Customer Reviews

Time Management for Dummies

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was really disappointed w/this. Techniques described seem really elementary (maybe that's why it's a "For Dummies" text). Found many of the author's anecdotes of little consequence; his constant mentioning/promotion of the ACT! software (esp. when it's doubtful how prevalent ACT! is vs. Outlook or Notes) product is obnoxious and distracting. More generally, I felt the text strayed from the topic of time management, for example, giving details on sales techniques. That's not to say time management and sales, for example, are mutually exclusive, but I thought he was straying too much too often. Bottom line, I felt like a dummy after reading this book (not just on the topic of time management).

I laughed out loud when listening to this audio book. The author is *employed* by the ACT software people, yet Dummies allowed him to spend at least five minutes of this tape plugging his own product. He even includes contact information! This isn't an audio book, it's an infomercial, and to be charged for it is incredible. As for the time management techniques, many of them are self-evident (clear off your desk, bring a pen to meetings). The best time management trick I can think of is not to listen to this tape.

I'm a big fan of the "For Dummies" series so I was disappointed that the author only touched briefly on time management and disdained the "For Dummies" structure.

Fundamentally, this is not a time management book. The author spends a few chapters contradicting himself about the basics of time management (write a to-do list but that won't work so use a planner but that won't work so try your computer). He then focuses on a litany of topics unrelated to time management: "staying comfortable on your flight," "use pictures, graphs and charts to enhance your presentation," "ten ways to avoid killing a sale."

Oh, and he even mistold an anecdote on Calvin Coolidge. When confronted by a person determined to coax more than two words from him, Coolidge allegedly responded "You lose" (not "Nope").

I think of this as time management 101. I was reminded of one tip I was currently not doing to effectively manage my time. I have been a bit more functional on a heavy day using this technique. The rest of the book is nothing new to someone who is busy and has survived thus far. I gave this tape to the library, and it has been checked out about six times since April, so someone is getting something out of it.

I got this book at garage sale, and since it was only a dollar, I thought it was a really good buy. I was wrong.

This book really isn't about time management, and should be titled "Organization for Buisnessman for Dummies."

Most of the information was not very useful to me, and what was I had to adopt because it was written strictly from a buisnessman's perspective. For example, there is a part about cleaning out your breifcase; I can use some of that for tips on cleaning out my backpack, but in his writing he doesn't even hint that someone beyond a buisnessman would be reading this book.

Beyond that, the book really doesn't have much on time management at all. The whole first section is on getting your workplace clean and organized, the second section is on keeping your "Master List," which is really just a to-do list. (The great thing about that is he mentions using it in the first section when your cleaning things out, even though he has yet to explain it.) Apparently, all you need to do is be organized and time management will magically fall into place. Also, as other reviewers said, the end sections aren't even related. There is a section on planning your out-of-town travel and another one traveling abroad. These don't really effect my time management skills, and really don't belong in this book.

I'd recommend this book if you are a buisnessman in need to get organized. Other than that, skip it.

This is an excellent guide for time management in the first 2 chapters. After that the author proves himself an excellent salesman with his ability to sell a book on effective sales techniques as a time management book to the nearly infallible Dummies editorial staff. However, the first two chapters do offer excellent suggestions for saving time

After researching Time Management skills for a recent seminar, I stumbled across this book. What a waste of time.... I just didn't find any consistent information that I would want to share with others regarding Time Management.

The author is too unclear about what he does recommend... and then he doesn't stick with the recommendations that he is clear with. He contradicts himself too much. Makes you wonder if anyone ever proofed the book BEFORE it went to press.

Also, this book is a bit old now .... but the subject is still relevant. I hope that a new T.M. for Dummies comes out again... but with a different author.

.... oh, and the only reason I gave this 2 stars was for the cheatsheet at the beginning of the book. The email & voice mail hints are basic and simple common sense...but there are some that never quite get those hints until they are pointed out to them.

I listened to this tape, hoping to get something new out of it. What I really got was annoyed. The frequent proselytizing about Act! was at once a major turn off and a distraction. If you have never read anything about time management then you may find something useful in the most basic sense. I, however, did not find anything new. Better choices would be "Getting Things Done" by David Allen and "Eat that Frog" by Brian Tracy.

Jeff Mayer presented his time management skills and methods in a useful and practical way. The first five chapters are a "must read". However, he pushes a few software programs too much. A chapter on a particular time management software is too much. Since software is continuously replaced and upgraded, this book can be outdated soon.

book was written in 95. i read it in 2005. half of this is on computers in 95. 1/4 of this is good.