"Bit Literacy" is essential reading for anyone who has experienced "digital overload": the daily flood of e-mail, multiple todo lists, a cluttered ...
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Dec 17, 2009
Mike
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He has a lot of good ideas that work for him, but like any solution, it won't fit all situations. You'll need to find a compromise that works for you.
I don't care for his file system schemes, or his suggestions to use programs like iTunes or iPhoto (probably because I don't like either program and not everything apple makes is solid gold).
I also have some security issues with some of the things he says, such as storing passwords in plain text files. This is a bad idea. More...
I don't care for his file system schemes, or his suggestions to use programs like iTunes or iPhoto (probably because I don't like either program and not everything apple makes is solid gold).
I also have some security issues with some of the things he says, such as storing passwords in plain text files. This is a bad idea. More...
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Dec 05, 2011
Mike
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A decent book about technology with solid principles, but the principles are about as far as the help goes. Bit Literacy assumes that the reader has no experience or background with technology whatsoever. If you are at all familiar with computers, this book will offer minimal actionable advice.
Much of his advice has become less relevant as technology has evolved as well. This isn't necessarily Hurst's fault, just part of the cost of doing business if you write a technology-centric bo More...
Much of his advice has become less relevant as technology has evolved as well. This isn't necessarily Hurst's fault, just part of the cost of doing business if you write a technology-centric bo More...
Nov 19, 2011
David
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Some interesting notes with regard to keeping one's inbox empty. I had about 40-50 e-mails there before reading the book and cleaning them out was satisfying. Moreover, I do think I'm faster at responding to e-mails knowing that I can't just leave them in the inbox.
Readers might find the free service at www.nudgemail.com helpful. I just forward an e-mail that needs to be dealt with at a later time to them using intuitive addresses (e.g. nextweek@nudgemail.com) and they will send the More...
Readers might find the free service at www.nudgemail.com helpful. I just forward an e-mail that needs to be dealt with at a later time to them using intuitive addresses (e.g. nextweek@nudgemail.com) and they will send the More...
May 05, 2010
Matt
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Bit Literacy (2007), Mark Hurst
To be free of overload and the problems it causes, users must choose to become bit-literate. -Mark Hurst
Bit literacy is an interesting topic in our modern times of dramatic technological change and information overload. I've noticed how new technologies are often adopted for their novelty without consideration to their practical use or their best use, and I've seen how mis-management of information can cause the most efficient of people to drown. More...
To be free of overload and the problems it causes, users must choose to become bit-literate. -Mark Hurst
Bit literacy is an interesting topic in our modern times of dramatic technological change and information overload. I've noticed how new technologies are often adopted for their novelty without consideration to their practical use or their best use, and I've seen how mis-management of information can cause the most efficient of people to drown. More...
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Dec 27, 2009
Anya
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In this lightweight, readable manual, Mark Hurst breaks down information overload into manageable chunks--or rather, explains how we can do that. To be "bit literate," in Hurst's eyes, means to be in control of the constant tsunami of information we receive every day, through email, IM, social networks like this one, websites, blogs, etc. His mantra is to "let the bits go"--to be very selective of which section of the digital hurricane we give even a moment of our mental band
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Oct 12, 2010
Nathan
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I found Hurst’s little book to be most helpful in the chapter on email and prioritizing daily action items/”to do” lists. Keeping the inbox at zero (at least once every workday) and moving the items quickly to the trash, a folder, or a prioritized “to do” list, is one way to reduce the incoming “bits” and work more efficiently in a digitized age. It’s not an earth-shattering new concept, but I’ve found it really helpful already.
The book is more than just email and “to do” lists. Hurst More...
The book is more than just email and “to do” lists. Hurst More...
