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How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life
What do Gloria Steinem and I.B.M. have in common?
Both have sought the advice of Alan Lakein, famous time management expert, in order to minimize the time they waste and to maximize their productive capabilities. Now his practical widwom and amazingly effective simple rules are available to How to build your willpower How to waste time for pleasure and profit How to work smarter, not harder And much, much more Reading this book can be the wisest investment of your time that you have ever made!
Both have sought the advice of Alan Lakein, famous time management expert, in order to minimize the time they waste and to maximize their productive capabilities. Now his practical widwom and amazingly effective simple rules are available to How to build your willpower How to waste time for pleasure and profit How to work smarter, not harder And much, much more Reading this book can be the wisest investment of your time that you have ever made!
Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1973
106 people are currently reading
1765 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
April 16, 2013
Many years ago this book taught me to manage my time effectively rather than efficiently. It has been one of the ten most important books in my life primarily because it taught me the 80/20 rule. The 80/20 rule is that twenty percent of every list organized by priority makes up 80 percent of that list's value. If it is a to-do list, it can teach you do do the important things first. Twenty percent of the files in a filing system gets 80 percent of the use. Twenty percent of the carpet in your home gets eighty percent of the traffic. Twenty percent of the books you read will provide you with eighty percent of your useful education, and so forth. Because of this book I have been highly successful in my life even though I am a lazy man, sleep a lot and play a lot of computer games. It is not like free money. It is like extra time in the day.
November 28, 2015
I was in my mid-twenties when I bought a used copy of this book. Now in my mid-sixties, I still use the author's ideas, especially when my ridiculously busy life threatens to careen out of control.
Why this book? At the time I was working as a trainer, preparing volunteers to work with maximum security prisoners as they began the transition back to the community. We spent three months teaching decision making and life planning skills and many of the tools we suggested came from Lakien's book. It was good work, but the real beneficiary was me. I learned to set goals, make implementation plans, and keep track of results.
Lakien's book foreshadowed the strategic planning movement or, who know, maybe contributed to its ideas. It's a classic that I'd like to re-read in my older skin.
Why this book? At the time I was working as a trainer, preparing volunteers to work with maximum security prisoners as they began the transition back to the community. We spent three months teaching decision making and life planning skills and many of the tools we suggested came from Lakien's book. It was good work, but the real beneficiary was me. I learned to set goals, make implementation plans, and keep track of results.
Lakien's book foreshadowed the strategic planning movement or, who know, maybe contributed to its ideas. It's a classic that I'd like to re-read in my older skin.
November 15, 2011
Recommended For: News Junkies who want to break that habit, Passionate people who want to read everything and need soothing, Treasure Seekers who like to dip into a book such as this one from time to time and find nuggets and gems they can use to enhance their lives
Top Reason That This Book Helped Me: Lakein persuaded me that I may be able to read any of what's available, but I can't read everything that's available. He showed me how I could feel good about choosing not to read about history and biography as they were unfolding in the present and called "current events." During the "current events" phase, what is "fact" or theory can change from moment to moment and back again. He assured me that I could choose to wait until books were written.
Yes, this book was first published during the 1970's. I read it then and (in 2011) still use some of the things I learned.
Yes, we have many time management books to choose from. I've read more of them than my books at Goodreads reflect. In my experience, Alan Lakein has ways of expressing ideas so that they persuade me to try them even when I think I won't like them. Yes, he taught me to like the "vegetables" of time management such as the fact that no matter how many words I want to read, I have to choose.
Top Reason That This Book Helped Me: Lakein persuaded me that I may be able to read any of what's available, but I can't read everything that's available. He showed me how I could feel good about choosing not to read about history and biography as they were unfolding in the present and called "current events." During the "current events" phase, what is "fact" or theory can change from moment to moment and back again. He assured me that I could choose to wait until books were written.
Yes, this book was first published during the 1970's. I read it then and (in 2011) still use some of the things I learned.
