No comments about Defusing the Time Bomb: A Christian Call to Get Out of Debt.

3 comments about Get Organized the Clear & Simple Way: Reclaim Your Home, Your Office, Your Life.

1. This Audio Book has proved quite helpful for this ADD, pile person. Once I got past the "New Age" spiritual approach and the author's overly chipper tone of voice, I found many of her techniques as insightful solutions to my organization problems.
   
   The reference websites have been of great help, also. If, unlike me, you are a reader, I would suggest the printed book. There is much I would like to review or reference.



2. It's not really anything those of us who are clutter prone haven't heard before, but it's got a new feel to it and is much gentler in approach. You're guided through step by step, never before you're ready - heck, even excited - to move to the next.
   
   She gives you hope that, yes, I can change this, and then takes you through an actual first step of cleaning out/organizing a client's purse, another client's junk drawer. Little changes you can make, little bits of time spent to boost your confidence to tackle the big messes.
   
   Best of all, for me, is that she has empathy for the disorganized. It's understood that there's an emotional component to this -- even if there wasn't one at the beginning, by the time you have a room or an entire house that's a disorganized nightmare there's at least feelings of being overwhelmed by the task, along with shame and self-disgust for letting it get this out of control. This cd acknowledges those feelings, places no blame, and gently leads you through, activity by activity, till you're out of that awful place.
   
   Definitely 5 stars. If you've read other organizing books and nothing's helped, give this a try.



3. I bought this after listening to the library copy. It is lengthy...8 cd's. The actual system is simple to understand and quick to try and implement. The other cd's help to use the system in other areas such as time management and work/office management. I home school three children and I listen again and again when I am stuck for direction or ideas.

No comments about 10 Minute Guide to Stress Management.

1 comments about Talk About Stress : Managing Stress in the Interactive Age.

1. Pop psych books focusing upon stress reduction are commonplace. Most are poorly written rehashes of common sense solutions that have had currency for centuries. Seidenfeld's book is a cut above most books of this type, due to a plethora of uncommonplace suggestions written in a lively conversational style. I particularly liked the idea of an "office wide" quiet zone periodically to lessen worksite stress. Also attractive were the author's anecdotes drawn from his colorful personal life as well as clinical practice. While I found the emphasis upon rationally analyzing difficult emotions simplistic, I did appreciate the author's jargon-free application of that school of psychology that boils down to sage folk wisdom.

4 comments about Mental Traps: Stupid Things That Sane People Do To Mess Up Their Minds.

1. Prof. Kukla has written one of the kind of "self-help" books that were common-place a hundred years ago, but have largely passed out of existence more recently. This book is, believe you me, of more value than most of the psycho-babble seen on "Self-Help" book shelves. The thesis Prof Kukla offers is simple yet very persuasive: Most of us are prone to compulsive thinking patterns, which pre-occupy our minds, drain our energies, and waste our time, and all to no point.
   
   A couple of examples:
   
   * Persistence - we get locked-in to tasks that, quite obviously, are "going nowhere" and yet we over-commit, won't see or admit the futility of more effort, and so persist with no reasonable chance of completion or enjoyment.
   * Amplification - we expand the activity to fill the available time, or to avoid taking the next step in a process - more research is done, more information gathered, more assurance is sought, but to not avail except stalling.
   
   The book is plainly written, a pleasant read, and very topical for most of us. With each chapter it is likely the reader will wince in recognition and vow to do better - fortunately André gives good advice on exactly how to avoid or overcome these mental traps. The bottom line is that most of us are prone to foolishness or stupidity in our thought processes, but if the thinking that goes on when we're trapped remains below the level of consciousness, we can't even begin to change it. This book is a guide to a more productive form of self-analysis than most psycho-therapy is ever likely to provide.



2. I hated this book. I started reading it a while ago, and could not stop reading it. I hate when a book makes this type of demand on me. Other books are different. I have many that are on my nightstand with several bookmarks in them. They will be read, but the mood has to be there. Kukla's book is much different.
   
   Having finished the book, I hated it some more by packing it along this Chrismas vacation. Loaded down with many of the mental traps illustrated in this book, I finally made time this Christmas holiday to re-read the work, but this time with my pen and paper nearby. Sure, Kukla has a light hearted approach to his writing, and it is easy to read, but his meaning is idea-dense and exceptionally easy - both at the same time.
   
   But, taking the time to write down a few things, the meaning was there, and then my "formulation" of what was meant, was sadly gone. This is a seductively easy read, there is more than a hint of meaning, followed by considerable time making sense of the work. I have found the appendix to be exceptionally useful, but do not jump to it first. The reading prioir is essential. There are no short cuts to this.
   
