a rehash of material already on the web and common sense. And "lifehack number one was", but most of the remaining ones were very useful, ingenious, and best of all new to me. The bedsheets in the pillow case suggestion alone was worth the price of admission in my opinion.

I'm a tech-savvy, fairly squared-away, David Allen reading, Merlin Mann watching guy, but still found a lot of valuable information in this book that I put into practice immediately. The author goes out of her way to offer as many platform agnostic (doesn't matter if you use Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Firefox, IE, etc.) solutions out there. I suggest reading while seated at your computer because you'll want to try out the tip right on the spot.

Whether you're an organizational nightmare or firing on all 8-cylinders 24/7, you'll find some good material here. It belongs up there on your book shelf with Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.

Lifehacker
reviewed by Dr. Eric Flescher, Olathe, KS:[...]
Author: Gina Trapani
Publisher: Wiley
Released: 2006
Pages: 300
$25 USA
$30 Canada
E 16
ISBN: 0-470-05065-9

Strengths: Each hack has a difficulty level , which platform(s) it works with and the cost (many free). Interesting set of 88 tech tricks and tips. Covers all platforms and free and commercial software. Great to find what you need to use right now and to use a resource in the near future as you continue to look through the pages in this book.

Weaknesses: Black and white. You have to go through all of the chapters and hacks and see ones you like for example that can be used for Macintosh. Would have been nice if the content outlines the level, platform and cost there instead of having to "hack" through each of the 80 tasks to get an idea of the ones wanted. This way you have to thumb through all of them and the titles which is not all that bad as many are an interesting read even if you may not want to use some of them now but possibly ideas for later. Some of the hacks like the ones that deal with Firefox might be a little dated, as there are new extensions and new development coming out all the time but as at least these hacks will start you in the right directions or give you optional paths you never thought of.

Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Rating: 4.5/5

A brief review of some page in this book at first did not thrill me. The author is an independent web programmer and a writer (for Wired, Time , New York Times). She is also the editor of Lifehacker.com, a software and productivity weblog. She describes a "Lifehacker " as one who "uses technology to discover and design new ways to get thing done." So in other words, will this book help me and you with your creative problem solving and get more done with less effort.

As I looked more closely at some of the tech tips, I became more interested. Browsing in earnest, I was interested to know whether some of the hacks would be worthwhile for me and are those that I could use now and possibly a later. I took a closer look at these 88 tech tricks to see if they could "turbocharge " some ideas for me and my Macintosh but also whether there were interesting ideas that could be used across some of the cross platform Hacks. Okay Lifehacker - make my day. What can you show me? And I dove into the ten chapter book.

Each hack has a difficulty rating level ( difficulty level, use of platform(s) and displays the cost of each (most free or commercial). I then did a quick look at the different chapters. These included from one to ten. Chapter 1, "free up mental ram," had information about making a hack for an "instant wiki. " This one was very helpful as I have heard of "wikis" but this hack gave me more food for thought and possibly creating ideas for the future.

Sometimes the hacks had additional tasks to try with various website software, in this case, Flickr but this one included information on tagging your photos. Some of the hacks like those in Chapter 2, "firewall your attention, " mentioned "splitting desktops" which was intriguing.

There are hacks for MP3 players, computers, tasking and more. Chapter 3, "automate repetitive tasks " downloading movies while hack 19 "defrag PC" which was one of the hacks for just PC. Chapter 4 "streamline common tasks," has a hack for disabling desktop via remote control home computer (hack 36). In ch 5 xp vista and osx
Chapter 5 , "get your data to go," optimizing your desktop, running a home server and even backing up your iPod had some ideas for eventual if not immediate usage.

In Chapter 6, "control your email," the best hack for me is the Hack 46 " decreasing your email response time," but otherwise I did not find this chapter that helpful. Chapter 7, "organize your stuff," has 13 firefox recommended extensions you might want to use, while Chapter 8, "kick start your productivity" was not much to liking but people who need more help might find these ideas helpful mapping your time using a spreadsheet.

Chapter 9,"master the web." had some good ideas. Like many, I found out about Firefox and pretty must ditched Internet Explorer a few years ago. Hack 71 (for firefox extensions) has some worthwhile ones to look for and utilize. However if you have Firefox you also need to know that more extensions are coming out all the time, some that surpass these extensions. Meanwhile Hack 68 "subscribe to website with RSS, " was helpful. Hack 74 (using) "multiple sites tab browsers" is well done. If you have not used multi-tab homepage for your browser this is certainly a definite look see. Chapter 10, "tune your computer," has many that are pc and windows based.

The hacks are a interesting and easy read. I was hoping that the index would list all mac or osx so I could narrow my search more quickly. No such luck however. I am not really sure why such an index is missing. I will definitely try several of these hacks right away or have a good in-depth look. I'll also keep thumbing through for those hacks tjat I think may be useful. For $25, this book might be useful no matter whether you have PC (Windows, Vista) and / or Mac (no Linux). Your purchase might also depend upon your main intent and use your computer. But chances there are some new ideas that will be gained, others you will tweak and tinker with and other mini- ideasa that also will be helpful.

I've had this book for nearly a year. I thought by now that I would tire of it, but I haven't. I use the lifehacker website, and at the time I purchased the book I was sure that it would have a limited shelf-life and I would find myself using the website totally.

That hasn't happened. The book is my normal starting point, and I enjoy it now as much now as I did the day I brought the book home.

Well worth buying. Excellent tips, internet freebies and great directions on how to implement the ideas. You can do an overview in a few hours by skipping the detailed directions. I learned a lot of great tips to make my computer more productive and easier to use. As useful as the "Dummies" series.

I could see where this book would be an excellent read for a "hyper-techie". Although I consider myself well above par on computer technology, this book had no appeal to me because I'm not - at all - for making changes to the registry (although I know how) or for tampering "under the hood" of any other part of the operating system, never ever really a wise move in the end (when the computer house comes crumbling down). "Working under the hood" is what this book is about, NOT maximizing (or turbo charging) one's managerial or operational efficiency, which is what I thought the book was about. Make sure it's a fit before you buy it. I returned it.

This is a great pragmatic book for those that are looking to improve their productivity using technology. The format of the book is particularly well suited for those of us "on the go" and find it challenging to read a book at one sitting. Most of the 88 "hacks" in the book do not rely on knowledge from other hacks, but, if they do, the other hacks are clearly indicated in the text. Because of this, you can easily jump right into the middle of the book and learn something beneficial. The other great thing about this book is that the companion website [..] makes it a living, breathing experience so, if you are looking for more, the author's website keeps you regularly up to date.

I can't believe the number of people in here who write negative comments about this book. I guess they don't realize that the book is free in pdf form, and has been for a long time. So, if you don't like it, you could have read the free version and not paid a dime.

For me, this is an excellent resource for a multitude of things. Granted, yes, we could go out and find that same information on the internet with various topics within the book. However, the author has taken her ideas and what she's gone through, and put them into an easy, single reference that would otherwise be quite a few hours searching the internet. I am buying the book because I think it's an excellent resource, and I will use it time and time again, so why not contribute to the author's hard work by allowing her to benefit for the effort she put forth so we wouldn't have to take all that time.

No single person knows everything, and even though I'm a tech, there are still things I learned in this book that I didn't know, or didn't know existed. This is a great reference book, and I am buying it to pay homage to the author, as well as for future reference. Outstanding work, Gina.

I'm sure this is a great book for technophiles, but as someone who has begrudgingly come into the computer age, I found this book to be both overwhelming and hard to follow. It has lots of tips, but I found it impossible to sift through. I passed the book on to one of my more techno friends.

Well, that's it, i've purchased a book that is giving me tricks that or i allready know or can be very use to find if needed. So, it is not worth at all...

The thing about common sense is that it is not common... That's why when you pick up this book (regardless of your professional experience or proficiency with computers) you will discover many things that, once explained, will generate that "ahah!" moment and start you thinking: "Why didn't I think of that?".

If you follow some of the hacks in the book you might just never again:

- Lose your keys
- Come out of a meeting without understanding who's doing what and with little recollection of what was actually discussed
- Lose your data
- Waste time during the most productive part of your day
- "Invent" the content of your timesheets because you just cannot remember what you did

Let's face it... even if you only pick up and effectively adopt 2-3 of the hacks in here, the book has more than paid for itself.

On top of all that, the narrative is easy-going and entertaining. Gina Trapani has done a fantastic job with this.

What are you waiting for??? Buy it now!!! (Trust me you will be thanking me, the other reviewers and Gina in no time)

Almost all the tips in this book had relevance to my daily productivity as a Software Engineer. If you have any confidence in your computer skills and you want to be a more efficient person, buy this book!

All right, it might be a *bit* strong to say this book changed my life, but it is undeniably true that it -- and the website associated with it -- have led to some important modifications in the way I work. And that's very close to the same thing.

