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The Procrastinator's Handbook | 
 enlarge | Author: Rita Emmett
Publisher: Walker & Company
Category: Book
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  64 reviews
Sales Rank: 6451644
Format: Import
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
ISBN: 0802713564
Dewey Decimal Number: 155.232
EAN: 9780802713568
ASIN: 0802713564
Publication Date: 2000
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Book Description
A book for every procrastinator from an author whose own triumph over procrastination has moved her to show others the way. Exuberant, witty and practical, The Procrastinator's Handbook is an invaluable self-help tool and an entertaining read, with real-life stories of people who have overcome procrastination.
Rita Emmett gives comprehensive advice on: how to identify the behavioural styles and patterns procrastinators use for putting things off; how to apply proven anti-procrastination tips and techniques for achieving goals; how to develop strategies to move forward when stuck or when reverting to old procrastination patterns; how to design personal action plans.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 59 more reviews...
 Decent, but there's better July 14, 2008
I found this audio book to be mildly helpful - mostly full of generic tips I've heard many times before, with too many stories to illustrate her points for my taste. I also bought "Getting things Done" by David Allen, which I found MUCH more useful.
 Written for housewives and middle management June 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It's quite disheartening to know that you have a problem, and then buy into a resource which many people swear by, such as this book, only to find out that it is completely useless. For me, this book started out badly in the very introduction and got worse and worse.
In her introduction, Emmett describes procrastination as a "funny subject". What is so funny about having your professional and personal life go down the drain because you can't get it together? When I want to be helped, I want to be taken seriously. I don't want my hindrance to be labeled as "funny".
The case studies seemed exaggerated, silly and a little condescending and one of them is plagarised. I know this because I read the exact same situation in an Ann Landers column about 25 years ago. I will never forget it because I read it out loud to my mom and we still bring up it from time to time -- the precise same words in the exact same order that Emmett uses in her book. This one citation made me wonder how many other case studies were made up.
Then there is the section on making a list of 101 items that you need to get done. Why on earth should I LOOK for things to do if I can barely finish what's on my plate in front of me? This section should not have been Chapter 2, for heaven's sake. Save it for the end, when we've learned how to take care of what's important first.
She mentions that there are some instances in which one should procrastinate, as in the case of writers who take weeks to write and rewrite and edit endlessly. She states that writers are doing themselves a favor by waiting to write closer to the deadline. Has this author never written a serious academic work which requires multiple drafts? Writing for scholarly journals or for publication and acceptance within the academic community is not a walk in the park. An exception should have been made here.
The section on how to accomplish unpleasant tasks suggests doing it to music or finding something about the task that is pleasant. To concentrate fully on writing an important paper to music is reckless, and there is no pleasant part of it. So now what do I do?
When I read a book, I do so with a pencil and paper to jot down ideas but in this case, I was jotting down what I hated about it. This book may be good for those who need to get their house, family and job in order and just basically need to get organized. I would not recommend it to someone like me who's procrastination is a serious disorder -- waiting until the last possible moment to get out of bed in the morning and then arriving late to work, knowing full well that people are waiting for and counting on you. Knowing that there are things to be done that are a matter of life and death for your career and still procrastinating anyway. Not being able to sleep at night thinking of everything you have to do, worrying about how it'll get done, and the next day at work --- continuing to procrastinate and find everything else to do except for work that needs to be done.
I've been reading about The Now Habit by Neil Fiore and I think it may be better suited for me.
 Solutions for all the reasons we procrastinate March 24, 2008
Procrastination is difficult to change as there are so many reasons to do it. This book addresses the variety of causes and how to overcome them. I really like the layout of the book which invites readers to dip in and sample. It deals with the different fears (of being rejected, of making the wrong decision, of change, of responsibility, etc.) that paralyze us and keep us from forward action.
Each chapter ends with an exercise to do. If you try them out, you end up setting goals, uncluttering, analyzing our relationships, setting up a reward system for ourselves, and many more worthwhile activities.
We all procrastinate to some degree. If yours bothers you enough to read this review, then you owe it to yourself to read this book.
Sprinkled throughout the book are inspiring thoughts on the topic.
"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." Will Rodgers
A quick read...if you dont put it off until later. August 18, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I started reading this book 4 months ago, but just finished it last week. For a book so small that doesn't say much.
This book delivers on humor and very practical advice, but for me it just seemed to say things I already knew such as keeping a to-do list that breaks major tasks into mini-tasks. To be fair, there was other advice, but nothing that just made me sit up and transform my behavior.
Having said that, I don't think it is a bad book and it wasn't unpleasant to read, but I really expected more. I chose a 3-star rating because while I felt better for a day or two after reading it, I didn't turn on that internal "switch".
Unfortunately I have not read some of the other popular titles, so I have nothing I can recommend in place of this book - please keep that in mind when reading this review.
Practical, easy tips for overcoming procrastination January 12, 2007
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
There are a number of procrastination books on the market, but this is by far the best for its simple solutions and practical insights. Like other books on the subject, the author deals with the psychological aspects of procrastination, but unlike other books, she keeps it simple, using real-life stories and examples. Highly recommended. NOTE: THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN BY THE AUTHOR OF "NEVER BE LATE AGAIN, 7 CURES FOR THE PUNCTUALLY CHALLENGED."
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