A Perfect Mess, Eric Abrahamson
A Perfect Mess, Eric Abrahamson
2 Rating(s)
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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

Author: Eric Abrahamson, David Freedman

Narrator: Scott Brick

Unabridged: 10 hr 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/09/2007


Synopsis

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.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Kylee on October 14, 2007

That my OCD/perfectionist/virgo/anal retentive traits to keep everything in it's right place may not be all that great and can actually drive me crazy. Consider this example I saw on the news. They had a gardener on the show for how to plant a beautiful garden. The female anchor was arranging all the......more

Goodreads review by Kelli Oliver George on March 05, 2008

January is "Organizing Month". So, it seemed appropriate that I read the book A Perfect Mess by Eric Abrahamson and David Freedman. I was under the impression that this book was about actual CLUTTER - as in all the piles o' crap lounging around my house. As longtime readers of this blog know, I have......more

Goodreads review by Marieke on June 16, 2007

Confirmed my suspicions that people spend too much time straightening, cleaning, and organizing - and worrying about not doing these things! - while a little disorder actually helps. Some companies and individuals actually devote more time to neatening before and after work and play, than to actual......more