If you are content with the factory settings your computer was delivered with, it might not be evident to you why this book can have such an impact. But if you like playing around with your technology and adapting it to your own needs and preferences, then you might just get a lot out of it. Part of the reason I think I responded so strongly to this is that my personality aligns pretty closely with the "characteristics of a lifehacker" described in the Introduction: excelling at finding things on the web; "addicted to the 'Ah-HA!' moments in life; eager to go out of their way to avoid tedious or mundane work. Curiosity, efficiency, individuality, technology.

Many of the "hacks" here have to do with fundamental processes like managing email, automating the things you do over and over, or getting your stuff (paper and electronic) in order and making yourself more productive. Some of it is basic, like how to use RSS feeds, but other hacks require a moderate degree of programming ability. Readers who use a computer with any degree of regularity shouldn't be intimidated by this, however. As someone who for years has had to fill out a timesheet as part of my job, the few minutes it took to master Hack 63 ("Quick-Log Your Work Day") have already been repaid over and over again. Gina, where were you in 1996?

Over the last few months, I've read a number of the "Hacks" books from O'Reilly Media -- "Mind Hacks: Tips & Tricks for Using Your Brain (Hacks)," "Mind Performance Hacks: Tips & Tools for Overclocking Your Brain (Hacks)," "Firefox Hacks: Tips & Tools for Next-Generation Web Browsing (Hacks)," and the like. Those are all okay, but none of them were as easy to read, easy to master, or as immediately applicable as "Lifehacker" has been. Maybe not everyone fits the "lifehacker" profile, or would respond to this book with the enthusiasm I obviously have. But I bet most anyone who uses a computer for work or recreation (including buying books online?) would find at least one new way to put technology to work making them less harried, more productive, or just ... happier.

Inspired by Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, this book is not to be read from cover to cover. Its contents are to be browsed and chewed on. Then, when you're ready, you pick one or two hacks to introduce into your life. Some are a bit trite--get rid of HTML mail, use text mail--while others are a bit inspired--the todo script/application. All hacks are easy to understand, but some do not apply all the time (when only Windows versions are provided) to Mac users. Regardless, a good book overall.

For continuing content, go to the Lifehacker web site (I'd include the link, but it's not allowed). It's not as polished, but it nonetheless is up-to-date.

Learn how to 'turbocharge' your day through using a computer to apply technology creatively to reprogram workflow and activities. From backing up data to an iPod and tracking passwords securely to capturing web clippings with Google notebook, Lifehacker: 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day is simply packed with time-saving options key to making the most of daily routines.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Gina Trapani has written a useful manual that serves as a veritable buffet of tech tips to render you more productive and improve your life. Like any buffet, there will be some items you like and others you pass on. With 88 "courses" to choose from, most readers will find plenty to stick up on.

Trapani helpfully stratifies the tips in terms of Advanced, Medium and Easy, as some of the tips are for the more seriously tech-minded. If you extract three or four useful tips - likely an underestimate of its utility - the book will be more than worth the time or money investment.

I crimped the edge of those pages I wanted to return to later to implement. By the time I was done with the book, the pages were mangled! That is a compliment and testament to the book, which is crammed with useful advice.

Dip into it or read it cover to cover - Lifehacker is a compendium of ways to tame technology to put it to work in your life. Also, though Trapani is a techie herself, she writes in a clear and engaging style. I can only look forward to a Lifehacker 2.0!

Although the concept is useful and some of the tips valuable, I found the book disappointing overall, partly because much of the information is derivative--from sources like David Allen--and partly because, although the cover clearly advertises the book as cross-platform, a good chunk of the computer-related material is Windows-only.

I purchased Lifehacker after being an avid reader of the website for a couple of years. There had been some things showcased on the site, that I either couldn't find in the archives or was too busy (lazy) to research further. When author Gina Trapani released the book, I got it almost immediately. In it were the items that I had been looking for, as well as some new tips that I implemented, or intend to as soon as I can. There wasn't a lot of insider technical mumbo-jumbo. It's a well written, almost step-by-step account of how to make things a little easier for those who use computers, with out making it too difficult.

I love this book!

I am going to be perfectly honest and admit that until a few months ago I had no idea what a "Life hack" was! Now I know that life hacks are productivity tricks used by programmers and others who are wise in the ways of computers to avoid information overload and organize their lives.

The main thrust of my own work is to help people overcome overload, avoid burnout and develop resilience. This is one of the most practical books that I have seen dealing with the electronic overload to which we can all fall victim. Computers and the Internet have presented us with some of the most extraordinary opportunities, but they can also open the floodgates to an overwhelming morass of information vying for our attention.