Yes, we have many time management books to choose from. I've read more of them than my books at Goodreads reflect. In my experience, Alan Lakein has ways of expressing ideas so that they persuade me to try them even when I think I won't like them. Yes, he taught me to like the "vegetables" of time management such as the fact that no matter how many words I want to read, I have to choose.
December 7, 2020
I finally picked up this book from my bookshelf and it was a recommendation from Jim Meisenheimer. The book was published in 1973 and is from a different era. No longer do people type on typewriters, have secretary's (or even Administrative Assistants) as they are called today nor are all of them women and not all women are homemakers or secretaries as the author implies.
All this being said the book tells the reader to prioritize things as A-1, B, and C and then to move C items to a CZ list which never get done or get delegated. In today's world of e-mail and business and technology advancing at a frenetic pace this is very important.
The other major point of this book is to always be asking yourself the question, "How can I best use my time right now?"
This book is on the long side given the subject matter though it is only 161 pages long.
I find it difficult to recommend this book given the age and era in which it was written.
All this being said the book tells the reader to prioritize things as A-1, B, and C and then to move C items to a CZ list which never get done or get delegated. In today's world of e-mail and business and technology advancing at a frenetic pace this is very important.
The other major point of this book is to always be asking yourself the question, "How can I best use my time right now?"
This book is on the long side given the subject matter though it is only 161 pages long.
I find it difficult to recommend this book given the age and era in which it was written.
January 13, 2013
The book may have been written a long time ago, but believe me when I say that this book actually has more innovative ideas than most of the time-management book I have read that have been written recently.
What I liked:
1) the innovative ideas that Lakein has proposed in this book
2) the true-to-life examples that he presents (usually from those who have consulted him for time-management advice)
3) the way he persuades the reader (especially in the Goal Setting part of the book) to actively try out the ideas he presents
4) the book is really helpful, after finishing it, I have been applying most of what Lakein has suggested
5) the fact that the author doesn't encourage planning your time by the second or by the minute, and instead giving allowances for interruptions and/or emergency situations
What I liked:
1) the innovative ideas that Lakein has proposed in this book
2) the true-to-life examples that he presents (usually from those who have consulted him for time-management advice)
3) the way he persuades the reader (especially in the Goal Setting part of the book) to actively try out the ideas he presents
4) the book is really helpful, after finishing it, I have been applying most of what Lakein has suggested
5) the fact that the author doesn't encourage planning your time by the second or by the minute, and instead giving allowances for interruptions and/or emergency situations
February 23, 2014
A famous classic of time management. Really recommend to who really wants to get things done, break habit of procrastination or being distracted. A light read, but Lakein's advices are really well-worth.
This one was read by President Clinton as he told on his autobiography "My life". His three timeline goals are: Have a wonderful political life, have a wonderful family, and write a book. You need such goals to really "get control of your time and your life"
This one was read by President Clinton as he told on his autobiography "My life". His three timeline goals are: Have a wonderful political life, have a wonderful family, and write a book. You need such goals to really "get control of your time and your life"
January 16, 2023
I've read this a couple of times pre-Goodreads and I thought it was time to revisit it. It's a good book for reminding you to prioritize, with help for getting past procrastination in order to accomplish your A-1 tasks.
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October 19, 2025I should probably get some pen and paper, hire a secretary, and maybe borrow a Time Machine while I’m at it. Reading this book in the 21st century felt like studying a manual on how to write cuneiform — utterly fascinating, delightfully outdated, and unintentionally hilarious.
November 12, 2020
Flipped through the pgs. Didnt read it.
November 11, 2022
A good, concise review. The hardest part of the techniques taught in it is actually remembering to do them, but I am starting to remember.
February 29, 2020
A great short book with lots of ideas about how to prioritize, save time, and defeat procrastination. Lakein writes in a casual style that is fun to read.
December 2, 2021
Man patika grāmata - viegli un iedvesmojoši lasījās (latviski). Galvenā doma - izvirzīt mērķi Nr.1 un darīt to, arī tad, ja ir tikai 5 min laika (nevis darīt citas, patīkamās, lietiņas).
Man jācitē šī brīnišķīgā rindkopa:
"Kad darāt kaut ko tādu, ar ko agrāk nekad neesat nodarbojies, neatkarīgi no tā, ka sākuma rezultāts bija neapmierinošs, jūs esat ceļā uz panākumiem. Lai kas arī notiktu, jūs esat ticis daudz tālāk, nekā būtu ticis, neko neuzsākot."
Man jācitē šī brīnišķīgā rindkopa:
"Kad darāt kaut ko tādu, ar ko agrāk nekad neesat nodarbojies, neatkarīgi no tā, ka sākuma rezultāts bija neapmierinošs, jūs esat ceļā uz panākumiem. Lai kas arī notiktu, jūs esat ticis daudz tālāk, nekā būtu ticis, neko neuzsākot."
January 26, 2014
Cuốn sách gần 160 trang của alan gần như là một cuốn từ điển giúp cho chúng ta biết phải làm gì khi bản thân trở nên lười biếng và "ngại" phải làm một gì đó mà chúng ta đang rất muốn làm.
Alan Lakein hướng dẫn chúng ta tận dùng thời gian của mình một cách tốt nhất. Ông nhấn mạnh đến khái niệm "balance", tức là để tránh xa 2 tuýp người "overorganized person" và "overdoer person". Tận dụng thời gian tốt nhất có nghĩa là không chỉ dành thời gian cho cá nhân mình mà là sẽ có nhưng không gian hợp lý cho người xung quanh và gia đình.
Tips mà Alan hay nhắc đi nhắc lại trong cuốn sách chính là "write down everything", "set priorities"
- Write down là việc đầu tiên nên làm bởi theo các show case được chỉ ra trong cuốn sách thì việc viết ra sẽ giúp chúng ta có cái nhìn cụ thể nhất về cái muốn làm
- Set priorities sẽ giúp bạn bỏ qua các task không cần thiết, và chỉ tập trung cho những task sẽ giúp bạn đạt được goals của cả nhân. Để nhấn mạnh cho việc set priorities, alan đã đưa ra 1 rule gọi là 80/20, tức là 80% cái bạn expect sẽ được tạo ra từ 20% các lựa chọn.
Ngoài việc planning ra thì cuốn sách cũng hướng dẫn cách chúng ta tạo không gian riêng cho mình, phải làm gì khi buồn chán với các công việc hàng ngày....
Alan Lakein hướng dẫn chúng ta tận dùng thời gian của mình một cách tốt nhất. Ông nhấn mạnh đến khái niệm "balance", tức là để tránh xa 2 tuýp người "overorganized person" và "overdoer person". Tận dụng thời gian tốt nhất có nghĩa là không chỉ dành thời gian cho cá nhân mình mà là sẽ có nhưng không gian hợp lý cho người xung quanh và gia đình.
Tips mà Alan hay nhắc đi nhắc lại trong cuốn sách chính là "write down everything", "set priorities"
- Write down là việc đầu tiên nên làm bởi theo các show case được chỉ ra trong cuốn sách thì việc viết ra sẽ giúp chúng ta có cái nhìn cụ thể nhất về cái muốn làm
- Set priorities sẽ giúp bạn bỏ qua các task không cần thiết, và chỉ tập trung cho những task sẽ giúp bạn đạt được goals của cả nhân. Để nhấn mạnh cho việc set priorities, alan đã đưa ra 1 rule gọi là 80/20, tức là 80% cái bạn expect sẽ được tạo ra từ 20% các lựa chọn.
Ngoài việc planning ra thì cuốn sách cũng hướng dẫn cách chúng ta tạo không gian riêng cho mình, phải làm gì khi buồn chán với các công việc hàng ngày....
