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The Organized Mind
The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload | Daniel J. Levitin
New York Times bestselling author and neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin shifts his keen insights from your brain on music to your brain in a sea of details. The information age is drowning us with an unprecedented deluge of data. At the same time, were expected to make moreand fasterdecisions about our lives than ever before. No wonder, then, that the average American reports frequently losing car keys or reading glasses, missing appointments, and feeling worn out by the effort required just to keep up. But somehow some people become quite accomplished at managing information flow. In The Organized Mind, Daniel J. Levitin, PhD, uses the latest brain science to demonstrate how those people exceland how readers can use their methods to regain a sense of mastery over the way they organize their homes, workplaces, and time. With lively, entertaining chapters on everything from the kitchen junk drawer to health care to executive office workflow, Levitin reveals how new research into the cognitive neuroscience of attention and memory can be applied to the challenges of our daily lives. This Is Your Brain on Music showed how to better play and appreciate music through an understanding of how the brain works. The Organized Mind shows how to navigate the churning flood of information in the twenty-first century with the same neuroscientific perspective.ReviewPraise for THE ORGANIZED MIND"[An] impressively wide-ranging and thoughtful work..."The Organized Mind" is an organized book, but it also rewards dipping in at any point, for there are fascinating facts and examples throughout." -The Wall Street Journal"From how not to lose your keys to how to decide when the risks of surgery are worth it, Levitin focuses on smart ways to process the constant flow of information the brain must deal with." -The Washington Post"[M]ore than a self-help book...Levitin's insights into sleep, time, socializing and decision-making are profound." -San Jose Mercury News"[An] ingenious combination of neuroscience and self-help." -Kirkus"By learning about how the mind processes information, readers with an interest in the brain will come away with insight into how they can better organize their lengthy lists, overflowing junk drawers, and cluttered schedules." -Library JournalDan Levitin has more insights per page than any other neuroscientist I know.The Organized Mindis smart, important, and as always, exquisitely written.Daniel Gilbert, Harvard University, author ofStumbling on HappinessCombine genuine knowledge and scholarship with plain common sense and what do you get? A book that is really worth reading: Dan LevitinsThe Organized Mind.The Honorable George P. Shultz, 60th U. S. Secretary of StateThere are surprising parallels between Levitins work and mine. Todays environment in war, business, and just about everything else has increased in speed and complexity to the point wherethe essential quality required for success is adaptability.The Organized Mindprovides the latest neuroscience on cognitiveadaptabilityand how to apply it to so that leaders can excel. It is a tremendous achievement, and a must read for leaders ateverylevel.General Stanley McChrystal, U. S. Army (ret.)A brilliant and engaging book about the science of thinking.The Organized Mindprovides the tools that we all need to understand and manage the deluge of information that assaults us every day.Jerome Groopman, MD and Pamela Hartzband, MD, Harvard Medical School, authors ofYour Medical MindA profound piece of work. Levitin documents the mismatch between our narrow bandwidth hunter-gatherer minds and the multitasking chaos of todays world. He even shows us how to stay sane in environments that are constantly tempting us to stretch ourselves hopelessly thin.Philip E. Tetlock, Wharton School, University of PennsylvaniaAn erudite synthesis of Levitins owncontributions, recent advances in our understanding of attention and memory,and a deep perspective on the ways the human mind works.Stanley Prusiner, M.D. Nobel Laureate, director of the Institutefor Neurodegenerative Diseases, University ofCalifornia, SanFranciscoDaniel Levitins book follows in the ancient tradition of knowledge as a guide to a better life. Discover the creative power of organized thought, whether you are a writer or a scientist, a disorganized mess or a super robot seeking new frontiers of effectiveness.Eric Kaplan, co-executive producer and writer,The Big Bang Theory, writer,The SimpsonsandFlight of the ConchordsAn eloquent spokesperson for our field.Levitin writes about the brain with an ease and familiarity that is captivating.The late David Hubel, Nobel Laureate in honor of discoveries concerning information processing in thehuman visual systemFascinating Combing neuroscience and cognitive psychology, theOrganized Mindunderscores the critical importance of individuals taking charge of their own attentional and memory systems so they can lead optimally productive and satisfying lives. Invaluable insights are offered with regard to organizing our homes, social world, time, decision-making, and business world.Nadine J. Kaslow, Ph.D., president of the American Psychological Association and professor and vice chair, Emory University School of MedicineThis book is far more than tips on how to think clearly and manage information overload. It is also a tour through some of the most exciting aspects of contemporary neuroscience and cognitive science, with a specific emphasis on implications for everyday life. Anyone who has ever wondered about the mind will find much that is fascinating and useful in these pages.Stephen Kosslyn, dean, Minerva Schools of Arts and Sciences at the Keck Graduate Institute, former chair, department of psychology, Harvard UniversityRunning a major PBS television series on tight budgets and turnarounds requires organization and efficiency and sometimes a little magic too.Levitins behind the curtain peek at the brains inner workings of decision-making provides that extra bit of magicand would make a fascinating documentary in and of itself!Pamela Hogan, Emmy award-winning Producer for PBSA how-to book on how to stay sanehow to tamp down on that fire-hose of information and choices that we face each day, and direct it all toward our own goals and purposes. Its an owners manual for your mind.Congressman Alan Grayson, U.S. House of RepresentativesIn the age of TMI, we all need better organized minds. With characteristically clear prose and scientific insight, Dan Levitin gives us tips on how to get or mental closets in order. I really enjoyed this book.Joseph LeDoux, Center for Neural Science, New York UniversityDan Levitin has done it again. Having explained music and the brain, now he shows us the best, most effective ways to organize the rest of our life by giving us key insights into how the brain works. His style is so appealing, his knowledge so deep and practical, that we learn, fromThe Organized Mind, not only why we do what we do, but how, potentially, we can run our lives more smoothly, efficiently, and even happily. Cathy N. Davidson, director, The Futures Initiative, City University of New York, author ofNow You See It: How the Brain Science of Attention Will Transform the Way We Live, Work, and LearnUsing the latest information on the brain and how it works, Levitin presents a series of ideas on how to organize one's life and business. Essential reading for anyone who aspires to be highly effective. Or even find their keys!"David Eidelman, MD, dean of the McGill University Medical SchoolThe Organized Mindis for anyone interested in how the human mind organizes, and on occasion disorganizes, the world around us. It is engaging, witty, compelling, and infused with science. Levitin shows how principles from psychology and cognitive neuroscience can help us better organize our daily lives. Move over,Freakonomics, theres a new kid on the bookcase.Gerry Altmann, professor of psychology at the University of Connecticut, and author ofThe Ascent of BabelDaniel Levitin takes us from the prehistory of thought and language, and our hunter-gather ancestors, right up to the middle of the information explosion we are all living in right now. From filing cabinets to smart phones, calendars, multi-national businesses and Wikipedia, he reveals the science behind how we organize our worldand how we can do better. An extraordinary work from one of our most gifted writers.The late Phil Ramone, producer, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, and LucianoPavarottiLevitin is funny, informative and insightful. Its like having a friend whos a neuroscientist showing you how creating a little order in your brain can unlock so much creativity. Len Blum, screenwriter,The Pink Panther, MeatballsThe Organized Mindreads like a movie not the dry tome you might expect. Its an exciting tour through the science of productivity and how to best manage your thinking to get things doneand be more creative at the same time." David Allen, author ofGetting Things DonePraise forThis is Your Brain on Music"Endlessly stimulating.--Oliver SacksAn unusually deft interpreter.--New York TimesDeepens the beautiful mystery that is music.--David Byrne, founder of Talking HeadsPraise forThe World in Six SongsWill leave you awestruck.--New York TimesMasterful Eminently enjoyable.--Los Angeles TimesA fascinating, entertaining book may stick in your head forever.--Elizabeth Gilbert, author ofEat, Pray, Love
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BookBingeBlog
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#Readathon just finished and I am oficially asleep. Lovely weekend, great reads!

