Lists for Life: The Essential Guide to Getting Organized and Tackling Tough To-Dos [Paperback]

Rory Tahari (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 22, 2009

Who hasn’t ever walked out the door with that “am I forgetting something” feeling? Let’s face it, everyone could use a little help getting more organized and dealing with life’s daily demands. Written by Rory Tahari—a powerhouse businesswoman who not only oversees a company with annual global revenues of more than $500 million but also manages a bustling household with young children and various philanthropic endeavors—Lists for Life breaks big moments down into easy, manageable steps so readers will never feel overwhelmed again. Featuring approximately 100 “lists for life” on topics including parenting, moving, traveling, car ownership, financial planning, taking care of your home, preparing for a hospital stay, planning a funeral, and much more, this handy guide leads readers step by step through life’s most stressful events and provides helpful checklists for creating and balancing an organized existence. Lists for Life helps eliminate moments of panic and is practical and portable enough to keep within reach at all times. For anyone from busy moms to overscheduled newlyweds to on-the-go working women, Lists for Life is a must-have resource for every time-crunched, over-extended individual.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (September 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 143912468X
• ISBN-13: 978-1439124680
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #642,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rory Tahari is the vice chairman and creative director of Elie Tahari. Since joining the company in 1998, she has elevated the label from one of the fashion industry’s most enduring brands to one of its most successful. Creatively, she oversees advertising, marketing, and public relations on a global level. Prior to joining Elie Tahari, Rory had a career in television production and earned her B.A. in Journalism at Boston University. This is her first book. The essential guide to getting organized, Lists for Life features countless easy, manageable checklists for busy individuals trying to cope with never-ending to-do lists. Lists for Life The Essential Truth to Getting Organized and Tackling Tricky To-Dos Rory Tahari COVER NOT FINAL 26

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION

I have been a compulsive list maker since I was old enough to write. Some detractors might suggest the word obsessive, but I like to think that I am highly functioning and effi cient. Other list-obsessed women I'm aware of (Madonna) seem to back up my claim. In any case, from the packing list I compiled for summer camp as an eleven-year-old to the college application checklist I already have handy for my kids (who are all under the age of ten), I like to deal with life's challenges one step at a time.

For years, I was a personal resource library for friends and family who needed information. The minute someone got pregnant, engaged, bought a house, or experienced any other milestone, my phone would start ringing. I was always happy to dash off a list and was proud that my checklists were helping others navigate life. When I started getting calls from friends of friends asking me to share my checklists for life's diffi cult moments, I realized it was time to go public.

So here it is.

This book isn't a beach read; it's not chick lit. Instead, it's more of an owner's manual for some of life's biggest events and transitions. Keep it on the shelf with your reference books, in the kitchen near your day calendar, by your bedside, or anywhere that's handy. When you find yourself in need of a road map, tear out the appropriate chapter, tape it to your computer, and let me help you break down an overwhelming or challenging situation, step by step. I know that sometimes the toughest part of tackling a to-do can be fi guring out how to get started, and I hope that the following checklists, resources, action items, and suggestions will have you on your way to a more organized and less stressful life.Copyright © 2009 by Deep Water Productions, LLC --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (September 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 143912468X
• ISBN-13: 978-1439124680
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #642,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rory Tahari breaks down life's challenges and time-consuming tasks into easy-to-achieve steps in her first book, LISTS FOR LIFE: The Essential Guide to Getting Organized and Tackling Tough To-Dos . Rory offers checklists for moving smoothly through some of life's biggest events and transitions--moving to a new home, planning a wedding, taking a vacation, preparing for an emergency, handling a funeral, or just trying to keep your life organized.

For anyone from busy moms to overscheduled newlyweds to on-the-go working women, Lists for Life is the essential guide for busy individuals trying to cope with never-ending to-do lists.