Want to read
August 7, 2013http://michaelhyatt.com/055-how-to-re...
“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something
about it now”- Alan Lakein
“In all planing you make a list and you set priorities. Review our priorities,
ask the question; What's the best use of our time right now?”” - Alan Lakein
“You cannot do a goal. Long-term planning and goal-setting must therefore be
complemented by short-term planning. This kind of planning requires specifying
activities. You can do an activity. Activities are steps along the way to a goal.
- Alan Lakein
“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something
about it now”- Alan Lakein
“In all planing you make a list and you set priorities. Review our priorities,
ask the question; What's the best use of our time right now?”” - Alan Lakein
“You cannot do a goal. Long-term planning and goal-setting must therefore be
complemented by short-term planning. This kind of planning requires specifying
activities. You can do an activity. Activities are steps along the way to a goal.
- Alan Lakein
September 26, 2019
The Time-Management classic. It gives you a general idea on how you should spend your time to work towards your dreams instead of wasting your time on regular and meaningless things which do nothing good for your life in the long run. You will be provided with a set of tools to set your lifetime goals and to create schedules & to-do lists around it. The content is very dated, means it includes examples which don't apply to the current environment we live and work in. But nevertheless, the general idea still applies.
If you always wanted a way of handling your available time better or you think you have "no time", this could be a good starter on that topic for you.
If you always wanted a way of handling your available time better or you think you have "no time", this could be a good starter on that topic for you.
June 12, 2013
I first read this book back in the very early 80s and it had a huge impact on me. It was so good I ended up recommending it to people and even letting them borrow my copy for a couple of days. Of course, one time, the inevitable happened and it didn't come back. So, years later I realised it was worth a re-read so I searched it out and bought another copy to add to my personal development library. Well worth re-reading . . . in fact it's time to get it out again now! :-) Highly recommended.
July 24, 2021
I love this book a lot! I try to use his warning signals whenever I procrastinate: “I’m wasting my time.” and it works. Really basic with great impact, I think that I’ll read it again someday. Plus, I highly believe in the 80/20 rule! Although it’s pretty difficult to complete my daily “To Do List”, I keep trying my best and waiting to see the final result. Hope that I can be a new person who can use the best of time, work smarter not harder!
December 26, 2012
This is an old book I found in my mom's basement. Probably one of the more practical self-help type books I've ever read. I've definitely applied some of the advice to my own life and continue to reference it months later.
March 23, 2013
short book, basic concepts, should have been obvious, wasn't. it's easy to see what someone else should do with their time, trickier to actually implement it for myself in the face of many decades' accumulation of avoidant habits. hit the spot.
March 22, 2016
This may be the only business book or psych book on my list, but I was reminded of it by a favorite writing teacher and it still offers invaluable advice on goal setting and getting things done. A classic.
February 15, 2011
It is the best time management book I read. Provide lot of good tips for better time management and avoid procrastination. Highly recommended for college students and graduate students !
July 9, 2015
I've had this book for 10 years and read almost every year to help me prioritize. Good stuff!!!
February 22, 2017
I finished this a while ago, it's short. A classic self help book about time management. Nothing bad to say about it.
May 8, 2017
Very useful. Short book makes for a fast read, I would recommend this to anyone.
August 18, 2017
The section on lifetime goals was the most useful item in the book to me.
August 11, 2025
I don't know what it is exactly about this book that I just can't get into, but I've been actively zoning out while reading it and having to reread the same pages over and over, so I'm not going to force myself to finish it. It started off very good and insightfully, but it lost me around chapter 5 for some reason. I think it'd be very helpful for someone else, but it just ain't vibing with me.
