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The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done Paperback – Illustrated, January 3, 2012
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“The Procrastination Equation will teach you how to bust the excuses that are preventing you from doing your best work and living your best life….So don’t put it off any longer. Read this book. Today.”
—Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind
“Illuminating….Piers Steel shows us the secrets of procrastination, how it affects us and how we will, one day, be able to prevail.”
—Dan Ariely, author of The Upside of Irrationality and Predictably Irrational
Using a mix of psychology, evolutionary biology, self-help, and more than a decade of research, Dr. Piers Steel, the world’s foremost authority on procrastination, offers a tried and true method helping us to identify, understand, and break free of our self-destructive bad habits and create more positive lives for ourselves.
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarper Perennial
- Publication dateJanuary 3, 2012
- Dimensions0.9 x 5.3 x 7.9 inches
- ISBN-100061703621
- ISBN-13978-0061703621
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“The Procrastination Equation is this season’s must-read self-help book. In addition to offering useful strategies to fight a common problem, it’s a fascinating read.” — Montreal Gazette
“An upbeat, motivational guide to procrastination. . . . Everything you ever wanted to know about procrastination but never got around to reading.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Why you ‘put off till tomorrow what you can do today’ forms the crux of Steel’s book, in which he not only answers that question but details specific techniques to reign in the impulse. . . . Offers good advice.” — Library Journal
“Procrastinating just makes unpleasant tasks worse, so why is it so hard for us to resist dithering and delay? The Procrastination Equation is crammed with surprising insights about procrastination and human nature -- as well as concrete, helpful solutions for fighting procrastination.” — Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project
“Procrastination is the saffron spice of human behavior, where even small amounts of this tendency can shatter the best of intentions. In this illuminating book Piers Steel shows us the secrets of procrastination, how it affects us and how we will, one day, be able to prevail.” — Dan Ariely, author of The Upside of Irrationality and Predictably Irrational
“The Procrastination Equation will teach you how to bust the excuses that are preventing you from doing your best work and living your best life. . . . So don’t put it off any longer. Read this book. Today.” — Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind
“I put off writing this blurb ‘til the last minute. I thought it was because I was too busy but after reading The Procrastination Equation, I know the real reasons. Piers Steel will help you tackle the goals . . . that always seemed . . . out of reach.” — Richard Florida, author of The Great Reset
“A useful, eye-opening book.” — Booklist
From the Back Cover
Do you surf the Web instead of finishing overdue projects? Do you always say you’ll start that diet . . . tomorrow? Do you stay up late watching television instead of going to bed?
You are not alone. In fact, you belong to the 95 percent of the world that admits to procrastination. We are hardwired to procrastinate, and with so many new ways to distract ourselves in the digitized world, putting things off has never been easier.
Using a mix of psychology, science, self-help advice, and his own research, Dr. Piers Steel—internationally recognized as the foremost authority on procrastination—dispels the myths and misunderstandings of motivation, replacing them with a clear explanation of why we put off until tomorrow what we should be doing today and providing cutting-edge techniques you need to get things done in the workplace and at home.
About the Author
Piers Steel, PhD, one of the world’s foremost researchers and speakers on the science of motivation and procrastination, is the winner of the Killam Emerging Research Leader Award. Dr. Steel’s research has appeared in numerous outlets around the world, ranging from Psychology Today and New Scientist to Good Housekeeping and The New Yorker. He lives in Calgary, Alberta, with his wife and two sons.
Product details
- Publisher : Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (January 3, 2012)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 352 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0061703621
- ISBN-13 : 978-0061703621
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 0.9 x 5.3 x 7.9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #158,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #227 in Time Management (Books)
- #450 in Personal Time Management
- #2,933 in Success Self-Help
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors

I'm a Canadian professor of procrastination. If you have time to spare, search "Psychology Today" under my name for my blog. And after that, go my research website "Procrastinus" to assess your procrastination.

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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book provides useful techniques and explanations to stop procrastination. They describe it as an excellent read with good stories and anecdotes. However, opinions differ on the writing style - some find it well-written and concise, while others find it tough to read in a good way.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book provides useful techniques and explanations to stop procrastination. They appreciate the extensive references and research-based tips and arguments. The author discusses the topic in a responsible way, avoiding magic formulas or miracles. Overall, readers find the book fascinating and helpful.
"...Bottom line: I like the fact that he has science to back up his suggestions and some clear, step-by-step ways to implement them...." Read more
"...Seeing it is good though, a plan of attack is laid out and you can start to see daylight...." Read more
"...He provides extensive references and none of the oversimplified anecdotes that plague the self-help genre, relying instead of fictitious examples of..." Read more
"...I didn't find enough actual help in this book. There are lovely theories but nothing to really push me forward into action...." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and useful.
"I really, really, really like this book!..." Read more
"...It can be a bit academic in places too. Overall, an excellent read though and one I will be sharing with friends and family." Read more
"Heard this about this book on a procrastination website. Excellent book. I'm rereading it again, highlighting portions that inspire me...." Read more
"This was a highly insightful and encouraging read. I didn't think I would ever overcome my chronic procrastination...." Read more
Customers enjoy the narrative quality. They find the writing nice and well-written, with good stories and anecdotes to break it up.
"...He provides extensive references and none of the oversimplified anecdotes that plague the self-help genre, relying instead of fictitious examples of..." Read more
"...It is so well-written it just flows, full of anecdotes and the like to break it up...." Read more
"...Nice writing, good stories, but nothing that helped me. I hope you have better results!" Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style. Some find it well-written and concise with clear suggestions and step-by-step instructions. The presentation is excellent, and the advice makes sense. However, others feel the book is difficult to read in a good way.
"...: I like the fact that he has science to back up his suggestions and some clear, step-by-step ways to implement them...." Read more
"...The writing style was informal and engaging but the content is clearly based on academic work...." Read more
"If you struggle with procrastination, read this book! It is so well-written it just flows, full of anecdotes and the like to break it up...." Read more
"...As I read through this book, I had many A-Hah moments! The presentation is excellent and the book is an easy read...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2012I really, really, really like this book! I found it at the public library and thought it would be another lame, "make lists, set goals and priorities" book but boy was I wrong! Rather than letting it sit for a week, like I normally do, I read it straight thru in two evenings. I'm a recovering "world class procrastinator" so I was ready to be disappointed, as I have been with so many other books on this subject, but it wasn't to be! Bottom line: I like the fact that he has science to back up his suggestions and some clear, step-by-step ways to implement them. I bought the book so I could highlight the heck out of it (libraries tend to frown on that practice. Go figure?) and have started using the ideas that fit my pattern of "addiction" - and they are working! Maybe its just me, maybe its the book or a combination, but I'm getting results that other books haven't provided. Don't skip the evaluation quizzes in the first chapter and do the full online version as well - you may not like the results! If you really suffer from procrastination this might be a book for you. Don't procrastinate! Buy it now and read it!
- Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2019First, this is overall tough to read in a good way. It is tough to see the monster hiding in your shadow come out and see it's great terrible size. Procrastination isn't just putting off a cell phone bill. It is retirement and savings never materialisting. It's the environment dying around us. Seeing it is good though, a plan of attack is laid out and you can start to see daylight.
The other way it is hard to read is less good though. There are fantasy examples that I felt were mostly meaningless the second time they came around. It can be a bit academic in places too.
Overall, an excellent read though and one I will be sharing with friends and family.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2013Steel lays out why people procrastinate, why it matters, and then offers the best available evidence-based practices to help cope with it. He provides extensive references and none of the oversimplified anecdotes that plague the self-help genre, relying instead of fictitious examples of three different types of procastinators to illustrate his points. The writing style was informal and engaging but the content is clearly based on academic work. I will complain that on my kindle version a few of the charts displayed in very small print and were hard to read. No book is going to change your life, but if you are at all interested in or dealing with procrastination, this one is very much worth reading.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2014Don't you see the problem with a book about procrastination? I've put off reading it! Seriously though, how can it help one stop putting things off? I didn't find enough actual help in this book. There are lovely theories but nothing to really push me forward into action. I don't really know what would do that, do I? If I did, I wouldn't need a book supposed to cure my procrastination. The only thing that has ever done the trick was waking up the morning before something was due and a combination of panic and fear pushing me out of bed and into work mode. Or working all night before something was due the next morning. How to get past that is what I really wanted to know. It's somehow not in there.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2013Heard this about this book on a procrastination website. Excellent book. I'm rereading it again, highlighting portions that inspire me. I was really getting trapped and losing opportunities to even make extra money because of falling into the abyss of the "putting off until later" syndrome. Lots of notations and citations. Adds to the validity of the writer's expertise. Wish I read it earlier as I could have accomplished much more. I'm already doing some healing which starts with quit blaming oneself. I'm wired this way and I CAN learn to live with this in a more productive way. That's what I learned.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2019If you struggle with procrastination, read this book! It is so well-written it just flows, full of anecdotes and the like to break it up. The author basically begins with the natural history of procrastination in humans, and brings us forward to modern life, in which it is a soul-stealing detriment. Then he hands us several methods to combat it.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2022There were several good ideas here but lots of filler. Basically the core of the book is the "Action Points" sections in chapters 7-9. Start there and then read the rest if you want more background or details. I didn't find the whole "equation" formulation that helpful.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2012I have looked for help in solving my procrastination for 26 years. As I read through this book, I had many A-Hah moments! The presentation is excellent and the book is an easy read. I was able to finish the book is 2 1/2 months.... I am so glad I stuck with it. I learned a lot about myself and how to properly attack the procrastination in me. After two weeks of completing the book, I am still seeing dividends and a good return on the tactics I learned.
Top reviews from other countries
AmazonVerifiedPurchaserReviewed in Canada on January 25, 20205.0 out of 5 stars Read this now. Approachable Concepts.
A must read no matter what your level of understanding is of the subject matter! This book provides a very clear understanding of the root causes of procrastination, and develops useful strategies for overcoming. This book helps underscore the importance of developing motivation through techniques, methods, and proven research.
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Eduardo de LimaReviewed in Brazil on April 27, 20192.0 out of 5 stars Desapontado
Qualidade do papel e capa muito ruim!
UtkarshReviewed in Germany on February 7, 20195.0 out of 5 stars This helps...
This is an excellent read. Explains the science behind why we procrastinate and how we can overcome this habit
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Eva KolomboReviewed in Italy on October 29, 20135.0 out of 5 stars Grazie
Mi ha aiuto tanto per i studi e anche per me stessa.
Buonissima qualita'
Spedizione molto veloce, grazie per il prodotto!
RGSReviewed in India on October 8, 20222.0 out of 5 stars Not impressed
No concrete methods suggested by Piers Steel. Huberman's podcast Ep.53 and Ep.55 had more suggestions. Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman explains the core concept of limbic brain vs neocortex better. Give it a pass if you are already familiar with that.







