This is a book I've been looking forward to reading for awhile, and I wasn't disappointed... Lifehacker: 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day by Gina Trapani. You should see the number of post-it notes I already have in my copy...

Contents:
Free Up Mental RAM; Firewall Your Attention; Automate Repetitive Tasks; Streamline Common Tasks; Get Your Data To Go; Control Your Email; Organize Your Stuff; Kickstart Your Productivity; Master The Web; Tune Your Computer; Index

If you're a fan of David Allen's Getting Things Done, Merlin Mann's 43Folders, or any other personal productivity sites, you'll immediately take a liking to this book. Trapani has collected 88 different "hacks", or tricks and tools to help you be more productive in your life. The vast majority of them are free, either as concepts to be implemented or software you can download and install. There are ten different chapters in the book that focus on particular areas of your life, such as staying focused on the task at hand or organizing your life. Granted, a large number of them relate to your interaction with the computer (as we spend so much time in front of one). But don't be fooled into thinking that you won't get anything out of this book unless you're a hardcore geek. Definitely not the case... This also isn't a "system" where you have to adopt all 88 hacks to get any benefit from it. Each tip stands on its own, and you can pick and choose the ones that apply to your specific situation or style. And with productivity tips, even a single one, successfully implemented, can make a dramatic difference in your life.

It's recommended that you read this book in front of your computer. That's a really good idea, as you'll be hitting the web constantly to check out software and sites. If you decide not to read in proximity to your PC, then I recommend grabbing some scratch paper or post-it notes. You'll want to flag certain pages as you go for review when you *do* get back to your digital brain. I have a very large crop of yellow post-its sticking out the top and sides of my copy. I'll be spending some additional time with this book, to be sure...

This is definitely one of the most enjoyable books I've read of late, and I'd recommend it with no hesitation to anyone looking to streamline their life.

Trapani writes for the new Internet user, who might be confused by the sheer abundance of resources on the Web, as well as the complexity of using a personal computer and other computing devices. The hacks in the book span many topics.

Some relate to using a browser and surfing the Web. Like being able to define keyboard accelerators, to streamline your usage. Another basic need is using a search engine. Trapani gives the most example of Google. Showing how to do advanced searching. It's actually pretty easy, and can really improve the relevance of the results of your queries. Another common usage is SMS or text messaging. Actually, SMS is not really that prevalent in the US, compared to Asia and Europe. But some American readers might still find the discussion useful.

You might also check out the hacks that relate to defending your computer against intrusion. Like running a firewall, which nowadays is easy to set up. You especially need this if you are going to give your computer a permanent or semi-permanent presence on the Internet.

Trapani also talks about using devices like memory sticks and iPods. For mobile computing, and where you might need to transfer files between machines.

There is also a broader discussion of how to manage your computer usage effectively. For improved personal productivity. Quite separate from any specific hardware or software you might have. This might help you avoid frittering hours away doing essentially nothing useful on your computer. (Sound familiar to some?)