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Taming the Paper Tiger at Home
room people have an area they'd like to get "more organized." At work, it could be a desk buried in phone messages, memos and work-in-progress, overstuffed file cabinets or indecipherable computer files. At home, maybe it's a dining room table laden with bills and receipts, a pile of articles waiting to be read or photographs that need labeling. No matter what the situation, Barbara Hemphill has the practical solution to help control these "Paper Tigers."
- GenresProductivity
196 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 24, 2016
A book on how to deal with all the paper in your life. Most of it was the same stuff I had read in previous organizing books. I did have a few Ah Ha moments, here goes.
Create an action folder for holding onto papers that need more action, a phone call, checking your calendar, etc. Clutter is just a postponed decision. She suggests ignoring the back log and starting with the present.
And my biggest insight, was
"A creative mind always has more ideas than the body can carry out. Many of those ideas come from what read, but what we must remember is there is no shortage of resources for ideas. There will always be more things to read, so spend your time reading, not feeling guilty over what you haven't read."
Create an action folder for holding onto papers that need more action, a phone call, checking your calendar, etc. Clutter is just a postponed decision. She suggests ignoring the back log and starting with the present.
And my biggest insight, was
"A creative mind always has more ideas than the body can carry out. Many of those ideas come from what read, but what we must remember is there is no shortage of resources for ideas. There will always be more things to read, so spend your time reading, not feeling guilty over what you haven't read."
June 26, 2015
First, if someone recommends this book to you, do not read the version published with "Paper Tiger" in the title. Per the author's website, there is an updated version called "Organizing Paper @ Home," published in 2012.
The version I read was published in 2002, and seemed very dated. I had to smile at some of the references to "new technology" like PDAs. The world really has changed a lot since 2002, and if you have a smartphone, some of the advice in this book will be obsolete.
There are some good fundamentals in this book, though their relevance may depend on how organized you already are. I like the general concept of having a system for dealing with the flow of paper through your home, and the questions to ask yourself when deciding what to do with paper are good. The most valuable parts of this book for me were in the second half, discussing retention of specific types of documents. I wish there would have been more detailed information on that.
There was some advice I disagreed with. I felt like some of the advice might enable the reader to be a pack rat. I also thought some of the principles - such as the calendar, filing system, and multiple phone list ideas - were unnecessarily complicated. In addition, the author occasionally endorses specific products/brands (including her own), which might be smart from a business sense, but turned me off as a reader.
Finally, this might be a nitpick, but the book's layout seemed odd to me. The entire book has two-inch margins, said to allow the reader to write notes. Also, the book has 24 chapters, but each chapter was shorter than I expected. It made it seem like the content was stretched thin across the book's 190 pages.
The version I read was published in 2002, and seemed very dated. I had to smile at some of the references to "new technology" like PDAs. The world really has changed a lot since 2002, and if you have a smartphone, some of the advice in this book will be obsolete.
There are some good fundamentals in this book, though their relevance may depend on how organized you already are. I like the general concept of having a system for dealing with the flow of paper through your home, and the questions to ask yourself when deciding what to do with paper are good. The most valuable parts of this book for me were in the second half, discussing retention of specific types of documents. I wish there would have been more detailed information on that.
There was some advice I disagreed with. I felt like some of the advice might enable the reader to be a pack rat. I also thought some of the principles - such as the calendar, filing system, and multiple phone list ideas - were unnecessarily complicated. In addition, the author occasionally endorses specific products/brands (including her own), which might be smart from a business sense, but turned me off as a reader.
Finally, this might be a nitpick, but the book's layout seemed odd to me. The entire book has two-inch margins, said to allow the reader to write notes. Also, the book has 24 chapters, but each chapter was shorter than I expected. It made it seem like the content was stretched thin across the book's 190 pages.
June 24, 2011
I wish I'd read this book about 6 months sooner than I did. As it was, I read it and tried to apply it just as John Ray started kindergarten and I had Samuel. Implementing a new filing system at such a time was doomed to failure. I really do feel like it's a good system and flexible for anyone BUT because it initially failed in our household certain other members of my household feel it's not practical and will not try it (this person prefers the leave-it-in-a-pile-on-the-table-as-a-visual-reminder system which I find completely unacceptable) so of course it continues to be doomed to failure. Yet I am determined to get our papers under control. One thing that most organization books seem to agree on is to start with today! And that's what I intend to do. I hope to firmly establish routines this summer that will carry over into the more hectic school year.
April 27, 2009
Wow. I didn't know sorting through & filing all my random piles of old messy notes & overwhelming files (and tossing out countless recycling bin loads of them) would improve and clear up my life so much.
Paper clutter = delayed decisions (such as unfinished project ideas, unpaid bills and to-dos), outdated stuff (such as old unattended event fliers and expired contact info) and repetitive or otherwise unnecessary info. If clutter tends to hold you back (even in areas other than paper - email, clothes, whatever), I completely recommend this book! More highlights include creating a desk space and calendar system that works for you.
Written by a well-known expert in the field of decluttering, this book was recommended to me by a professional organizer.
Paper clutter = delayed decisions (such as unfinished project ideas, unpaid bills and to-dos), outdated stuff (such as old unattended event fliers and expired contact info) and repetitive or otherwise unnecessary info. If clutter tends to hold you back (even in areas other than paper - email, clothes, whatever), I completely recommend this book! More highlights include creating a desk space and calendar system that works for you.
Written by a well-known expert in the field of decluttering, this book was recommended to me by a professional organizer.
May 11, 2007
This is a great book to help get organized with all the paper of life... It has an efficient and easy to understand and implement system that truly does make for less forgetting and hassles. also, less searching when it comes to finding what i need. I cant say I've fully gotten a handle on things, but this book and its advice are really helping. It is especially helping with stayign organized at work, too! Love it, I'm buying one for myself...
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November 12, 2009
This book covers all aspects of household papers. From going through the paper, to setting up the system and maintaining it. Also gives ideas on other household paper like "to- read", recipes, family memorabilia and kids projects. If yoou struggle to keep up with all of the paper in your home you need to read this book.
February 26, 2015
First, this was REALLY dated -- answering machines, film cameras, paper correspondence... And I'm one of the few people who still lives this way! Otherwise, just not that helpful. She really lost me when she said, speaking of excessive books, "If there is no available space, consider renting a self-storage unit." Seriously?
February 24, 2011
A worthwhile read for those ready to really systematize their home offices. However, you need only ready Taming for at home or at work. The content is very similar. Excellent advice for the beginner and words of wisdom for the experienced looking to freshen up their organizing plan.
August 9, 2008
This probably deserves a higher rating ... I'm just a helpless case!
July 27, 2009
Great help with paper management!
April 5, 2012
I read a version from '98, so it was out of date with issues regarding computers, digital back ups, etc. Still though, great info and a ton of useful tips!
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August 27, 2007Hey look, it's Barbara! :)
June 19, 2018
Despite how much technology has changed since 2005, this book lays out fundamental principles for managing our home papers and information effectively. Brilliant.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews