See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

160 used & new from $0.01

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
 
Procrastination: Why You Do It, What To Do About It
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don’t have a Kindle? Get yours here.
 
  

Procrastination: Why You Do It, What To Do About It (Paperback)

by Jane Burka (Author), Lenora M. Yuen (Author) "It's New Year's Day-time for your annual resolutions..." (more)
Key Phrases: one procrastinator, inner prosecutor, many procrastinators (more...)
4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.


16 new from $4.44 143 used from $0.01 1 collectible from $15.95
Also Available in: List Price: Our Price: Other Offers:
Paperback 111 used & new from $0.01

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play

The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play

by Neil Fiore
4.5 out of 5 stars (113)  $9.72
Total Workday Control Using Microsoft Outlook, 2nd Ed.

Total Workday Control Using Microsoft Outlook, 2nd Ed.

by Michael Linenberger
4.7 out of 5 stars (73)  $14.93
The Practicing Mind:  Bringing Discipline and Focus Into Your Life

The Practicing Mind: Bringing Discipline and Focus Into Your Life

by Thomas M. Sterner
5.0 out of 5 stars (20)  $16.95
Professors as Writers: A Self-Help Guide to Productive Writing

Professors as Writers: A Self-Help Guide to Productive Writing

by Robert Boice
4.9 out of 5 stars (8)  $14.93
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

by David Allen
4.4 out of 5 stars (538)  $9.12
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Procrastination is a problem that strikes millions of people in every walk of life. California psychologists Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen pinpoints several causes of procrastination and show how to shake this fascinating tendency once and for all.

About the Author
Lenora M. Yuen, Ph.D. , is a practicing psychologist in California. Along with Jane B. Burka, she has conducted workshops and seminars at the University of California at Berkeley and for corporate and public groups nationwide.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Da Capo Press (January 21, 1990)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 020155089X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0201550894
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #621,198 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Inside This Book (learn more)



Books on Related Topics (learn more)
 
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below.

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search
No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
101 of 104 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars one other thing..., March 5, 2000
Yes, I did review this book before and I feel the need to add another consideration. As I mentioned before, this book is great at helping you learn WHY you procrastinate. However, it's not the best for helping you learn to STOP procrastinating. Although Burka and Yuen did a great and important job in helping you learn the "whys," they could have done significantly better on the "hows" to stop. A good book that will help you learn to stop procrastinating is Neil Fiore's "The Now Habit." This book's focus is much, much more about learning new behaviors to stop procrastinating than the Burka & Yuen book. If you have the time, I suggest you buy and read both. However if time is of essence, just buy the Fiore book. And about me, here's an update: Although I'm not free yet, I can tell you I've made a conscious decision to not be a victim of my circumstances. I'm in a difficult curriculum at my school because I chose to -- I'm exactly where I want to be right now in my life. And, by letting go of procrastination and becoming a producer, I'm going to show everybody just how good I really am. After all, this is my life. I am in control -- and this is my choice.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb help for overcoming procrastination, October 18, 2003
I'm a clinical psychologist, university professor and professional coach and one of my main specialties is helping people combat procrastination and writer's block. This is the first book I recommend to people who want to reform self-defeating habits of procrastination.

Burka and Yuen present sophisticated explanations of the many reasons why we habitually delay important but unpleasant activities. Then, in the second half of the book, they provide tips and tactics to help us overcome procrastination.

This book is psychologically sophisticated and one of the few self-help books that I've read with understandable explanations of why our bad habits develop and why they are so difficult to extinguish. The paralyzing fear of failure is vividly outlined. Less obvious, to most of us, and very well explained here, is how we may be ambivalent about succeeding. The reasons that some people procrastinate in order to rebel are described - for some of us, hostility may be a factor. On the other hand, Burka and Yuen illuminate ways that we may use delays to remain secure and comfortable. These many methods of self-sabotage really got me thinking when I first read the book, and have led to many insights and changes in the students and coaching clients I work with.