   I hate this book so much, I am going to re-read it again before school starts. There is considerable information in the first two-thirds that I will employ in my classroom. The mental traps should be made aware to anyone with an academic leaning. But this is simply the immense utility of the work. The message is only clear at the end.
   
   In passing, I must also relate that I have a much better understanding of the Martial Arts dictum, "no mind". There is much mystery in the Martial Arts, and at this moment in time, I am rather convinced that this book is an excellent flashlight, and will help in my search there too. And continuing with the metaphor, Kukla may use a black light to help me show the way. I might make this book "mandatory" reading for my Martial Arts instruction as well.
   
   This book is certainly one that belongs on your top shelf of works. There will be very few of these books in yardsales, or used book shops.



3. This book has been really one the best books I have read recently. Mr. Kukla has enlisted the mental traps and explains how to recognize them and how to deal with them. Readers can apply the precedures in day to day life. And that's the beauty of it. And above all, unlike other psychological books, this one is been put together in a very simple language. I beleive simplicity has more reality than complexity.



4. This little book will knock you on the head to wake you up from ignorance. Ignorance of your own thoughts, which makes you less productive and redundant.
   Just to give you a taste of whats in store, one of the many useful mental traps enlisted in the book is "Amplification". The metaphor is "Killing a fly with a Sledge hammer". Which is putting in extra effort than what is required to get a job done.
   Towards the last chapters you are being introduced to "Thought watching", which enable you to identify and dodge the pitfalls of your own consciousness. Overall this is a good read with outspoken examples which makes it both educational and entertaining.

No comments about 101 Ways to Simplify Your Life: Practical Steps for Restoring Sanity to Your World.

1 comments about 31 Words to Create an Organized Life: A Simple Guide to Create Habits That Last - Expert Tips to Help You Prioritize, Schedule, Simplify, and More (39 Words to).

1. This is a helpful book. What I liked is that you can read it tip by tip. I read alot of it in the car waiting in the drive-thru, etc. If you have a really serious organization/clutter problem, it is helpful, but probably won't give help to that level. I really enjoyed this book.

No comments about It's About Time!: 10 Smart Strategies to Avoid Time Traps and Invest Yourself Where It Matters.

2 comments about A Simple Guide to an Organized Life.

1. I love this book because it helped me to understand how to stop the persistent piles of papers and items that kept appearing on my kitchen table and counters. The "Getting Started" section at the beginning gives the basics from the Professional Organizer point of view. The terms used in organizing are defined simply in this section. The body of the book is broken up into easy to read sections that let me flip to the area that I want to concentrate on without having to read a whole book in order. It is as if I had spent years clipping all the best articles on how to organize my time, my papers, my garage, my business, and my closets. But instead of a box of clippings to sort through, it is all in this tidy, sanity saving book. I always know where my copy is because I use it so much.
   
   I would recommend this book to anybody who has ever been frustrated looking for an important document or is tired of having a pile of mail where the dinner plates should be.



2. I once was so disorganized that I couldn't find for three years
   an application to enter a magazine's "Most Disorganized
   Office" contest . . . fortunately, things have gotten better, but
   I still fall into bad habits from time to time . . . it seems that
   I'm not unique in this, either.
   
   According to Patricia Diesel, author of A SIMPLE GUIDE TO AN ORGANIZED LIFE:
   
   * [citing the National Association of Professional Organizer]
   One hour a week is spent on finding documents and 23 percent
   of adults say they pay their bills late because they lose them.
   
   If you'd been there and/or done that, then you should read
   Diesel's informative book . . . it will give you many useful
   ideas that you can immediately put to use to deal with
   the various organizing problems you typically face any
   given day . . . for example:
   
   * Items needed for the next day, such as keys, purse, brief case,
   backpack, should be placed, ready to take, at the door where
   you leave. To provide additional peace of mind, try putting things
   in the car the night before.
   
   I also liked this one that seems so simple, yet for some
   reason fail to do as often as I should:
   
   * If your piles are simply tasks that need to be done, why not try
   the 15-20 minute rule. Each day, dedicate 15-20 minutes to a pile
   and start paying some of those bills. Order those items that you
   wanted to purchase from the catalogs. Go through your magazines
   and only tear out the articles that you know you will follow up on.
   Maybe take the full 20 minutes to catch up on the reading you need
   for that upcoming project.
   
   If I get one concept that I can apply from every book that I read,
   I consider myself ahead of the game . . . A SIMPLE GUIDE
   gave me many so many that I only regret space prevents me from
   sharing more with you other than this final one:
   
   * The use of a timer can help you set limits for completing tasks and
   frame your time in a more manageable way. Choose your tasks for
   the day. For example, make phone calls for 30 minutes, file papers
   for one hour, and work on a project for 45 minutes. Set the timer
   for the allotted time. When the timer goes off, move onto the
   next task.

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