Book Review: Bit Literacy by Mark Hurst

Title: Bit Literacy: Productivity in the Age of Information and E-mail Overload
Author: Mark Hurst
Website: http://bitliteracy.com/

From Amazon.com

Product Description

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, this 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 age: "Let the bits go."

My Thoughts

I decided to read this book after seeing it mentioned several times in my reading and coursework to becoming Flat Classroom Certified by Vicki Davis and Julie Lindsay. From what I read about the book it seemed like an interesting read. Let me tell you that it was more than interesting. It is changing my structure in life and how I do things in the bit world.

If you read my blog then you are aware that I have already begun to put some of what is mentioned in this book into practice. I have started with my email. I am working to eliminate the overload of data that comes from my email, Twitter, social network sites, blogs, RSS Readers, etc. One thing I never considered as being part of this formula is digitial photography, but after reading about this it all makes complete sense.

This book opened my eyes to many things that I do in my life that could be eliminated and allow me to be more bit savvy. About every single thing mentioned in the book that is viewed as doing it wrong, I currently do. From my email inboxes as storage devices, to writing out long to-do lists on paper with no set daily goals to always being connected online with my feeds.

This book has set me up with some key parameters to help make life easier. I have already elminated on email account down to 4 emails(I cannot get down to 0 for another month). Check out my previous posts to understand why. I still have a few more email accounts left to go, but it is a start.

I read this book on my Kindle App and used the highlight and note tools to keep track of key parts of the book to go back and visit when I ready to move on to another part of my bit life.

This book is a MUST READ for anyone who needs some guidance in making sense in the bit world. We are saturated in so much information that it take some serious work to sort through everything effectively. This book will help you do just that. Check it out to let the bits go.