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Bit Literacy: Productivity in the Age of Information and E-mail Overload
"Bit Literacy" is essential reading for anyone who has experienced "digital overload" the daily flood of e-mail, multiple todo lists, a cluttered desktop, documents in various file formats, and the constant distraction of cell phones and other devices. More than a quick fix or another "how-to" guide, the book offers an entirely new way of attaining productivity that users at any level of expertise can put into action right away. This is "bit literacy," a method for working more productively in the digital age, with less stress. Mark Hurst - who has reached hundreds of thousands of readers through his Good Experience e-mail newsletter, Uncle Mark technology guides, thisisbroken.com, and other websites - has revealed the way to survive, and thrive, in the digital "Let the bits go."
192 pages, Hardcover
First published June 15, 2007
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December 6, 2010This is almost a self-help book for those of us who have to deal with far too many emails and other internet-related demands on our time. A dry and rather OCD read at times, the book goes into a lot of interesting detail about how much more productive we could be if we tame the “bits”. A lot of our lives is spent fiddling around with emails, rather than actually getting on with things; and this book, in its opening chapters, makes a strong argument for pointing out the benefits of using technology better.
This book not only teaches you how to cope with email (a method that’s allowed me to achieve, for the first time in years, “inbox zero”), but also how to correctly send email, too. And that’s important. I’m struck by how poorly the organisations I’ve worked for have done email: particularly at the BBC. I had a fantastic amount of email (regularly over 200 a day); and it struck me how many colleagues were also, by their own admission, drowning in email. It’s clear there’s real room for improvement: if I were in charge, I’d send the entire Corporation on a “learning to use email” course.
The book’s not all about email: much is around how to save files, where to save them, and what to use to save them. There’s an incongruous chapter about whether Windows is better than the Mac; and one trying to sell the benefits of a Dvorak keyboard. Good luck with that. One chapter is, at first glance, a product promotion for a paid-for web todo manager (owner: Mark Hurst) that the book’s author (Mark Hurst) claims is the only bit-literate todo list out there. Once you start using GoodToDo, however, you realise that it forms the major part of inbox zero nirvana; and while there are other similar tools, his appears to work the best for my haphazard filing system.
If I do have a criticism, though, it’s that this book was written in 2007. Inevitably, technology has moved on since the book was written. Much effort, for example, is spent talking about archiving email, but doesn’t mention Gmail (which archives email automatically, and even, as of earlier this year, prioritises it for you). The “managing photos” section should probably be four words (“Use Flickr, tag stuff”). Twitter, and other social networks, get no obvious mention; yet this is a significant amount of extra bits that we all now need to cope with.
I agree with a lot in the book – file formats and even the naming system for files (you’re currently reading ’101206 blog-bitliteracy.txt’); but not all of it. There’s an old-world view in the “media diet” chapter that everything that you subscribe to should, somehow, be consumed. I fundementally disagree with this; and instead use things like Google Reader, or Twitter, as rivers of information that occasionally I take a sip from. I deliberately remove as much impersonal email from my inbox (which is for doing, not for reading); and spend some time on Google Reader, using the ‘magic sort’ which moves the good stuff to the top (and thus makes it more likely to read). Dip in, read a bit, and let the rest of the bits go; that’s my advice.
It is, though, a very good book, and at the current price, it’s hard to beat. I’d recommend it: not least to anyone who is ever thinking about sending me an email…
This book not only teaches you how to cope with email (a method that’s allowed me to achieve, for the first time in years, “inbox zero”), but also how to correctly send email, too. And that’s important. I’m struck by how poorly the organisations I’ve worked for have done email: particularly at the BBC. I had a fantastic amount of email (regularly over 200 a day); and it struck me how many colleagues were also, by their own admission, drowning in email. It’s clear there’s real room for improvement: if I were in charge, I’d send the entire Corporation on a “learning to use email” course.