DNF
1. Why You Should Care About You Time:
- Time is life. It is irreversible & irreplaceable. To waste your time is to waste your life, but to master your time is to mas your life and make the most of it. (pg. 11)
- There is no such thing as a lack of time. You're never "too busy." There are people even busier than you who get more done than you. They have the same amount of time that you have, they just use it better to their advantage. (pg. 12)
2. Drift, Drown, or Decide:
- When something is important to someone you care about, even if it is not important to you, remind yourself that we live in an interdependent world and this means sharing your time to some extent. (pg. 20)
DNF
1. Why You Should Care About You Time:
- Time is life. It is irreversible & irreplaceable. To waste your time is to waste your life, but to master your time is to mas your life and make the most of it. (pg. 11)
- There is no such thing as a lack of time. You're never "too busy." There are people even busier than you who get more done than you. They have the same amount of time that you have, they just use it better to their advantage. (pg. 12)
2. Drift, Drown, or Decide:
- When something is important to someone you care about, even if it is not important to you, remind yourself that we live in an interdependent world and this means sharing your time to some extent. (pg. 20)
February 20, 2019
Found my mom's copy from 1997 and couldn't resist. Short and sweet. Simple concepts, yet I failed to implemented them before. Now I write down all 30-50+ of my ongoing want-to-do's and assign them priorities A, B, and C. I don't feel as bad not getting to the easy B's if I'm making even minimal progress on my A's. Still working on some ideas, such as determining if my current actions and to-do's line up with my long-term life goals. When the opportunity rises, I'd like to try out the swiss cheese method to tackle intimidating tasks. Keeping it on my physical shelf for future reference.
Every once in a while, I'll stop during a moment of anxiety and ask myself, "What is the best use of my time right now?"
Warning: Because it's so old, it's patronizing to women. Could use a revision to stay current. But I still think the mindset Lakein spells out is applicable to everyone.
Every once in a while, I'll stop during a moment of anxiety and ask myself, "What is the best use of my time right now?"
Warning: Because it's so old, it's patronizing to women. Could use a revision to stay current. But I still think the mindset Lakein spells out is applicable to everyone.
October 9, 2025
Alan Lakein was a time management consultant with a Harvard degree. This gem of a book was published in 1973, and many things have changed in the 52 years since then. These changes are cultural, though, with Westernized nations accepting the notion that women can work as well as men. Psychologically, humans still have the same limitations as back then. People still have 168 hours a week.
Lakein shares his advice in this book. Perhaps it was groundbreaking at the time, but it doesn't seem so now. The book is a product of the times it was published. All women are homemakers, secretaries, or switchboard operators.
There isn't anything glaringly obvious, but Lakein does advise people to write to-do lists, prioritize different tasks according to importance, and chunk out time blocks for doing those tasks.
I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
Lakein shares his advice in this book. Perhaps it was groundbreaking at the time, but it doesn't seem so now. The book is a product of the times it was published. All women are homemakers, secretaries, or switchboard operators.
There isn't anything glaringly obvious, but Lakein does advise people to write to-do lists, prioritize different tasks according to importance, and chunk out time blocks for doing those tasks.
I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
January 7, 2021
This book is full of extremely useful strategies, and organized in a way that makes those strategies easy to implement. All you have to do is follow (and stick with) the loads of advice given. I've started using some of the tips, and already I see a huge improvement and am finding that I have a lot more time than I realized. I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 because it's a bit dated, and the writing style is slightly dry in some places, but neither of those two points detracts from the overall value of the book. If you have trouble with procrastination, or find time management to be a struggle, I definitely recommend taking the time to read this. It's short and to the point, and delivers on its promise.
February 18, 2021
Read this in my twenties and have kept a copy wherever I am ever since. Profound. Not just a time management system, but something much deeper. Lakein makes you look at the more important questions of what you actually want in life -- what are your long, medium, short term goals. What is the difference between important and urgent, and how do the urgent things steal time away from the important, meaning things that are far more vital to our happiness and our goals. With those revelations brought to the fore, he then gives you a very practical method of navigating busy days and of tackling large goals with many subgoals buried within.
I could not recommend this more highly.
I could not recommend this more highly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews