Getting Organized in the Google Era

January 15, 2010
Trying to get organized in the more fast-paced world of the new technologies can often lead to stress and a subsequent decrease in productivity. Merrill (former chief information officer, Google) and technology blogger Martin here offer a practical guide on the subject. Part 1 focuses on the individual's perspective and constraints, while Part 2 discusses the need for "a radically new 21st-century definition of organization" and a new tool set for the world today. Part 3 focuses on avoiding brain strain and integrating work and life, among other topics. Throughout, the authors address many issues, e.g., effectively using search engines, and present regular summaries of their key ideas. Also of great value is a "Stuff We Love" chapter that discusses and rates search engines, desktop search tools, email, and other communication tools (e.g., Twitter); online backup storage and file syncing; to-do list managers and productivity tools; web browsers and plug-ins; RSS readers; laptops; and more. VERDICT Highly recommended to anyone who needs to get organized at work or at home and to students and business men and women.Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, NY

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