Following Through: a Revolutionary New Model For Finishing Whatever You Start
Author: Steve Levinson, Pete C. Greider
List Price: $13.00
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ISBN: 1575663481
Publisher: Kensington Pub Corp (October, 1998)
Sales Rank: 66,349
Average Customer Rating: 4.16 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
The Last Self-Help Book You'll ever need?
One of the reviewers who wrote a blurb for this book used the phrase that I borrowed for the title of this review. It could very well be the last self-help book you'll ever need, with one essential proviso: you must USE the suggestions in the book rather than just read them!I noticed one of the... reviewers of this book has gotten his desk cleaned off as a result of following the suggestions in the book, and declared that it would stay clear too. This impressed me when I read it because I just finished the book, thought it was wonderful and really helpful, but my desk is a mess. The difference? Obviously, I have not yet put into practice the suggestions made in this book.
I have not a shadow of a doubt that I could clear my desk and a great deal more when I do put into action some of these wonderful ideas. As a hard core procrastinator, I warn you, don't read this book unless you want to suddenly be out of excuses for changing some nasty old habits. It is a real put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is type of book, and if it doesn't challenge you, you're not paying attention.
One example right in the beginning of the book is about some well-off gentleman who had a weakness for restaurant food. He wanted to lose weight and stop eating in restaurants so he told all his friends if anyone saw him in a restaurant he would buy them a car (or some such expensive gift). Talk about putting your money where your mouth is!
The authors explain that the pablum so often found in self-help books and spouted by motivational speakers that appeals to your rational brain just doesn't work when trying to change a well ingrained bad habit. One must enlist the aid of the more primitive parts of the brain, and they show you how to do this.
It is a terrific book, I am challenged. Excuse me, I've got to clear off my desk.
Rating: 4 out of 5
A solid book, but not magic
If you are pretty good at following through already, then you are probably using many of the suggestions in this book without realizing it. If you have follow through problems, then this is probably a useful investment. The authors do a very good job of communicating their message clearly with many examples. I would say the book could be summarized by two messages: (1) Each of us has a conflict between our short term desires and long term goals. We would prefer to eat that donut now and yet we worry about the heart attack we might get in 20 years. (2) To resolve these conflicts and achieve our goals, we need to alter our environment (in creative ways) so our desires and goals are aligned. The first message is important because it provides a useful way to understand our failings without piling on a lot of regrets. The second message provides the tools to achieve our goals.
Rating: 2 out of 5
A Quick-Fix Solution for the Moderate Procrastinator
I turned to this book to conquer a long history of procrastination. I read the book over two days, and felt an initial sense of relief in finding that the chapters were divided into eight simple methods that one could follow. However, I felt the book lacked an in-depth explanation as to WHY I was procrastinating. And I found the methods to be only superficially helpful. This book might be best suited for someone with a mild problem with procrastination. I am currently reading Neil Fiore's "Overcoming Procrastination" and I am finding this much more fascinating and useful in terms of understanding the reasoning behind why I procrastinate and how to conquer it. If you are not looking to understand your motives behind procrastination, it will be at best, moderately helpful. Similar Products
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