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A Perfect Mess

The Hidden Benefits of Disorder - How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and On-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place

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A Perfect Mess

Written by: Eric Abrahamson, David H. Freedman
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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About this listen

Ever since Einstein’s study of Brownian motion, scientists have understood that a little disorder can actually make systems more effective. But most people still shun disorder - or suffer guilt over the mess they can’t avoid. No longer!

With a spectacular array of true stories and case studies of the hidden benefits of mess, A Perfect Mess overturns the accepted wisdom that tight schedules, organization, neatness, and consistency are the keys to success. Drawing on examples from business, parenting, cooking, the war on terrorism, retail, and even the meteoric career of Arnold Schwarzenegger, coauthors Abrahamson and Freedman demonstrate that moderately messy systems use resources more efficiently, yield better solutions, and are harder to break than neat ones.

Applying this idea on scales both large (government, society) and small (desktops, garages), A Perfect Mess uncovers all the ways messiness can trump neatness and will help you assess the right amount of disorder for any system. Whether it’s your company’s management plan or your hallway closet that bedevils you, this book will show you why to say yes to mess.

©2007 Eric Abrahamson and David H. Freedman (P)2007 Books on Tape Management & Leadership Personal Success Psychology Workplace & Organizational Behaviour Business Inspiring Career Project Management
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What the critics say

"The advice is good and the arguments intriguing." (Publishers Weekly)

"Flying utterly in the face of conventional wisdom, the authors turn the world of organization on its head to examine how messy systems can be more effective than highly organized ones." (Booklist)

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Profile Image for David Lawrenson

Really shows the other side of the story!!

Excellent read, I thoroughly enjoyed it! It is a refreshingly balanced look at the relationship between order and disorder and how our current cultural organization mania could at times be sucking our energy and creativity and working against our interests.

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