This book has been my companion for six months now. Unlike most other "change your life" books, it hasn't been dumped on the bookshelf and forgotten. It's a book that I've dipped into whenever the clutter in our house has gotten too bad. And when we do need a quick clutter-fix, it gets me sorted. It's attractive, fits in the palm of my hand and delivers on its promise to be the ultimate guide to organising your life "once and for all".

Reassuringly, Lissanne Oliver also tells us that there is a distinct difference between being neat and being organised. This author doesn't set us up for failure by pushing a perfect life, (where your house will be suddenly transformed into something from Home and Garden). Instead there is a strong emphasis on functionality.

You could probably read Sorted! in a few hours, but that's not what the author intended. The first 40-odd pages provide the backdrop (the Why) and then follows with four broad categories of "recipes" (the How). She recommends tackling a recipe a week. And this slow burn approach really works!
JH

(Find out more about this book in the BLOG section of this website)

Remember Stephen Lundin’s great book Fish? ( Having visited Seattle’s Pike’s Place fish market that inspired this story I just had to read it.) He made us think hard about motivation, employee engagement and putting a zing into our work, no matter what the role. So I wasn’t sure about his link to the title that’s followed - CATS: The Nine Lives of Innovation. (Maybe it’s because cats eat fish... Could this be a dog-eat dog story?) In CATS Stephen Lundin explores a culture of creativity and innovation - just what we need a double-dose of right now. In the current business climate it’s creativity and innovation that will bring new ideas to the surface. A culture of creativity will make good businesses great, and convert sharp ideas into business growth and opportunities. Lundin is convinced that creativity and innovation is first and foremost based on the individual. (FInd out more about this book in the articles section of this website)

I'm a fan of Malcolm Gladwell's books. I enjoy the way he collects interesting insights from both research and his own experience and weaves this raw material into something insightful and enlightening. Tipping Point was exciting, Blink intriguing, and Outliers – well I can't stop thinking and talking about this latest book. Why are some people "abnormally" successful? Why do others have that potential but just not break through? From health, sport, music, business, to maths and more there are intriguing stories of success - and a close look at the factors that made it so. It's a book I'm already going back to for a second read. And it's shifting and shaping my thinking on a number of issues. And isn't that the definition of a great book?