The book’s not all about email: much is around how to save files, where to save them, and what to use to save them. There’s an incongruous chapter about whether Windows is better than the Mac; and one trying to sell the benefits of a Dvorak keyboard. Good luck with that. One chapter is, at first glance, a product promotion for a paid-for web todo manager (owner: Mark Hurst) that the book’s author (Mark Hurst) claims is the only bit-literate todo list out there. Once you start using GoodToDo, however, you realise that it forms the major part of inbox zero nirvana; and while there are other similar tools, his appears to work the best for my haphazard filing system.
If I do have a criticism, though, it’s that this book was written in 2007. Inevitably, technology has moved on since the book was written. Much effort, for example, is spent talking about archiving email, but doesn’t mention Gmail (which archives email automatically, and even, as of earlier this year, prioritises it for you). The “managing photos” section should probably be four words (“Use Flickr, tag stuff”). Twitter, and other social networks, get no obvious mention; yet this is a significant amount of extra bits that we all now need to cope with.
I agree with a lot in the book – file formats and even the naming system for files (you’re currently reading ’101206 blog-bitliteracy.txt’); but not all of it. There’s an old-world view in the “media diet” chapter that everything that you subscribe to should, somehow, be consumed. I fundementally disagree with this; and instead use things like Google Reader, or Twitter, as rivers of information that occasionally I take a sip from. I deliberately remove as much impersonal email from my inbox (which is for doing, not for reading); and spend some time on Google Reader, using the ‘magic sort’ which moves the good stuff to the top (and thus makes it more likely to read). Dip in, read a bit, and let the rest of the bits go; that’s my advice.
It is, though, a very good book, and at the current price, it’s hard to beat. I’d recommend it: not least to anyone who is ever thinking about sending me an email…
April 12, 2021
This was an interesting short book featuring Mark Hurst's personal theories and guidelines for productivity when it comes to email overload. I was pretty much following his advice already, but I found Bit Literacy the most useful in its chapters on email, media diet, and general inspiration/reminders for how I handle my systems.
I've been a big fan of David Allen's Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity for years, and Bit Literacy differs in that he's not focusing on how to do your todo lists, but how to handle all the information overload that comes via "bits" (hence the title). Like all self-improvement type books, you should feel free to take whatever you need or want from the book and ignore the bits that don't make sense for your situation.
One particular flaw of the book is how dated some of his comments are due to changes in technology and software (well, Outlook is still the mess it always was, but Google Picasa isn't around anymore, etc.), and in other he gets a little too specific in ways that might be hard to generalize for people.
Like I said earlier, though, I really liked the chapters on email and media diet and will definitely recommend those and skimming anything else that interests them. Even though social media was only starting to be big, Hurst doesn't mention Facebook or Twitter, but Hurst's concept of the "media diet" is timeless.
I've been a big fan of David Allen's Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity for years, and Bit Literacy differs in that he's not focusing on how to do your todo lists, but how to handle all the information overload that comes via "bits" (hence the title). Like all self-improvement type books, you should feel free to take whatever you need or want from the book and ignore the bits that don't make sense for your situation.
One particular flaw of the book is how dated some of his comments are due to changes in technology and software (well, Outlook is still the mess it always was, but Google Picasa isn't around anymore, etc.), and in other he gets a little too specific in ways that might be hard to generalize for people.
Like I said earlier, though, I really liked the chapters on email and media diet and will definitely recommend those and skimming anything else that interests them. Even though social media was only starting to be big, Hurst doesn't mention Facebook or Twitter, but Hurst's concept of the "media diet" is timeless.
January 19, 2019
Long and winded tale about what essentially is GTD with tons of awfully specific implementation tips. On other hand, it might be that I'm absolutely not the intended audience
February 6, 2024
This book from 2007 is showing its age, but I appreciated the reset of my philosophy on handling the barrage of bit information everyday.
October 17, 2017
This book is ten years old but the author wrote very carefully so that it wouldn't seem dated (he even avoided including screen shots). However, a couple of exceptions: Picasa is no more, and backing up to DVDs and emailing files to yourself at a Hotmail account seems wildly quaint and cumbersome when we now have iCloud and Dropbox. But of course there's always something new arriving.
