Busy College & University Professors - The Best Books Reviews

Eat That Frog!: Productivity and Time Management

This collection of praise and introductory material highlights Brian Tracy's "Eat That Frog!" as a highly regarded guide for overcoming procrastination and boosting personal productivity. Reviewers emphasize the book's practical tactics and its focus on identifying and tackling the most important tasks ("the frog") first. The book is presented as a concise yet impactful resource offering actionable steps to improve time management and achieve greater effectiveness in both professional and personal life. Tracy's other works and resources are also mentioned, centered around themes of success, productivity, and achievement. Full podcast episode available here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusyProfessionall // Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1mCRDDtcmtCGGlGTrh9JVs?si=1f134a1382d146e2 // Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/busy-college-university-professors-the-best-books-reviews/id1798708020⁠ — Follow us for more insights & updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busy_proffesional/ — TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@busyprofessional

168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think

This book, 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam, challenges the common perception of a time-crunched existence by exploring how individuals, particularly successful ones, utilize the 168 hours in their week. Vanderkam analyzes time-diary studies and shares anecdotes to illustrate that everyone has the same amount of time and choices about its allocation. The book advocates for identifying "core competencies" in both work and personal life, minimizing less meaningful tasks through outsourcing or elimination, and intentionally scheduling time for priorities such as career, family, and personal well-being. Ultimately, it aims to empower readers to take control of their time and create more fulfilling lives by shifting their mindset about its abundance. Full podcast episode available here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusyProfessionall // Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1mCRDDtcmtCGGlGTrh9JVs?si=1f134a1382d146e2 // Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/busy-college-university-professors-the-best-books-reviews/id1798708020⁠ — Follow us for more insights & updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busy_proffesional/ — TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@busyprofessional

The Now Habit: Overcoming Procrastination, Enjoying Guilt-Free Play

Neil Fiore's "The Now Habit" offers a strategic program to overcome procrastination by redefining it not as laziness, but as a response to underlying issues like fear of failure and perfectionism. The book introduces practical tools such as the "Unschedule" to prioritize guilt-free play and structure work into manageable segments, fostering a subconscious desire to be productive. Fiore emphasizes shifting negative self-talk to empowering inner dialogue and cultivating a "producer" mindset focused on starting and enjoying the process rather than fearing the outcome. By addressing the emotional roots of procrastination and promoting self-compassion, the book aims to help individuals break free from the cycle of delay and achieve goals with less stress and more satisfaction. The text also provides insights for managing and supporting procrastinators in professional and personal relationships, advocating for encouragement and clear communication over pressure and criticism. Ultimately, "The Now Habit" guides readers toward a more balanced and effective approach to work and life by harnessing the power of choice and positive habits. Full podcast episode available here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusyProfessionall // Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1mCRDDtcmtCGGlGTrh9JVs?si=1f134a1382d146e2 // Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/busy-college-university-professors-the-best-books-reviews/id1798708020⁠ — Follow us for more insights & updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busy_proffesional/ — TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@busyprofessional

The Fourth Generation Approach: Living Principle-Centered Lives

This document, copyrighted by FranklinCovey, offers a guide to shifting from traditional time management focused on efficiency to a principle-centered approach emphasizing effectiveness and aligning actions with what is deeply important. It contrasts the "clock" of schedules with the "compass" of inner values, advocating for a fourth generation of personal leadership centered on conscience and four human endowments: self-awareness, conscience, creative imagination, and independent will. The text explores concepts like identifying "first things," the importance of mission statements and roles, goal setting based on principles, and the power of win-win interdependence and empowerment. Ultimately, it champions living with integrity by making conscious choices aligned with fundamental principles to achieve a more meaningful and balanced life. Full podcast episode available here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMvxvfJimu-3MU7qPUFfHCwGTpqRPi6J4 // Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1mCRDDtcmtCGGlGTrh9JVs?si=a2489f10a1274278 // Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/busy-college-university-professors-the-best-books-reviews/id1798708020⁠ — Follow us for more insights & updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busy_proffesional/ — TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@busyprofessional

Professors as Writers: A Self-Help Guide

Robert Boice's "Professors as Writers" (1990) is a self-help guide designed to assist academics in overcoming writing difficulties and increasing their productivity. Drawing on two decades of research, Boice outlines a systematic four-step plan encompassing automaticity, externality, self-control, and sociality to foster a more consistent and enjoyable writing process. The book identifies common causes of writing blocks, such as perfectionism, procrastination, and anxiety, and offers practical strategies including spontaneous and generative writing, stimulus control, and cognitive techniques to address these issues. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of managing setbacks and integrating writing into a sustainable and rewarding part of a professional life. Full podcast episode available here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusyProfessionall // Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1mCRDDtcmtCGGlGTrh9JVs?si=1f134a1382d146e2 // Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/busy-college-university-professors-the-best-books-reviews/id1798708020⁠ — Follow us for more insights & updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busy_proffesional/ — TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@busyprofessional