"Most of us are juggling a host of responsibilities and feeling crunched for time," says Rory. "My hope is that LISTS FOR LIFE will help busy people meet the challenges of everyday life by providing them with a starting point, an idea of all the possibilities, and a sequence to follow, so they can enjoy life instead of feeling overwhelmed."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Pointless and Confusing October 23, 2009

By Lori Smart VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Lately, I've been on a mission to get organized, so when I saw this book, I thought I'd give it a try. The bulk of the book is geared toward weddings and pregnancy, which are important parts of life, but only short periods of time. The author also recommended buying other planning guides for these events, so my question was, then what's the point of putting the lists here? Also, some of the lists were just plain weird. It's almost like the author doesn't really run her own household, but simply questioned their household staff as to what they do every day and threw it all into a book. Seriously, who cleans their bathroom windows every week or vacuums under their bed and under furniture every week? Does ANYONE wipe fingerprints off doors & woodwork weekly? That's stuff for seasonal cleaning, or you'd go nuts! Then there's the Preschool Interview guide consisting of 48 questions. Seriously, who does that?? I mean, I can see 10 or so, but 48? Really? It's preschool! They play with clay, sing songs, take naps & eat crackers! My advice? Don't buy this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Potentially helpful lists, but not for everyone December 10, 2009

By Thomas E. Davis TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

These detailed lists are primarily geared to young adults. They often need reminders about essential steps in the complicated passages that normally take place in their twenties.

The book starts with getting married, buying a home, moving in, maintaining the home, having a baby, and caring for young children. These lists consume the first 145 pages of this book. The remaining 108 pages consist of lists for traveling, buying and maintaining a car, getting medical care, getting divorced, dealing with a death, and preparing for a variety of disasters.

Since I'm in my mid-50s, I've been through most of these events. It's been my experience that when they occur, expert advice is often needed to manage them, which is far more information than the book provides. I therefore judge it to be of limited usefulness for older people. Still, it is a handy starting point, so it's potentially helpful, especially for those who are just now embarking on their adult lives.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Little Listy book, not practical for me October 22, 2009

By LG VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Although I think this book is a good idea, it just doesn't work for me. I write list all of the time but picking up this book to cross-check and see if I have everything down is just not something I will do. I find my list to be very specific and personal not generic. The list in this book are more like guidelines for major events in life.

There are no reproducable list as the book is too small. It does have examples for things like kids chore lists and home contact information.

I am sure some people will find this book helpful. It is nicely organized and small. It might be a good book for a young couple getting married, buying a house, having children etc.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars I dunno October 16, 2009

By yogagirl

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This book really has limited appeal. It is not visually well-laid out, which I found odd for a book that is emphasizing organization. Also, it is really targeted towards women, specifically women who are doing the following tasks: getting married, having kids, and buying a house. I have other books that offer more depth and better organizational "steps" and lists. I will NOT be using this book as a resource. One book I would recommend instead of this is "How to Organize Everything".

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great big little book of life's lists for those just starting out December 25, 2009

By AmazonComWoman VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I mistakenly selected this book thinking that it was about getting organized and tackling those tough to-do's on a micro level ... better organize my closet, etc. What I got was completely different but that's OK. This is a comprehensive little gem of a book about navigating some of life's big milestones -- buying a house, planning a wedding, etc. While I'm well past that stage of my life, I see this book as a wealth of knowledge for that person in your life who is just starting out on their own, or perhaps starting over after having not been on their own in a long time ... if that person is you, or you have that person in your life, this is book is a tremendous resource and highly recommended.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Lacks personality, sometimes useful, sometimes unrealistic November 11, 2009

By Bart Motes VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Is there a space for a book like this in the age of the internet? Rory Tahari's Lists for Life tries to make the case that there is. On the plus side, some of the lists will calm the most obsessive neuorotic types when they face tough situations. For instance, I found the home buying lists to be useful and thoughtful. However, other lists are bizarre and unrealistic. The list dedicated to nuclear attack is unintentionally funny in advising that if one knows that a nuclear strike is likely on one's locale, one should try to get a flight out of the area. One imagines that that might prove difficult, given that every single other resident would have the same desire, putting aside the unlikeliness of knowing of a nuclear attack.

The greatest failure of this book is that the author's personality rarely if ever emerges. It would be far better to be light and wry and perhaps even poke some fun at one's obsessive qualities. Unfortunately, Lists for Life lacks any such expression of personality.

Most readers will find Google a better ally in making their plans.

5.0 out of 5 stars review December 22, 2012

By phillips

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

am really enjoying this book of lists. I needed to see other list to really be able to make my own list. It will always be in my library. Thank you.

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love making lists, this book is for you! May 2, 2010

By Debra

Format:Paperback

Helpful - Check. Perfect for list makers - Check. Great gift - Check check! I always make To-Do Lists to help me get organized and to prioritize. Lists for Life covers every list that I've ever needed to make and then some! I love how it includes items on lists that I never even thought of. Now, anytime I think about making a list, I grab Lists for Life first because I know the lists are going to be more thorough than mine!