In the section on taking action, Burka and Yuen suggest ways to evaluate areas of difficulty, set priorities, manage time, organize activities, reduce stress, enlist support from others, follow through on efforts to change, and achieve goals.

The book is well-written, and provides clear and compelling examples. When I first read this book more than a decade ago, it helped me get my own dissertation done. I'm delighted that it is still in print. I frequently recommend it to the graduate students I teach, the faculty I coach, and the people I work with in psychotherapy.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars It worked for me., February 1, 2003
By A Customer
I beg to differ with an earlier reviewer on the importance of HOW over WHY. Many procrastinators, including many who are oblivious, go through expensive how-to books, courses, fads, movements, gadget, etc. for decades all the while ignoring the WHY. Overcoming procrastination isn't really about making a plan and keeping it, as some would have you believe. If it were that easy millions wouldn't be morbidly obese, maxed out on credit cards, stuck in jobs they hate, in deadend relationships, unable to get file tax returns or pay bills on time. In short, this is a great book because it reveals the meat of the matter, WHY. I read it over a decade ago and it really opened my eyes to what was really holding me back. I subsequently developed several patents, founded a venture capital funded firm which is still running, and have a lot more fun - not bad for someone without a college degree. Read this book first, then decide what to do next. I've given copies to friends and coworkers. You might have a radically changed perspective on what tool is needed. Thanks Jane and Lenora!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book for Procrastination!!
I have read many books by top authors on Procrastination. Most say write a goal, concentrate on your A1 task etc etc. But the point is-they miss on why you do it? Read more
Published on December 12, 2005 by P. Jain

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book. Must read!!!
Great in helping you identify the reasons you procrastinate and how you can solve them.
Published on September 22, 2005 by L. Yu

5.0 out of 5 stars don't put off reading this book!
I bought this book YEARS ago, maybe as many as ten years ago. Ironically enough, it took me three years to finally read it! Really. But I'm glad I finally read it. Read more
Published on November 25, 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book for beginning of the end of procrastination
This book really looks at the source of procrastination, and illustrates that this behavior can be overcome. Read more
Published on June 1, 2003 by J. Kersey

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't put off reading this one
I finally finished this book after putting it off several times, and I'm a terrible procrastinator. I think it is helpful to learn why we procrastinate in order to understand... Read more
Published on March 19, 2003 by Ledazan

3.0 out of 5 stars Is procrastination a vice or social protest?
My friends and family would classify me as a procrastinator. Yes, I have put unpleasant things off to the point that I experienced even more unpleasant consequences. Read more
Published on December 18, 2000 by David Underwood

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
This was a very helpful resource. It helped me to analyze my actions and figure out ways in which I could be more effective. Read more
Published on January 27, 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally learn WHY you're procrastinating
Reading this book was like reading a book about myself. I've procrastinated a little more than average throughout my life, but since I started college, I've procrastinated A... Read more
Published on January 25, 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars An indispensible guide for those plagued by procrastination.
This book gives a the reader a new outlook on the problem of procrastination. People use procrastination as a tool to deal with life's problems. Read more
Published on December 28, 1998

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   


Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)



Look for Similar Items by Category


RotoZip Makes Difficult Cuts Easy

Shop all Rotozip products
RotoZip is proud to offer high-performance accessories, attachments, and tools to cut through a wide variety of materials.
 

Big Savings in Books

Bargain Books
Find great titles at fantastic prices in our Bargain Books Store.
 

Buy Three Books, Get a Fourth Free

4-for-3 Books
Order any four eligible books under $10 and get the lowest-price book free in our 4-for-3 Books Store. See more details.
 
Shop for Home Improvement Products
Increase Property Value Through Home ImprovementShop the Home Improvement Store for deals on a wide variety of tools, hardware, and supplies for all your renovation needs.
 

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.



Where's My Stuff?

Shipping & Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue shopping: Top Sellers
Paranoia
Paranoia by Joseph Finder
My Soul to Lose
My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent
Glenn Beck's Common Sense
Glenn Beck's Common Sense

Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates