Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Workman Publishing Company (2012), Edition: First Edition, 112 pages
Description
Self-Improvement. Nonfiction. HTML: John Perry's insights and laugh-out-loud humor bring to mind Thurber, Wodehouse, and Harry Frankfort's On Bullshit. This charming and accessible audio educates, entertains, and illuminates a universal subject. Procrastinators will be relieved to learn that actually you can accomplish quite a lot while procrastinating. In fact, the book itself is the result of Perry avoiding grading papers, refereeing academic proposals, and reviewing dissertation drafts. It also has a practical side, offering up advice that listeners can put to use. Who knew that placing "Learn Chinese" at the top of your to-do list would inspire you to get the less monumental tasks below it done? Witty, wise, and beautifully written, The Art of Procrastination will make the perfect gift for the untold number of lollygaggers out there..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
I've been meaning to read this for a while but kept putting it off. Several times while reading this book I had the eerie feeling the author was writing about me.
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
I've been meaning to read this for a while but kept putting it off. Several times while reading this book I had the eerie feeling the author was writing about me.
LibraryThing member timtom
This is an amusing read, if only because all of its readers probably used reading it as an excuse to not doing anything more useful, and it's nice not to feel alone in such moments. Which is precisely the only reason why this book was written: to reassure procrastinators that they are not alone and
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that most of the time they still get things eventually done. That's nice, but I doubt that there remains a single procrastinator on this planet who is unaware that his plight is shared by a large population. Show Less
LibraryThing member everfresh1
Very funny and at the same time very insightful. That I can say as a real 'structural procrastinator'. Don't expect any revelations how to overcome your procrastination. I think author gives a few helpful small points, but I am not sure how helpful they are. Still very interesting and entertaining
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work in very small package (another plus) Show Less
LibraryThing member SqueakyChu
For great laughs and a mirror image of myself, I found this book startling. Stanford philosophy professor John Perry explained why procrastinators are those who actually get things done and why. I now feel better about myself. At least I'm not alone. In a constructive way, the author explains how
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individuals can deal with procrastination in order to move forward and lessen personal guilt. This is just such hilarious reading, I cannot help but recommend this book for everyone whether or not readers self identify as procrastinators. Show Less
LibraryThing member viviennestrauss
I know it appears that it took me more than two years to read this book (started May of 2013) but after reading the opening chapter, I misplaced the book in our upstairs bedroom. I found it today while reorganizing my library and instead of continuing to move books up and down a flight of stairs, I
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chose to sit down and read this book, cover to cover. What a delight! It was highly amusing and good to give names to things I've been doing my whole life. What Perry refers to as "structured procrastination", I had already named "productive procrastination". What I did not know, is that I am a horizontally organized person rather than vertical as is with most structured procrastinators. Fun reading and it took serious discipline to not stop between chapters and google things I hadn't heard of before. Those were put on my to-do list for days when I want to avoid doing what I should be doing. Show Less
LibraryThing member jwood652
Instead of doing other things, I am writing this review. The book tells us about structured procrastination. When we procrastinate, we usually are doing something, just not the task we are avoiding. The art is to structure our to do list with tasks at the top that seem to be important enough to
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avoid so that you accomplish the next task. The author also tells us that we need to accept less than perfect results, enabling us to get things done, doing a completely acceptable job. The author makes many good points, allowing us to explore how we decide what to accomplish, giving us some tools to get things done. One example is to add not to dos to our list such as do not read email or do not go on Facebook. I enjoyed reading the book although it's more of an attitude adjustment than a step by step guide. It is an enjoyable read, delivered with a witty style, sneaking helpful strategies in along the way. So realize that despite all your procrastination, you do get a lot accomplished and also realize that perfection is an ideal, not a goal. So position reading this book on your to do list so that you read it someday soon. You'll enjoy it. Show Less
LibraryThing member jwood652
Instead of doing other things, I am writing this review. The book tells us about structured procrastination. When we procrastinate, we usually are doing something, just not the task we are avoiding. The art is to structure our to do list with tasks at the top that seem to be important enough to
Show More
avoid so that you accomplish the next task. The author also tells us that we need to accept less than perfect results, enabling us to get things done, doing a completely acceptable job. The author makes many good points, allowing us to explore how we decide what to accomplish, giving us some tools to get things done. One example is to add not to dos to our list such as do not read email or do not go on Facebook. I enjoyed reading the book although it's more of an attitude adjustment than a step by step guide. It is an enjoyable read, delivered with a witty style, sneaking helpful strategies in along the way. So realize that despite all your procrastination, you do get a lot accomplished and also realize that perfection is an ideal, not a goal. So position reading this book on your to do list so that you read it someday soon. You'll enjoy it. Show Less
LibraryThing member ThothJ
An awesome book! I no longer feel ashamed because I procrastinate.
LibraryThing member ThothJ
An awesome book! I no longer feel ashamed because I procrastinate.
LibraryThing member ThothJ
An awesome book! I no longer feel ashamed because I procrastinate.
LibraryThing member 2wonderY
Amusing, but not earth-shaking. I had already come to most of these realizations. I did like his comparison to left handers living in a right handed world with vertical and horizontal organizers. I am so much a left handed horizontal organizer that it's not funny. I use the floor for lack of enough
At two discs, very manageable.
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horizontal space.At two discs, very manageable.
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LibraryThing member caimanjosh
This was a short, amusing read. It also provided what do seem like some legitimate tips for those who tend to be (high-functioning) procrastinators. i'm afraid, though, that those who procrastinate by staring mindless at their phones or watching endless television may not find a lot of useful tips
Last note: if you pick this up and find yourself thinking, "Well, maybe I'll read this in a few days...", then it might be a good book for you. ;)
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here. Even they might want to read it, though, as it's worth it for comic relief. Last note: if you pick this up and find yourself thinking, "Well, maybe I'll read this in a few days...", then it might be a good book for you. ;)
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LibraryThing member VenkiPhy6
This book is a very enjoyable read taking not more than 4 hours. The author's sense of humor adds a lot more to its enjoyment. I found the book extremely relatable to myself too. It basically gives a way to look at the overly exaggerated issue of Procrastination from an optimistic perspective. It
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would be an under statement to say this book can be life changing. Show Less
LibraryThing member ltbxf4
It was entertaining. Nailed me in many ways, but not all, so I must not be a structured procrastinator completely.
LibraryThing member CarrieWuj
Great diversion from doing other things! I am a habitual procrastinator and here I found validation, if not solutions. John Perry, a professor of philosophy has re-framed the concept into "structured procrastination" noting that procrastination doesn't allow people to do nothing, it just gives them
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an opportunity to do other things while avoiding the task they are putting off. Makes philosophical sense to me! Often driving the avoidance is the desire to do things perfectly. This rings true and also makes the task monumental - so many steps before one can even begin. Then where to begin? And where to find the time to do the job perfectly? Better read through my email first or go through this pile of papers on the counter....There is humor here and realistic reflection and the acknowledgment that an art form has its own timeline. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2012
Physical description
112 p.; 7.25 inches
ISBN
0761171673 / 9780761171676