The author loves Mac products. Not judging. Just saying. And after my cheapo Acer laptop running Windows crashed several times this week, it makes me want to go buy one.
If you were starting a new job, this book would be a terrific guideline for making a fresh start with your info system at the same time. I need to clean up my photos, so there's some good tips there as well.
I like the idea of doing everything in ASCII. I've always liked Courier New and figure it's time for a Return of the Simple anyway. In fact, ASCII is so simple that people would probably think using it was too weird. Bit levers are now commonplace but I am still reluctant to hit the space ar when the word auto-fills.
I'm not sure about the merit of the Dvorak keyboard. Old mechanical specs are the reason railways have their standard width. There is likely a good reason why the Dvorak has been around for eighty years or so but hasn't really caught on. Sometimes an old dog should be allowed to keep his tricks.
So would everyone please relieve their stress by focusing on working with the data, not the meta-work. And don't miss the developer wishlist in the Appendix.
www.creativegood.com
The author loves Mac products. Not judging. Just saying. And after my cheapo Acer laptop running Windows crashed several times this week, it makes me want to go buy one.
If you were starting a new job, this book would be a terrific guideline for making a fresh start with your info system at the same time. I need to clean up my photos, so there's some good tips there as well.
I like the idea of doing everything in ASCII. I've always liked Courier New and figure it's time for a Return of the Simple anyway. In fact, ASCII is so simple that people would probably think using it was too weird. Bit levers are now commonplace but I am still reluctant to hit the space ar when the word auto-fills.
I'm not sure about the merit of the Dvorak keyboard. Old mechanical specs are the reason railways have their standard width. There is likely a good reason why the Dvorak has been around for eighty years or so but hasn't really caught on. Sometimes an old dog should be allowed to keep his tricks.
So would everyone please relieve their stress by focusing on working with the data, not the meta-work. And don't miss the developer wishlist in the Appendix.
www.creativegood.com
October 10, 2010
I found Hurst’s little book to be most helpful in the chapter on email and prioritizing daily action items/”to do” lists. Keeping the inbox at zero (at least once every workday) and moving the items quickly to the trash, a folder, or a prioritized “to do” list, is one way to reduce the incoming “bits” and work more efficiently in a digitized age. It’s not an earth-shattering new concept, but I’ve found it really helpful already.
The book is more than just email and “to do” lists. Hurst covers ways to deal with many categories of incoming digital information. I found some of it helpful in building an efficient digital mindset that allows one to operate in the digital realm without drowning in it; some of the material seemed a bit too “techie.” The point is, there’s enough here at least to encourage you to think about the way you spend (or waste) your time in the digital stream.
Disclaimer: Hurst does give a subtle pitch to a service his company provides when he suggests how to efficiently categorize priority lists for each day—GoodToDo.com. That said, it’s not an overbearing sales-oriented reference, but rather an example of a service that does exactly what he describes. The book is valuable even without using his company’s service.
Note: As of now (10/10/10), this book is available for free download in the Apple iBooks Store on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. I don’t know how long this will continue.
The book is more than just email and “to do” lists. Hurst covers ways to deal with many categories of incoming digital information. I found some of it helpful in building an efficient digital mindset that allows one to operate in the digital realm without drowning in it; some of the material seemed a bit too “techie.” The point is, there’s enough here at least to encourage you to think about the way you spend (or waste) your time in the digital stream.
Disclaimer: Hurst does give a subtle pitch to a service his company provides when he suggests how to efficiently categorize priority lists for each day—GoodToDo.com. That said, it’s not an overbearing sales-oriented reference, but rather an example of a service that does exactly what he describes. The book is valuable even without using his company’s service.
Note: As of now (10/10/10), this book is available for free download in the Apple iBooks Store on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. I don’t know how long this will continue.
