Surviving Information Overload: The Clear, Practical Guide to Help You Stay on Top of What You Need to Know [Paperback]

Kevin A. Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 18, 2004

'Timely and much-needed . . . offers solid and practical advice and reminds us that the focus of our needs should be related to God's purposes and plans for our lives. George Gallup Jr. 'If you have the time, read this book. If you don't have the time, you really need to read this book. It will give you a precious gift. It will help you say no.' John Ortberg, author of Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them Ever feel overwhelmed by the deluge of email, the frenzy of multitasking, the rush of things you've got to know and do? Then you don't have time not to read this book---because it will save you time and lower your stress. You needn't read all of it---just what you need when you need it. Email killing you? Check out chapter 6. Interruptions ruining your focus? Tap the power of block days---chapter 10. No time for family or friends? Try an 'info-techno Sabbath'---chapter 11. Screen out non-essential information Identify and retain what you really need Turn information into results Deal with information clutter Find your way through the Internet thicket Safeguard and optimize your time Reconnect with loved ones Surviving Information Overload will bring focus, effectiveness, and sanity to your fast-paced life. Buy it---because you'll use it. It's a small investment, and the returns start immediately.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Another book of information on dealing with too much information? This one is different... For making sense of the overwhelming amount of information that bombards us, this book is a good place to start...One section deals with e-mail, voicemail, finding information online, and filing and storing information. It is worth the price of the book...Those drowning in an information deluge will find that this refreshing, humorous book is chock-full of practical ideas to stay afloat. -- Christianity Today

(Christianity Today )

From the Back Cover

"Timely and much-needed . . . offers solid and practical advice and reminds us that the focus of our needs should be related to God’s purposes and plans for our lives. George Gallup Jr. "If you have the time, read this book. If you don't have the time, you really need to read this book. It will give you a precious gift. It will help you say no." John Ortberg, author of Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them

Ever feel overwhelmed by the deluge of email, the frenzy of multitasking, the rush of things you’ve got to know and do? Then you don’t have time not to read this book—because it will save you time and lower your stress.

You needn’t read all of it—just what you need when you need it. Email killing you? Check out chapter 6. Interruptions ruining your focus? Tap the power of block days—chapter 10. No time for family or friends? Try an "info-techno Sabbath"—chapter 11.

Screen out non-essential information Identify and retain what you really need Turn information into results Deal with information clutter Find your way through the Internet thicket Safeguard and optimize your time Reconnect with loved ones

Surviving Information Overload will bring focus, effectiveness, and sanity to your fast-paced life. Buy it—because you’ll use it. It’s a small investment, and the returns start immediately.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (May 18, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031025115X
• ISBN-13: 978-0310251156
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,260,218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Conquering Information Overload, June 4, 2004

By 

"steve64999" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surviving Information Overload: The Clear, Practical Guide to Help You Stay on Top of What You Need to Know (Paperback)

This is a great book, though the title is an understatement. More than surviving information overload, it's about conquering information overload--learning how to use information to maximize your life without becoming a slave to technology. Kevin Miller has a technique for just about everything, from managing email to surfing the internet (he shows you which search engine to use for what purpose) to organizing your office to prioritizing your day...and, subsequently, your life. I found the second chapter, "Selecting Your Key Information Areas" most helpful; through a simple five question survey I was able to define and refine my list of professional and personal priorities--and I was able to pinpoint which areas need pruning. Also helpful is chapter four, "How To Turn Information Into Results," which shows how to put information to work by focusing on action steps related to each meeting and each project. Though there are hundreds of tips and practical pointers in this book, "Surviving Information Overload" is a quick and easy read. What's more, Kevin's foreword gives you permission to skip some sections and skim others. "You don't have to finish this book. Read only as much as you find helpful," he says. Actually, being able to skip and skim is a sign you're getting the hang of Miller's method--there's no point in trying to sort information you have no use for. For me, however, I read the whole thing.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help at last!, January 10, 2009

By 

W. Gordon (Austin, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Surviving Information Overload: The Clear, Practical Guide to Help You Stay on Top of What You Need to Know (Paperback)

This is the best productivity book I've read. I have been recommending this book to everyone I know, including my staff. I don't think there is a person who would not benefit from some portion of the book. The book is extremely well organized, with practical, actionable advice, and it's a quick read. The author identifies the potential beneficiaries of each chapter up front, making it easy for the reader to decide whether the chapter would help him or her. I've already implemented many guilt-free changes, such as ceasing to read materials whose content I'm already familiar with, unsubscribing from email lists, delegating more tasks since I cannot possibly be an expert in everything. Even though much of the advice may be common sense (though the book does contain various levels of detail in dealing with TMI), somehow reading the book gives you the authority to do the things you knew you ought to be doing anyway. One of my favorite gems is his advice to divide the stacks of reading materials you're hoarding into three piles: one you really do need/wish to read, one you'll read when you get through the first pile, and one you you don't need to read at all. Then he directs you to toss the third pile, and while you're at it, toss the second pile because, let's face it, you're never going to get through the first one. Honesty like that makes the book very refreshing.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GOOD TIPS, October 24, 2005

By 

Marcelo (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surviving Information Overload: The Clear, Practical Guide to Help You Stay on Top of What You Need to Know (Paperback)

Good introdcution to a subject which is almost always overlooked. The examples are interesting and you can apply to everyday life. A practical approach.