Training the Paper Tiger: Organizing the Paper in Your Life

by Barbara Hemphill

A guide to paper management teaches readers how to select the right work space, throw things out, make action and reference files, use a Rolodex, catalog names and numbers, and more. Reprint.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Reference

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Derek Crager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Organize your life, this book will help you organize your house in your office and your desk and all your papers and non-papers etc.

[Hope Irvin Marston · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had read this book in 1992 when it was first published, I wouldn't have a paper tiger messing up my life today. However, it's never to late to learn to mend one's ways, and this author guides the reader in doing just that, one paper stash at a time.

The text seems to cover every area of one's life where paper records are involved, showing how to decide what should be kept, where to keep it and for how long. Perhaps more important the author helps you decide what should be tossed immediately so you never have to deal with it again.

I recommend the reader have a large trash can nearby before sitting down to read this one.

Hope Irvin Marston, co-author of RISING FROM THE RUBBLE: THE RESTORATION OF BOLDT CASTLE.

After reading FOR PACKRATS ONLY, I just read this book for the third time. I have spent about three months clearing out 26 files/drawers. I urge you to get started on your stashes because it's going to take a long time. Here's a quote from the above book: "...going through the equivalent of one vertical-file cabinet drawer takes about four hours." I can vouch for that. November 22,2020

[BookBec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Outdated overall, but some useful nuggets remain. Don't be afraid that you have to start by fixing your years' worth of paper messes; just start with a new system for the paper that arrives from now on. You can go back and fix things later, but you may as well find a functional way to live now.

Also, what's your vision? How would you like your space and papers to look and to function? Have a dream goal in mind.

The systems seem overly complicated at times. The summary chapter says it's so easy: every piece of paper has one of seven destinations. Seven seems like a lot of options to go through every time I consider what to do with a piece of paper.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives tips and advice for how to manage all the paper in our lives: bills, taxes, statements, coupons, filing, homework, art projects, etc. It also gives guidelines for how long to keep certain types of paper and the best way to be prepared for emergencies or audits. Helpful resource. It looks like there may be an updated version that could be more current.

[Marcey Rader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book but not as relevant for many people right now. I recommend reading the updated book 'Organizing Paper at Home'. Barbara Hemphill was a pioneer in getting people organized. I've seen many people drown in their fear of giving up paper. Barbara gives you easy, step-by-step actions to take to get rid of your paper tiger.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books on the subject. Made me realize that I needed to handle my personal material the same way I did at work. This was made more difficult by my habit of collecting magazine and newspaper clippings on subjects that interest me.

[Cws]

651.5 Hem

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a book I will be keeping. Best part is when skepticism about using computers!

[Lisa]

I was hoping there would be more focus on work, and very outdated, but some good tips.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas, but a lot of outdated content.