December 11, 2012
This literally costs no money at all from Amazon (at least as of the other day), so it's really just a matter of whether or not it's worth the time it would take to DL a copy and flip through it, and then eventually read it, if it's worth your while. If you don't shit but sit around all day in your underwear and troll Amazon for inexpensive reads, it's kind of a no-brainer. Your/my time is worth nothing. But if you've got a few dollars in your pocket, maybe you want to spring for something more advanced. At few of the lower ratings I saw here complained that this was too entry-level. That was exactly what I enjoyed. I've been stumbling upon those blogs that teach you how to keep a clean email inbox, how to keep your files organized and what have you since damn near back when I was in college, but I never bothered to actually read any of them. Not interesting enough, I guess. They might need more pics of half-naked women. But I could definitely use that sort of information. Shit, everyone could. Schools would teach something along the lines of Bit Literacy, if the people running them knew anything about how the world works these days. I'm somewhat better organized for having read it. It's a few years old, and you might not use the software it recommends (anymore), but the theory discussed here still applies.
December 6, 2011
A decent book about technology with solid principles, but the principles are about as far as the help goes. Bit Literacy assumes that the reader has no experience or background with technology whatsoever. If you are at all familiar with computers, this book will offer minimal actionable advice.
Much of his advice has become less relevant as technology has evolved as well. This isn't necessarily Hurst's fault, just part of the cost of doing business if you write a technology-centric book. One example is his insistence on storing documents within large file structures so that you know where to find them. In almost every modern operating system, text documents are indexed (both names and contents) so that with a few words about any document, you can immediately retrieve it (this is also one of the reasons that e-mail organizing by project/sender/anything else has lost much of it's utility).
Like I said, this is still a fairly interesting read for the principles that he has in the book and is a good starting point, but while Bit Literacy will give you an iron-clad blueprint for getting your digital life in order, it will not include many details that have become common over the last few years.
Much of his advice has become less relevant as technology has evolved as well. This isn't necessarily Hurst's fault, just part of the cost of doing business if you write a technology-centric book. One example is his insistence on storing documents within large file structures so that you know where to find them. In almost every modern operating system, text documents are indexed (both names and contents) so that with a few words about any document, you can immediately retrieve it (this is also one of the reasons that e-mail organizing by project/sender/anything else has lost much of it's utility).
Like I said, this is still a fairly interesting read for the principles that he has in the book and is a good starting point, but while Bit Literacy will give you an iron-clad blueprint for getting your digital life in order, it will not include many details that have become common over the last few years.
October 10, 2007
He has a lot of good ideas that work for him, but like any solution, it won't fit all situations. You'll need to find a compromise that works for you.
I don't care for his file system schemes, or his suggestions to use programs like iTunes or iPhoto (probably because I don't like either program and not everything apple makes is solid gold).
I also have some security issues with some of the things he says, such as storing passwords in plain text files. This is a bad idea. Don't do it. His reasons why mac OS X is more secure than Windows are also flawed. Both systems need to be secured in their own way and once we see more Mac viruses, this argument will fall apart.
Anyway, he has some good ideas and bad ideas. Decide for yourself which to implement. 3/5 because I'll implement 60% of them.
I don't care for his file system schemes, or his suggestions to use programs like iTunes or iPhoto (probably because I don't like either program and not everything apple makes is solid gold).
I also have some security issues with some of the things he says, such as storing passwords in plain text files. This is a bad idea. Don't do it. His reasons why mac OS X is more secure than Windows are also flawed. Both systems need to be secured in their own way and once we see more Mac viruses, this argument will fall apart.
Anyway, he has some good ideas and bad ideas. Decide for yourself which to implement. 3/5 because I'll implement 60% of them.
April 28, 2010
the author is so redundant in the beginning - it almost makes you want to throw down the book in exasperation. but it's a quick skim, so you're motivated to stick with it for nuggets of wisdom. i do appreciate his ideas for to-do list and email management - i think those are the best parts of the book. the rest of the book about organizing your use of digital apps wasn't new to me but could be helpful for others. one thing to beware - i tried to look up some of the recommended apps (namely Now Up-To-Date and Mailsmith) and while you can still find information and could probably download it still, either there is no active development or support on it, or the company has suspended operations. This makes it too risky for me to want to migrate to those apps.
