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ok_now_what's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
5.0
viviennemorgain's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you! Reading this book was a constant wave of relief. I work exactly as I'm supposed to, and my feelings and expectations are all valid, and as they should be. I read the Kindle edition, but I've already ordered my paperback copy. I feel stronger and I know what to do next. Suddenly, I feel I'm capable of finding my next job, the dread is gone.
As the book is roughly 10 years old, I was a bit worried, but its content is still valid and helpful. But imagine where I could be if I had read it earlier!
I'm also making my family read it, so that they can understand me better, and hopefully be a tad less hard on me.
As the book is roughly 10 years old, I was a bit worried, but its content is still valid and helpful. But imagine where I could be if I had read it earlier!
I'm also making my family read it, so that they can understand me better, and hopefully be a tad less hard on me.
serru's review against another edition
4.0
Notes I took while reading:
Scanner Daybook
- left page, write today's date & title of idea
- jot down ideas, can do stream of consciousness, journal-style
- when you have tangent ideas, right page, draw a line from left and write down any tangents
- then return to original idea
- can add in printouts, drawings, etc
- write in it every day for a couple weeks
- make a "what have i done so far" list (in scanner daybook)
Wall Calendar
- large sheet of paper, draw 6 boxes = 6 years
- list all the things you wanna do
- assign each thing a different colour
- draw bands of colour in 6 boxes to assign when you hope to do them
(helps you plan & be assured you'll get to everything)
LTTL Strategy - learn, try, teach, leave
Big List
- list everything you want to do (don't list things like "african history, asian history, etc") - only list actual things you would enjoy spending time with
- everything you've done already
- everything you wish you could do for the first time
- everything you wish you'd be doing in years to come
- everything you'd like to do once or twice only
- you have to sit with eyes closed for a minute or so and imagine yourself doing the activity in real time (you can also write this down "I am opening my history book...")
- if the fantasy feels good, put it on the list
- you'll probably have at the most 100 activities
- alternatively, keep a list in your scanner daybook of things you don't want to do
- imagine yourself doing it, picture the environment, picure what you do (eg. are you learning in a university lecture hall? are you doing it in a social group or on your own? are you just talking to a historian at a museum?) - figure out what it is you want, you don't necessarily need tospend a lot of time to be satisfied
- what do you really want to know about the topic?
- what would you most enjoy doing with the information?
- who would you love to talk to about this subject if it could be anyone?
- make a note of actual time required (eg. a talk = 20min, university lecture = 1 semester, etc)
Interest Index Binder
- binder for each interest, put relevant print outs, magazine pages, notes, etc. in it
Backward Planning Flowchart
- start with what you want with a deadline
- ask yourself, can i achieve that goal right now? what do I need to do it?
- draw lines from your goal with circles of the things you need (mindmap)
- look at each thing you need, is it possible right now? what do you need for those things?
- keep going until you reach something you can do now (first step towards goal)
- add a date to do the first step & do it!
- if you don't want to do it = reveals where your fears are
- get some help with first step if necessary (friends, etc)
Reality Research
- for facing fears
- if your fear is "What if no one wants to read the novel I want to write?"
- that's not a helpful question
- instead, ask "what's the best way to get an answer to the above question?"
- eg. see if people would like it by showing them a sample
- you'd need to write a chapter (sample) and table of contents and description
- then you can show people (and now you've written a book proposal!)
Scanner Daybook
- left page, write today's date & title of idea
- jot down ideas, can do stream of consciousness, journal-style
- when you have tangent ideas, right page, draw a line from left and write down any tangents
- then return to original idea
- can add in printouts, drawings, etc
- write in it every day for a couple weeks
- make a "what have i done so far" list (in scanner daybook)
Wall Calendar
- large sheet of paper, draw 6 boxes = 6 years
- list all the things you wanna do
- assign each thing a different colour
- draw bands of colour in 6 boxes to assign when you hope to do them
(helps you plan & be assured you'll get to everything)
LTTL Strategy - learn, try, teach, leave
Big List
- list everything you want to do (don't list things like "african history, asian history, etc") - only list actual things you would enjoy spending time with
- everything you've done already
- everything you wish you could do for the first time
- everything you wish you'd be doing in years to come
- everything you'd like to do once or twice only
- you have to sit with eyes closed for a minute or so and imagine yourself doing the activity in real time (you can also write this down "I am opening my history book...")
- if the fantasy feels good, put it on the list
- you'll probably have at the most 100 activities
- alternatively, keep a list in your scanner daybook of things you don't want to do
- imagine yourself doing it, picture the environment, picure what you do (eg. are you learning in a university lecture hall? are you doing it in a social group or on your own? are you just talking to a historian at a museum?) - figure out what it is you want, you don't necessarily need tospend a lot of time to be satisfied
- what do you really want to know about the topic?
- what would you most enjoy doing with the information?
- who would you love to talk to about this subject if it could be anyone?
- make a note of actual time required (eg. a talk = 20min, university lecture = 1 semester, etc)
Interest Index Binder
- binder for each interest, put relevant print outs, magazine pages, notes, etc. in it
Backward Planning Flowchart
- start with what you want with a deadline
- ask yourself, can i achieve that goal right now? what do I need to do it?
- draw lines from your goal with circles of the things you need (mindmap)
- look at each thing you need, is it possible right now? what do you need for those things?
- keep going until you reach something you can do now (first step towards goal)
- add a date to do the first step & do it!
- if you don't want to do it = reveals where your fears are
- get some help with first step if necessary (friends, etc)
Reality Research
- for facing fears
- if your fear is "What if no one wants to read the novel I want to write?"
- that's not a helpful question
- instead, ask "what's the best way to get an answer to the above question?"
- eg. see if people would like it by showing them a sample
- you'd need to write a chapter (sample) and table of contents and description
- then you can show people (and now you've written a book proposal!)
elainewlin's review
1.0
Anecdotal and syrupy
The core argument is that some people are “scanners” with multiple interests, and these people are genetically different in some magic way. However, there was no clear evidence to support this. The book consists of mostly anecdotes and questionable logical fallacies. I agree that nobody should feel terrible about themselves, but the writing style was incredibly syrupy and overly optimistic. Having multiple hobbies and not wanting one core focus is cool, but the book made it sound like “being a scanner” somehow excuses somebody from all bad behavior - missing appointments, not following through on commitments to others. Perhaps the title should’ve warned me about the writing style. I would not recommend the book, and I prefer self-help books based in science and psychology.
The core argument is that some people are “scanners” with multiple interests, and these people are genetically different in some magic way. However, there was no clear evidence to support this. The book consists of mostly anecdotes and questionable logical fallacies. I agree that nobody should feel terrible about themselves, but the writing style was incredibly syrupy and overly optimistic. Having multiple hobbies and not wanting one core focus is cool, but the book made it sound like “being a scanner” somehow excuses somebody from all bad behavior - missing appointments, not following through on commitments to others. Perhaps the title should’ve warned me about the writing style. I would not recommend the book, and I prefer self-help books based in science and psychology.
dennistraub's review against another edition
5.0
Great guide and a typology especially for adults that goes far beyond the typical "You have ADD, now go drug yourself and live with it."
mariaburke's review against another edition
5.0
Life changing, cannot say enough good things about this book
laurenbastian's review against another edition
4.0
Perfect for anybody who loves too many things and is indecisive about their future (ie. Me)