SW-T Welcome to Litsy 😊 6y
9 likes1 comment
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DieAReader
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My make work project the last 2 days! Everything (but a select few) is organized by author, series or publication date. What a job 🤯. I‘m really glad I did it though, cause now I have all my books in the shelves (none in boxes behind the chair anymore lol)! This will hopefully make my buying ban easier cause I can literally just go grab something & start to read, something I haven‘t really been able to do in a few years tbh! 📚💖🤯🎶

CoverToCoverGirl What a beautiful reading space! Your hard work has paid off! ❤️📚❤️ 6y
DieAReader Ty @CoverToCoverGirl 🤗. Now all I need to do is organize the rest of the room so I can sit in there to read lol!! That will be the project for the rest of this week lol!! 💖💖 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
Eggs Well done 👏🏻📚❤️📚👏🏻👏🏻 6y
12 likes4 comments
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VanChocStrawberry
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It was SUPER slow at the library today, so I worked on organizing my goodreads. Of course I just saw stuff I missed. 🙄 I added “own” and “to purchase” shelves mostly because of Litsy swaps! They only have the books I‘d previously added to goodreads, but it‘s a start!
How do you (or don‘t you) organize your goodreads?

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janeycanuck
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Pickpick

Squeaked it in just under the wire! Such a dense book but so interesting. I‘m not sure how much I‘ll actually retain but I found myself nodding along emphatically with each new revelation. Also, I love this example demonstrating that correlation does not mean causation. Though I now blame global warming on pirates.

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janeycanuck
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Desperately trying to finish off all my in-progress books before the end of the year and I‘m down to one left... I only have about 200 pages to go but Bookout says it‘ll take me 8 hours since I‘m averaging 2.3 min/page. I think I‘ll be able to squeeze it in, but just barely.

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Ash.on.the.line
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Excuse my handwriting but I wrote down this weeks pic challenges because guess what? I keep forgetting and hate going through my pictures everyday! 😅

Why can‘t my mind remember things besides grabbing my book before I leave the house?!? 😂🤣

DGRachel At least you remember to grab a book! 7y
Ash.on.the.line @DGRachel that is pretty important! 😆 7y
Cinfhen I LOVE this 🙌🏻❤️🤗👍🏻😍 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Great idea!!!! 👏🏻👍🏻❤️ 7y
50 likes5 comments
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janeycanuck
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A day late on getting my #DecemberTBR picked... It‘s a big stack with two TBRs from last month, a #ListyBuddyRead, 14 from my Scribd pile (3 audios, 5 from last month, 6 new for this month), one new pre-2017 TBR as I continue to try to #readmyowndamnbooks and a Christmas book that I‘ll definitely be picking up. I worked it out - if I can read 189 pages a day, I can make it through them all!

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Soubhiville
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The books are about to get shelved! My favorite part of moving! I have a library here, and I'm so excited about it! It's not huge, but there IS enough room for a few more shelves in it!

LauraBrook Lovely! And glad to see you're there and settling in. 💖 7y
britt_brooke Yay! Looking forward to the the finished photos! 7y
LauraBeth 🙌🙌 7y
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Hollie Your library is gonna rock! 7y
RanaElizabeth So jealous for your soon to be filled library! 7y
Lizpixie It's not the size that matters, it's what you stuff into it! My library is tiny, but it's perfect. I'd been waiting for my own space for 40yrs, it's sooooo good to put down a book and know it'll still be there when I go back.🤗 7y
Foragingfantasy Love it!!! 7y
79 likes7 comments
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Sace
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Dear Goodreads,
"Select all" should mean ALL, not just the first 30.

Signed,
Annoyed.