January 31, 2012
One big idea to take from this: Non-actionable to-do items (like picking up the dry cleaning next week, buying tickets to an event when they go on sale in a couple months, or making sure that so-and-so replied to your email) should be out of sight, out of mind, until they "wake up" when they are actionable. I use followupthen.com for this.
Other ideas:
+ Go on a media diet.
+ Use text-expansion tools.
+ Create keyboard shortcuts.
+ If it takes <2 minutes, do it.
+ Don't use inbox as a to-do list, filing system, calendar, bookmarks, or address book. Empty it daily and focus on work.
Other ideas:
+ Go on a media diet.
+ Use text-expansion tools.
+ Create keyboard shortcuts.
+ If it takes <2 minutes, do it.
+ Don't use inbox as a to-do list, filing system, calendar, bookmarks, or address book. Empty it daily and focus on work.
April 10, 2009
This started interestingly, but by about halfway through was *really* on my nerves. The author continuously spoke condescendingly towards what he called 'techies' (folks who enjoy technology for technology's sake) and as the book went on sounded more and more disparaging of anything that wasn't his own idea. His critiques of other companies or systems was barely (or not at all) disguised.
April 11, 2007
A short pseudo-self-help book after the GTD (getting things done) fashion.
An even shorter summary: "Clear your inbox: clear your mind."
An even shorter summary: "Clear your inbox: clear your mind."
December 12, 2011
Great techniques for managing email and files.
Lots of common sense applied towards managing daily activities.
Lots of common sense applied towards managing daily activities.
March 29, 2018
This book is excellent reading for people who either want to increase their productivity or examine the current state of it. I found it useful.
April 4, 2023
This book is helpful if you a) went into a coma in the late 80s and woke up after 2007, b) didn't touch a computer for decades and suddenly decided to get one, c) were a child prodigy that could read and wanted to dive into computers ASAP for tips, or most probable d) are drowning in emails and files on your computer and don't know where/how to start on getting organized. As an organized, tech-heavy person I either already do or try to practice many of the techniques in this book. I can see file naming and folder structure recommendations being helpful for some of my unorganized coworkers who just drop everything on their desktop. (In fact maybe I should gift them this book).
I did like learning a few things like the dvorak keyboard and that there's a pronunciation for ASCII and PNG, but many of the third party applications and websites recommended for organizing your digital life were outdated because they don't exist any more or because major software and have incorporated these 'hacks' into their interface (I mean, this was written in 2007 after all). I think the email forwarding to a to-do list is nice in theory, but for sensitive items, I wouldn't forward to a third party application. I agree that perhaps there are features still missing that could use some development, but application extensions and plug-ins are sometimes so tedious! As for asking companies to stop trying to lock in market share...too late; proprietary, subscription based licensing everywhere, sigh. This did inspire me to try using my mouse less and my keyboard more, though.
Overall, it was interesting and comprehensive, and this could be helpful for some people. I liked the general theme of "letting bits go" - because I do feel like I'm a digital hoarder-- do I really need all of it? I might've given it 4 stars, if they had recommended Windows over Macs in Appendix B... we don't have to get into that here though.
I did like learning a few things like the dvorak keyboard and that there's a pronunciation for ASCII and PNG, but many of the third party applications and websites recommended for organizing your digital life were outdated because they don't exist any more or because major software and have incorporated these 'hacks' into their interface (I mean, this was written in 2007 after all). I think the email forwarding to a to-do list is nice in theory, but for sensitive items, I wouldn't forward to a third party application. I agree that perhaps there are features still missing that could use some development, but application extensions and plug-ins are sometimes so tedious! As for asking companies to stop trying to lock in market share...too late; proprietary, subscription based licensing everywhere, sigh. This did inspire me to try using my mouse less and my keyboard more, though.
Overall, it was interesting and comprehensive, and this could be helpful for some people. I liked the general theme of "letting bits go" - because I do feel like I'm a digital hoarder-- do I really need all of it? I might've given it 4 stars, if they had recommended Windows over Macs in Appendix B... we don't have to get into that here though.
