Jeffrey J. Mayer
1 ok/ho-hum...
book was written in 95. i read it in 2005. half of this is on computers in 95. 1/4 of this is good.
2 The front cheat sheet is why this book got 2 stars!
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.
3 *Very* little content about actual time management
Well, like the title of my review says, there is surprisingly little actual time management strategies in this book - in fact, the majority of the book deals with other subjects, like sales pitches, making presentations, even subjects as banal and irrelevant to the topic of time management as "how to choose a cell phone"...To be frank, there were so many "how to choose (insert product name here)" primers that I began to wonder whether I was reading a how-to book or a catalogue; bad form on the publisher's part for including all these product reviews - perhaps they would have been helpful in a different context, but Mayer talks about technology products mostly, and almost all of these sections are outdated ("try to get a cell phone with a retractable antenna"...when's the last time you saw a cell phone with one of those erect, immovable antennae sticking out?) - I am not schooled in the pool of time management books out there, but there are better ones to be had
4 Also disappointed.
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").
5 One third of this is a sales pitch!
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.
6 Laughable
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.
7 Eh, it's okay
As was said in the other reviews, the first two chapters were really effective in helping me with my Time Management skills. HOwever, it seems that the author kind of gets off topic and soon the book becomes "How to be productive in the office for dummies." He begins to talk about how to pack for business trips and how to avoid getting robbed at the airport, and eventually for some reason begins to talk about how to use the telephone during business hours. For the price, it's okay, but don't expect major life changes.
8 Disappointing
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).
9 it was great!
this book really helped me manage my time. before i got it i was a wreck, getting only two hours of sleep a night. Now i'm organized and getting plenty of rest.
10 Nomen est omen - it delivers that it promises.
It is an outstanding book for beginners in time management. Covers many topics closely or less closely related to the issue and gives lots of hints and tips. At the same time it is a thought-provoking reading, makes you think about more 'sophisticated' ways of saving you time.
11 A useful book if you overlook the various sales pitches.
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.
12 A guide to time management for sales people
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
