The Art of Procrastination Audiobook By John Perry cover art

The Art of Procrastination

A Guide to Effective Dawdling, Lollygagging, and Postponing, or, Getting Things Done by Putting Them Off

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The Art of Procrastination

By: John Perry
Narrated by: Brian Holsopple
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About this listen

John Perry’s insights and laugh-out-loud humor bring to mind Thurber, Wodehouse, and Harry Frankfurt’s On Bullshit. This charming and accessible audio educates, entertains, and illuminates a universal subject. Procrastinators will be relieved to learn that you can actually accomplish quite a lot while procrastinating. In fact, the book itself is the result of Perry avoiding grading papers, refereeing academic proposals, and reviewing dissertation drafts. It also has a practical side, offering up advice that listeners can put to use. Who knew that placing "Learn Chinese" at the top of your to-do list would inspire you to get the less monumental tasks below it done?

Witty, wise, and beautifully written, The Art of Procrastination will make the perfect gift for the untold number of lollygaggers out there.

©2012 Original material © 2012 John Perry. Published by arrangement with Workman Publishing Company, Inc. (P)2012 (p) 2012 HighBridge Company
Personal Success Philosophy Psychology Time Management Procrastination Witty Inspiring Funny Mental Health

What listeners say about The Art of Procrastination

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Joking about procrastination

What did you like best about The Art of Procrastination? What did you like least?

I love the way Brian Holsopple reads the book. Very natural and adequate to the text.
If you are looking for a way to prove procrastination is not such a big deal, this is the book for you. But if you are interested in finding the roots, definition and possible tools to overcome a habit that can become truly destructive and make life really miserable, then don't choose this one.

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Amusing and helpful.

I wasn't sure if this would be dry and academic but it turned out to be quite the opposite. The narrator did a wonderful job, he was spot on with the comedic parts and this really made the whole listen fly by. I found the writer insightful and offering realistic advice. Lots of information so I will be listening a few times I expect.

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Deep Gratitude from a Structured Procratinator

What did you love best about The Art of Procrastination?

My 3rd grade teacher wrote on my report card I was a procrastinator - John Perry finally made that okay for me. Thank you Mr. Perry. I am proud to be a "Structured Procrastinator".

What other book might you compare The Art of Procrastination to and why?

I can not think of one. The author is an accomplished professional. He is realistic and takes a humorous approach to solving by normalizing what for many has been a life long struggle.

He slips in a few helpful hits and good ideas. I have already signed up for LazyMeter.com. I do wish they would change their name - but I love their simple approach and visual graphs that shows you really aren't lazy - which is after all the whole idea.

What does Brian Holsopple bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great voice, lovely pace and humor.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Structured Procrastinators Unite and Create a Horizontal Filing System!

Any additional comments?

It was a wonderful book. I have already recommended it to several others.

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17 people found this helpful

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unexpectedly entertaining, down-to-earth, fun

Where does The Art of Procrastination rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I never write reviews but this is one of the most entertaining books I've heard (and writing a review is a nice way to avoid doing other things :); I LOVE Perry's sense of humor and self-effacing honesty. This is a great read/listen.... I also suspect it will be incredibly helpful (still listening to the book).

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How to feel better about being lazy

If you are a procrastinator hell bent on believing that your lifestyle isn't to the detriment of the lives of everyone around you, this book is for you. It will provide you with ammunition to help you believe that you aren't just a narcissistic time waster, even though in actuality, you are. The author is of a class of academics I find loathsome; Self-important and willing to avoid work at all costs. The book is more comedic than serious, and if you want a good laugh or to placate your guilt with meaningless the prattle, this book is for you.

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So you procrastinate. Relax!

You can be a procrastinator and still get things done. Here you may also learn pleasant strategies to keep from wasting so much time.

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Doing everything except what you should

What did you love best about The Art of Procrastination?

My brother once said, "Did you ever notice how everything is more interesting when you have homework looming? Even bad TV?" Well this short book discusses why that is. It will get you thinking about your procrastinating and when you are likely to do it.
You know better. Still you persist.
I found this discussion of putting-things-off humorous, honest and real. It does not make lists of helpful tools so you can cure your bad habit. Instead the author just assumes that you procrastinate and will continue to do so. And the discussion goes from there. For some reason that works for changing my habits more than those hokey "you should" books. This book is as long as a movie. Once started, I didn't procrastinate. I listened to the entire book in one evening. It was fun and thought provoking and I think helpful.

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You may not want to put off listening

Self help? Philosophy? Whatever.
Seriously, I did put off listening to this for a while. I can't remember why. It was a "dinner" book (my boyfriend and I listen to books - with many interruptions for discussion - instead of watching TV), and we may have been listening to something else.
Anyway... This is an unabridged short listen. It made me feel better about being a procrastinater, and also gave tips about how to get around that inclination.
It was okay, but it was inexpensive enough to pay for it outright rather than use a credit.
:-)

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So Hilarious and So True!

Being a procrastinator myself, I could so totally relate to this book. I laughed out loud on several occasions. I read parts to my husband (who is also a procrastinator) and he laughed equally as hard.

I think what made this book hit the mark was that the author wasn't trying to help you with steps to stop procrastinatation. He just made fun of himself and pointed to the many examples and rationalizations that we procrastinators have down to a fine science. God it was funny! A real bright spot!

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Exceptional treatment of Structured procrastinating

There is little to dislike in this scientifically well grounded works. Much to observe ad strengthens that consistency refer to author integration of pragmatic applications. Makes no proposal of theories without including excellent practice ideas.
Recommended without reservations.

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