August 13, 2023
Bit Literacy: Productivity in the Age of Information and E-mail Overload" by Mark Hurst is a book that offers a method for working more productively in the digital age, with less stress.
Mark Hurst, an expert on digital technology, provides insights on how to manage the overwhelming amount of information and digital communication that we encounter daily. Its most important part is about to email how to work through your email some consulting companies actually encourage its workers to tackle personal mail first before going on to the work email.
The other thing that we need to do in this era of information overload is to minimize the distraction from processing information, which mean that you need to prioritize over the important stuff and sometime just quickly go through the less important ones.
This book also teaches us how to write a good email subject and how to organize your computer files. It may be better just to keep the valuable pictures and leave those less valuable.
The book has received positive reviews, with readers praising its practical approach and helpful strategies for dealing with information overload. It has been described as a world-class business education in a single volume, providing universal principles that can be applied to improve productivity and make more money.
According to a summary on Blinkist, "Bit Literacy" offers key ideas and strategies for effectively navigating the complex world of information and technology. The book provides a model that simplifies the understanding of today's information landscape.
Overall, "Bit Literacy" seems to be a valuable resource for individuals looking to enhance their productivity and manage the challenges of the digital age. But somehow if you are a heavy computer user, this book will not give you very much value.
Mark Hurst, an expert on digital technology, provides insights on how to manage the overwhelming amount of information and digital communication that we encounter daily. Its most important part is about to email how to work through your email some consulting companies actually encourage its workers to tackle personal mail first before going on to the work email.
The other thing that we need to do in this era of information overload is to minimize the distraction from processing information, which mean that you need to prioritize over the important stuff and sometime just quickly go through the less important ones.
This book also teaches us how to write a good email subject and how to organize your computer files. It may be better just to keep the valuable pictures and leave those less valuable.
The book has received positive reviews, with readers praising its practical approach and helpful strategies for dealing with information overload. It has been described as a world-class business education in a single volume, providing universal principles that can be applied to improve productivity and make more money.
According to a summary on Blinkist, "Bit Literacy" offers key ideas and strategies for effectively navigating the complex world of information and technology. The book provides a model that simplifies the understanding of today's information landscape.
Overall, "Bit Literacy" seems to be a valuable resource for individuals looking to enhance their productivity and manage the challenges of the digital age. But somehow if you are a heavy computer user, this book will not give you very much value.
August 18, 2023
2.5/5 — I’m sure this book was probably much better received when it first came out. Unfortunately, I read this in 2023, when most of what Mr. Hurst wrote about has become mainstream and used by millions, including this reader. And with how fast technology evolves, even a few things he shared have already become obsolete.
I’m also sure that a businessperson will appreciate this more than I did, as Mark does provide some helpful tips and tools on how to go about interacting with bits on a daily basis. However, there were a few sections I merely skimmed because of how incredibly detailed he got on a step-by-step basis with certain processes. Not to mentioned his redundancy in a few spots.
I will say, I definitely appreciated the section on email the most, as that’s obviously something I use every day. His practical advice for building good habits as to avoid getting overwhelmed by an inbox of dozens or hundreds or even more was terrific, and I will employ it regularly.
I can’t say I thoroughly enjoyed Bit Literacy, but I got a couple good things from it overall. I suppose it’s kind of fun to read something quite different from my usual fare. ◡̈
I’m also sure that a businessperson will appreciate this more than I did, as Mark does provide some helpful tips and tools on how to go about interacting with bits on a daily basis. However, there were a few sections I merely skimmed because of how incredibly detailed he got on a step-by-step basis with certain processes. Not to mentioned his redundancy in a few spots.
I will say, I definitely appreciated the section on email the most, as that’s obviously something I use every day. His practical advice for building good habits as to avoid getting overwhelmed by an inbox of dozens or hundreds or even more was terrific, and I will employ it regularly.
I can’t say I thoroughly enjoyed Bit Literacy, but I got a couple good things from it overall. I suppose it’s kind of fun to read something quite different from my usual fare. ◡̈
August 28, 2021
An intriguing book in some ways, about regaining control of our computer/internet lives, with recommendations to empty inboxes daily, write more efficient emails, reduce sources of news, and organise our files and photos logically.