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Dec 06, 2010
This is almost a self-help book for those of us who have to deal with far too many emails and other internet-related demands on our time. A dry and rather OCD read at times, the book goes into a lot of interesting detail about how much more productive we could be if we tame the “bits”. A lot of our lives is spent fiddling around with emails, rather than actually getting on with things; and this book, in its opening chapters, makes a strong argument for pointing out the benefits of using technolo
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Apr 28, 2010
Belle
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the author is so redundant in the beginning - it almost makes you want to throw down the book in exasperation. but it's a quick skim, so you're motivated to stick with it for nuggets of wisdom. i do appreciate his ideas for to-do list and email management - i think those are the best parts of the book. the rest of the book about organizing your use of digital apps wasn't new to me but could be helpful for others. one thing to beware - i tried to look up some of the recommended apps (namely No
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Jul 14, 2008
Dale
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Mark Hurst is an entrepreneur and consultant on human-factors issues in the digital world. He offers up a plan for dealing with the deluge of digital information, especially email. His main idea: keep your email folders empty, and use a specific type of to-do list. Amazingly, the to-do list should have exactly the features offered by his gootodo.com product.
I would recommend this book to anyone whose email inbox is overflowing. He's absolutely right that it is liberating to reduce th More...
I would recommend this book to anyone whose email inbox is overflowing. He's absolutely right that it is liberating to reduce th More...
Jul 26, 2010
Daniel
rated it: 
Eh, I had read a favorable review, but I didn't like this one. I found one useful idea in the book. The part about processing email was a flagrant rip-off of Getting Things Done, but with more generic names for each step. Some of the big ideas were ok, but I didn't agree with the specifics of how to apply them.
Really just not that much new information. At least it was size 14 font and huge margins, so the 192 pages was really more like 120 pages. Since the book is about managi More...
Really just not that much new information. At least it was size 14 font and huge margins, so the 192 pages was really more like 120 pages. Since the book is about managi More...
May 07, 2011
Nocheevo
rated it:
*Sigh*
I will definitely 'let the bits go' and get this off my Kindle.Very disappointing.
Some good suggestions but it is generally simplistic and limited. The author is a 'bit' too hooked on his single approach. There is little exploration of overall concepts and offering a number of methods. Unfortunately what the book offers is not workable in my field and his push of his "good experience" products began to put me offside about half way through.
I will definitely 'let the bits go' and get this off my Kindle.Very disappointing.
Some good suggestions but it is generally simplistic and limited. The author is a 'bit' too hooked on his single approach. There is little exploration of overall concepts and offering a number of methods. Unfortunately what the book offers is not workable in my field and his push of his "good experience" products began to put me offside about half way through.
Jun 08, 2011
Dinah
rated it:
I had forgotten how much I enjoy Mr. Hurst's writing. Between the jazz in my earphones & this book, I had an astonishingly pleasant ride on the #22 bus today. // Mixed review in the end. It turns out that while I enjoy Hurst at a high level, I find some of his very specific recommendations to be overkill. (Also, for a forward-thinking guy, it's odd that he hangs on to the quaint use of a hyphen in "e-mail").
Sep 19, 2011
Ryan
rated it:
This book offers something different from most productivity books - a way to think about information in a rational, scalable manner. I like his concept of a media diet, and while everyone recommends keeping your inbox empty, Marks explains the philosophical reasons behind it.
He also talks a bit about ownership of information, which is becoming increasingly relevant.
He also talks a bit about ownership of information, which is becoming increasingly relevant.
Dec 18, 2011
Vaughn
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Some good and not so good ways to handle an overload of "bits". I especially liked the chapters on handling email and todo lists. However, I found the tips for password management (e.g., store them in clear text), handling photos, and structuring a file system either unsafe or not worthwhile for my needs. Overall a few very solid tips that have already improved my productivity.
Dec 27, 2011
Kerry
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Maybe my new year's resolution will be to try this "zero inbox" technique. That just means I have to diligently use a "to-do" folder or tag instead.
It was encouraging to read that I am already doing some things suggested in this book (deleting poor quality digital photos, folder/file naming).
It was encouraging to read that I am already doing some things suggested in this book (deleting poor quality digital photos, folder/file naming).
Apr 10, 2009
Emily
rated it:
This started interestingly, but by about halfway through was *really* on my nerves. The author continuously spoke condescendingly towards what he called 'techies' (folks who enjoy technology for technology's sake) and as the book went on sounded more and more disparaging of anything that wasn't his own idea. His critiques of other companies or systems was barely (or not at all) disguised.
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Apr 12, 2011
Vance
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Some good ideas I have started to use but he also seemed to reach a bit to fill space.
Most of the book was about ways to save time, communicate more effectively and be more productive so the chapters on photos and file formats seemed out of place and unnecessary.
Most of the book was about ways to save time, communicate more effectively and be more productive so the chapters on photos and file formats seemed out of place and unnecessary.
Jan 23, 2011
Stacie
rated it:
The premise that bit have weight is so true. I had 3000+ emails in my in-box. I had no strategy for dealing with them. I'm proud to say I have fewer than 60 message in my in-box and hope to tame the rest by creating a few more descriptive folders.
Aug 09, 2011
Rick
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Good read on how to use today's technology to improve productivity. Didn't get as much out of it as I had expected. Many GTD'ers that are heavy technology users have already implemented much of these principles.
Jul 15, 2011
Common sense for the most part. Some thought provoking comments in the final chapter around 'life stream' - the fact that each individual will have enough storage to record their entire life in pictures video . . . .
Feb 01, 2009
If you are swamped by email and other "bits" of information that flood your life... check this one out. I'm going to lend it out when I'm done.
Aug 18, 2010
Anna
rated it:
Part I and Chapter 13 could have been combined to form a thought-provoking essay, but instead we get the filler that is so quirky that it's almost useless to anyone who is bit literate. I feel like the author is trying to impose a DOS-based view of computing that has no place in modern times. There are an incredible number of tools out there that can manage our bits, and he barely scratches the surface, preferring to use methods and tools that seem perpetually stuck in 1995.
Mar 31, 2011
Chris
rated it:
This is an overly simplistic book that will be worthless to all but the most inexperienced of computer users.
The chapter on Media Diets had a few useful insights, and the chapter on getting an inbox to zero has some value to those who have never read any other books on personal productivity.
However, for the most part, this book was a complete waste of time and money.
The chapter on Media Diets had a few useful insights, and the chapter on getting an inbox to zero has some value to those who have never read any other books on personal productivity.
However, for the most part, this book was a complete waste of time and money.
Jan 30, 2012
Eva
rated it:
One big idea to take from this: Non-actionable to-do items (like picking up the dry cleaning next week, buying tickets to an event when they go on sale in a couple months, or making sure that so-and-so replied to your email) should be out of sight, out of mind, until they "wake up" when they are actionable. I use followupthen.com for this.
Other ideas:
+ Go on a media diet.
+ Use text-expansion tools.
+ Create keyboard shortcuts.
+ If it takes <2 minutes, do More...
Other ideas:
+ Go on a media diet.
+ Use text-expansion tools.
+ Create keyboard shortcuts.
+ If it takes <2 minutes, do More...
May 18, 2010
Edwin
rated it:
A bit old school. He completely forgot videos as a big lump of digital content people might have.
Jun 14, 2011
Ron
rated it:
simplistic for an experienced user, good book for somebody who doesn't know a lot
Dec 12, 2011
Andy
rated it:
Great techniques for managing email and files.
Lots of common sense applied towards managing daily activities.
Lots of common sense applied towards managing daily activities.
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Jun 16, 2008
Chad
rated it:
Some useful stuff. Needs to be updated already. His methods need to be updated to accomodate Google Apps.
Why keep your inbox empty. Just star the important things you need to get back to.
Basic things such as making email subject lines useful are covered.
Be quick and to the point.
Don't attach files if you can just paste in the text.
He's right.....Learn to friggen touch type people.....you just look dumb if you hunt and peck. The time you will i More...
Why keep your inbox empty. Just star the important things you need to get back to.
Basic things such as making email subject lines useful are covered.
Be quick and to the point.
Don't attach files if you can just paste in the text.
He's right.....Learn to friggen touch type people.....you just look dumb if you hunt and peck. The time you will i More...