Lcsmcat Amen. So be it! 7y
46 likes1 comment
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Avanders
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I've been seeing these Goodreads Shelves organization posts... here's my 2 cents... these aren't totally accurate since I sometimes forget about a category I've created, but they give a rough idea. ☺️#goodreads #goodreadsshelves @dariazeoli

bitcheslovebooks Were you able to find me on Goodreads? 7y
Avanders @bitcheslovebooks I am so sorry!! It's been a craaaazy week, but yes I will add you today! ☺️☺️☺️ Thanks for following up. 🙃 7y
Debiw781 I like having my shelves broken down too. I didn't do that when I first started though 😳 7y
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Avanders @Debiw781 me neither... I've added shelves as I've gone and just accept that older books may not be fully "categorized" ? 7y
Debiw781 @Avanders When I stumble on them, I categorize them 😂 7y
Avanders @Debiw781 Sounds like a good plan to me! 😂 7y
30 likes6 comments
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Louise
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Let's give a huge Litsy shout-out to the woman of the day, @BookishMarginalia ‼️It is due to Gloria's amazing organizational skill and generosity with her time and talent that over 400 of us have big smiles on our faces today! Many, many thanks to the heart and mind behind #SummerSantaGoesPostal! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🎉🎉🎉💕💕😍

rockpools Thank you Gloria! 🎉👏🎁👏🎉 7y
TrishB Thank you ❤💝 🎉 for making so many people happy! 7y
Matchkim You are completely amazing!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much! 7y
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shanebeth I didn't participate, but it's been so fun seeing everyone's posts! great job!! 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💜 7y
Smangela Thank you Gloria! I have definitely been on cloud 9 all day! 7y
Lidia Completely agree! Thank you @BookishMarginalia 🤗👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 7y
Scurvygirl It's been so fun to see everyone opening their gifts! I might have to participate next time! 7y
Hollie @shanebeth @Scurvygirl you should definitely participate in the next one, it is so much fun! 7y
MaleficentBookDragon 👏👏👏❤️💙💜 7y
ScientistSam You are fantastic and amazing, and we are all so grateful! 👏👏👏 7y
CouronneDhiver She's the BEST! 7y
OrangeMooseReads 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 7y
robinb Thank You!!! What a wonderful event! ❤️ 7y
peaKnit Yay!!🎉🙌🏼👍🏻 7y
melrailey Thank you!!!! 👏 7y
MrBook 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 7y
kspenmoll So wonderful! 🙌🙌💃🏼💃🏼🎉🎉💚💙💜 (edited) 7y
Hooked_on_books Isn't she amazing? 7y
Graciouswarriorprincess She is fabulous! 💕👍🏻💕😍 7y
Gissy 👏👏👏👏👏❤ 7y
Dragon 👍😀🎉 7y
stacybmartin Yay - she is amazing and has made Litsy even better! 💜 7y
Zelma Agreed wholeheartedly! 👏👏👏💕💕💕 thank you, @BookishMarginalia 7y
124 likes25 comments
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LectricSheep
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I love this TBR space in the new apartment! It's still not done yet (I'll finish filling up the shelves tomorrow because let's be real I need an entire bookshelf for my TBR stack, none of that artful half-empty nonsense here), but I love the fairy lights and the lineup on the dresser. It all looks so cozy.