The problem for most of us is how to optimize and organize all this technology. That's exactly where this book comes in: it is crammed with useful and highly practical ways of taming the electronic gremlins that threaten to engulf most of us.

The book is composed of 88 tech tricks based on items written by Gina Trapani on the popular website Lifehacker dot com. Something that I particularly liked was that Gina provides hacks for Windows XP, Vista and Macintosh: we Macintosh users are so often left out in the cold!

If I didn't even know what a life hack was, I am obviously no expert, but as soon as the book arrived I sat down with it at the keyboard and in no time had done half a dozen things that have already been very helpful to me. Gina explains everything simply and her writing is a model of clarity.

A few of her hacks are clearly not designed for a novice, but most are easily accessible. There is also a companion website - [...] that has loads of updates, links and references.

My copy of the book is already festooned with notes and bookmarks. I am quite sure that I am going to be using it for a long time to come, and I am going to recommend it every time I have clients who tell me that their electronic lives are becoming unmanageable.

Gina hasn't just created a supremely valuable book; she has also performed an act of service for all of us.

Very highly recommended.

If you're in front of the computer all day then you owe it to yourself to look at this book... if you're not in front of a computer all day it's still got loads of useful tips for when you're in front of one...

The best advice, for me, was don't set your email client to check your email every minute... that's potentially 60minx8hrs or 480 interruptions a day... check it once an hour! Easy to do, and sometimes "so obvious you wonder why you didn't think of it yourself" tips. Highly recommended.

This is a book I've been looking forward to reading for awhile, and I wasn't disappointed... Lifehacker: 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day by Gina Trapani. You should see the number of post-it notes I already have in my copy...

Contents:
Free Up Mental RAM; Firewall Your Attention; Automate Repetitive Tasks; Streamline Common Tasks; Get Your Data To Go; Control Your Email; Organize Your Stuff; Kickstart Your Productivity; Master The Web; Tune Your Computer; Index

If you're a fan of David Allen's Getting Things Done, Merlin Mann's 43Folders, or any other personal productivity sites, you'll immediately take a liking to this book. Trapani has collected 88 different "hacks", or tricks and tools to help you be more productive in your life. The vast majority of them are free, either as concepts to be implemented or software you can download and install. There are ten different chapters in the book that focus on particular areas of your life, such as staying focused on the task at hand or organizing your life. Granted, a large number of them relate to your interaction with the computer (as we spend so much time in front of one). But don't be fooled into thinking that you won't get anything out of this book unless you're a hardcore geek. Definitely not the case... This also isn't a "system" where you have to adopt all 88 hacks to get any benefit from it. Each tip stands on its own, and you can pick and choose the ones that apply to your specific situation or style. And with productivity tips, even a single one, successfully implemented, can make a dramatic difference in your life.

It's recommended that you read this book in front of your computer. That's a really good idea, as you'll be hitting the web constantly to check out software and sites. If you decide not to read in proximity to your PC, then I recommend grabbing some scratch paper or post-it notes. You'll want to flag certain pages as you go for review when you *do* get back to your digital brain. I have a very large crop of yellow post-its sticking out the top and sides of my copy. I'll be spending some additional time with this book, to be sure...

This is definitely one of the most enjoyable books I've read of late, and I'd recommend it with no hesitation to anyone looking to streamline their life.

Trapani writes for the new Internet user, who might be confused by the sheer abundance of resources on the Web, as well as the complexity of using a personal computer and other computing devices. The hacks in the book span many topics.

Some relate to using a browser and surfing the Web. Like being able to define keyboard accelerators, to streamline your usage. Another basic need is using a search engine. Trapani gives the most example of Google. Showing how to do advanced searching. It's actually pretty easy, and can really improve the relevance of the results of your queries. Another common usage is SMS or text messaging. Actually, SMS is not really that prevalent in the US, compared to Asia and Europe. But some American readers might still find the discussion useful.

You might also check out the hacks that relate to defending your computer against intrusion. Like running a firewall, which nowadays is easy to set up. You especially need this if you are going to give your computer a permanent or semi-permanent presence on the Internet.

Trapani also talks about using devices like memory sticks and iPods. For mobile computing, and where you might need to transfer files between machines.

There is also a broader discussion of how to manage your computer usage effectively. For improved personal productivity. Quite separate from any specific hardware or software you might have. This might help you avoid frittering hours away doing essentially nothing useful on your computer. (Sound familiar to some?)