Recently I took on a new position at work. Instead of just banging out help desk tickets and incoming phone calls, I’m assisting customers on longer-term projects. It’s an entirely different workflow, and it’s helpimg me appreciate this book even more. I’m glad I procrastinated writing this post, as it helped clarify my thoughts to simmer with the information contained within. I can confidently give this book a rating of
Multiple Thumbs Up
although it’s not without it’s flaws.
Pros:
This book is what it says it is on the tin: a time-management system specifically geared to the workflows of systems administrators.
It’s a shorter book, yet covers the topic more than adequately.
Both the tips and the overall system are chock-full of utility.
Cons:
The folksy style is off-putting, for myself at least. Geeks drink Mountain Dew! And it’s funny! *rolls eyes*
This book can be repetitive. I recognize that repetition is a hallmark of pedagogy, but the eighth time I heard the filling-the-gas-tank example I very nearly endangered the material well-being of my copy. (But now I know and use the point of that example often. So, it worked while it annoyed.)
The last con I see is more subtle; you might consider it a con as such.
Books in the time management genre (e.g. Getting Things Done
) tend to espouse a somewhat-eastern zen-like worldview (taking the “be a systems administrator NINJA!” metaphor too far, perhaps?). This book, though milder in that respect, does have some (pro-yoga) moments. (I can’t stand yoga, in part because I am an inflexible jerk.) For me, that’s a con; it may not be a con for you.But I am the one writing this review, so I call it a con. And not the kind of con that prevented me from enjoying and recommending this book.
Disclaimer:
Dear FTC: I bought this book. Nobody is compensating me for this review. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to get a latte with the proceeds from the amazon affiliate links I’ve placed here. The fact that I felt the need to mention any of this makes you jerks.