LeahBergen Lovely!! 7y
valeriegeary This is perfect! 7y
AlaMich It looks very cozy and welcoming 😊 7y
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vivastory "Artful half-empty nonsense" spoken like a true bibliophile! 7y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag Gorgeous 😍 I love those ladder type bookshelves! Enjoy your new place! 7y
LauraBeth Lovely! 😍 7y
LectricSheep @vivastory I know you feel me. I see bookcases in catalogs that have like a dozen books in them. Why can't they show me how many books the shelves hold?! That's all I need to know!! Who cares how many tiny succulents it can display?!?! 7y
vivastory And they display half of them with cover facing out to give the illusion they are fuller than they are 😠 7y
LectricSheep @vivastory Man. What a niche problem we have discovered. 7y
vivastory Haha before Litsy I would have thought I was the only one 7y
jencleoncio Awww that's so so pretty and totally cozy 😍♥️😍 7y
LauraBrook Right? What kind of crap is that? Who has the space for face-out nonsense?!? 7y
Robothugs That is so pretty! 7y
LectricSheep @LauraBrook Lol yes another club member! ❤️ 7y
RealLifeReading How lovely! 7y
Reecaspieces Awesome! 7y
ValerieAndBooks It does look cozy!! 7y
CouronneDhiver Ooo! I should totally hang lights on the dresser too. 7y
DebinHawaii Nice! 👍📚📚 7y
Zelma This whole conversation is cracking me up! ? especially "artful half-empty nonsense" 7y
elkeOriginal This photo, your caption, and the comments from @vivastory and @LauraBrook are perfection 👏👏👏 7y
Jinjer I love this!!! 7y
97 likes23 comments
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Leigh0906
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I don't journal,but my planner could basically be one because it contains my whole life. In addition to any appointments, it has: my weekly meal plan; what I'm reading at any given time; birthdays/anniversaries; and a general to do list for every day. It's a giant scrawling mess- mainly because I just use whatever pen is nearby to write things down. #notebooksjournals #riotgrams

DoubleLane Teach me your planning skills (I usually just write everything on my arm) 7y
Leigh0906 @SapphiresHaze I wish I could! I had a teacher in the fourth grade that made everyone in class keep a planner with all of our assignments and AR books, and the habit stuck (and spiraled out of control 😝)! 7y
21 likes2 comments
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LectricSheep
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Ready for some light bedtime reading! #talknerdytome

59 likes2 stack adds
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aubergine123
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Pickpick

I really liked this one. It's not Real Simple if that's what you're looking for. But it does discuss how your brain functions and how to work with it to be more organized. It improved my abilities to stay on top of my job. It isn't perfect - last part dragged a bit. But overall I found it to be really useful.

Look what Macy's is using to sell shoes.

CrowCAH Awesome! I see they have them ziptied so people like us don't try to take them! Lol Though, it doesn't look like they have titles... 8y
Gonerogue @crowCAH I think they have brown paper over their covers. 8y
10 likes2 comments
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QueenAnne
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Booklover problems: moving to another city, 5 boxes already filled with books (half of the box or they'll get too heavy😳😓) and still not nearly enough! In comparison.. my clothes and shoes will probably fit in 2 boxes 😆

That's what you get for moving on 😆 but I'm ecxited to start over ❤️

Cinfhen Good luck with your new move 🙂 8y
QueenAnne @Cinfhen thank you! 😁 8y
Notafraidofwords Good luck! 8y
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pppooraikul A chance to organize your bookshelf once and for all! 😁 (Just kidding. I believe it'll get out of hand again in no time...) 8y
QueenAnne @pppooraikul hihi I'll give it a go, but that's a lifegoal I'm afraid I'll never be able to check off 😝 even packing them get's out of hand 😝😝 8y
ScorpioBookDreams The movers wouldn't speak to me after all the boxes of books they had to move. They were so sick and tired of it by the end! 😂😂😂 8y
QueenAnne @ScorpioBookDreams hihihi! Oh dear, I feel a family feud coming on! 😉 my poor movers 😝😝 8y
ChasingOm Good luck! I just did the same thing!! 🙃 8y
QueenAnne @ChasingOm thank you! Really? How did you manage? 8y
ChasingOm I buy banker's boxes -- they're the perfect size to stay liftable (and they have nice tops), but there were a LOT of them! 😂 8y
annkuch13 Exciting! Good luck on your move! I'm getting ready to move across town with my 12 bookcases worth of books 😓 I feel your pain! 8y
64 likes12 comments