While it's inevitably rather dated (published in 2007) and makes no mention of social media, there are some useful pointers in this book. I was quite inspired by the chapter about emptying one's email inboxes daily. However most of the rest was rather basic, and while I don't disagree with any of the author's suggestions, I follow most of them anyway.
I found the early chapters very wordy, and just skimmed the later ones that explain some computer terminology. But it's quite readable, and anyone feeling overwhelmed by what the author calls 'bits' - stuff on the computer or other electronic devices, basically - it's probably worth downloading the ebook if it remains free.
Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
While it's inevitably rather dated (published in 2007) and makes no mention of social media, there are some useful pointers in this book. I was quite inspired by the chapter about emptying one's email inboxes daily. However most of the rest was rather basic, and while I don't disagree with any of the author's suggestions, I follow most of them anyway.
I found the early chapters very wordy, and just skimmed the later ones that explain some computer terminology. But it's quite readable, and anyone feeling overwhelmed by what the author calls 'bits' - stuff on the computer or other electronic devices, basically - it's probably worth downloading the ebook if it remains free.
Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
September 24, 2017
A nice summary concerning working efficiently. The gist: In the world of bits, information comes at us constantly from every direction. It’s time to get “bit literate” by taking responsibility for the way you engage with bits. By developing sleek organizational systems for your computer use, you can free up your time to get some actual work done.
October 15, 2019
Hurst’s advice on managing one’s digital engagement is solid. The only issues could be fixed with an updated version referencing modern software and modes of interaction.
If he does this, perhaps he could also check the areas where he lapses into arrogant posturing and a more-enlightened-than-thou tone.
If he does this, perhaps he could also check the areas where he lapses into arrogant posturing and a more-enlightened-than-thou tone.
May 9, 2020
Useful Hacks
Bit literacy is all about managing your electronic environment in ways to save time, save effort and optimize performance. The suggestions in here range from email and to do list organization to using Dvorak keyboards and Apple products. You are likely to pick up at least one improvement in this book. A quick and easy read.
Bit literacy is all about managing your electronic environment in ways to save time, save effort and optimize performance. The suggestions in here range from email and to do list organization to using Dvorak keyboards and Apple products. You are likely to pick up at least one improvement in this book. A quick and easy read.
February 5, 2021
Bits for thought.
I going to start by saying I enjoyed this book. However, it is needing an update for 2021. I have taken away much bits for thought to implement both in my personal and business life.
I going to start by saying I enjoyed this book. However, it is needing an update for 2021. I have taken away much bits for thought to implement both in my personal and business life.
August 28, 2023
Was actually Mark Hurst The last Woman I read, his free short story that is not yet on Goodreads but I needed to add a 'read' to my list for my statistic reading numbers 😂
The free story was obtained in an email from his son, Daniel Hurst, who is an excellent writer
The free story was obtained in an email from his son, Daniel Hurst, who is an excellent writer
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July 20, 2025Common sense for the most part. Some thought provoking comments in the final chapter around 'life stream' - the fact that each individual will have enough storage to record their entire life in pictures video . . . .
September 25, 2017
A guide to handle computer and smart devices effectively..
December 29, 2017
Out of date, but still good advice for people who are trying to get their cluttered inboxes in order
June 27, 2024
okish..book
August 22, 2019
Loved it. Pretty much love everything.
March 3, 2017
Principles are sound, though details outdated at times.
I am interested in personal information management and found this book. Price is hard to beat: $0 on Kindle! The book was published before the tidal waves of mobile devices and social media. As such, some of it has a quaint or nostalgic flavor. Nevertheless the principles of digital organization are helpful and if anything more important and as under appreciated as ever.
I am interested in personal information management and found this book. Price is hard to beat: $0 on Kindle! The book was published before the tidal waves of mobile devices and social media. As such, some of it has a quaint or nostalgic flavor. Nevertheless the principles of digital organization are helpful and if anything more important and as under appreciated as ever.
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