The first time I read this, I read it in four days - that’s unheard of for me. I have a whole pile of books that I’ve yet to finish. This one is just the kind of reading your soul needs. It’s a wonderful mental snack to chew over and contemplate and take action. It’ll encourage and empower you with a chockfull of anecdotes from Bullet Journalists and from Ryder. Ryder has a great sense of humor and his imagery is terrific. He shares a lot of personal stories that tie-in perfectly with the point he’s trying to make and succeeds. I could praise this book from here until the next century, the bottom line is that it’s a great read. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll pull at your heart strings, and most of all, it’ll inspire you. If you feel like you’re in a rut or just crave a lot of great insight about Bullet Journaling, there’s no better place to get that than from the source himself.
Aug 4, 2023
I dismissed bujo as form over function because my exposure has been from Instagram and bloggers with dozens of colored pens at coffee shops. I made a mistake. There are lots of really good ideas there, even for those of us who aren’t interested in the aesthetic aspect, and I think this quick book is really worth it for anyone. Lists and notes have been key to my sanity for a long time and I’ve immediately been able to leverage ideas from the method be more intentional about how I keep them.
Jul 20, 2023
Time will tell if I manage to stick with the bullet journaling habit, but so far I can say it has satisfied me to my deepest core. I was not looking to add this to my life, but when I first heard about bullet journaling, it instantly resonated with me. I bought the audiobook to learn more and find I am left with so many thoughts about living a more intentional life and setting personal and professional goals for myself. Since my kiddo will be heading for college in the next year or so, the goal setting conversation came along at just the right time. I enjoyed this audiobook and the concept of bullet journaling so much that I also bought it in hardback so I can use it as a reference or loan it out. This is good stuff, people.
Jul 20, 2023
BUJO has allowed me to incorporate mindful meditation practices into more of my life. I am busier than ever, working full time and raising my first babe, and the journal method has helped me stay even more on top of my game than I could before the new addition to my family came. Carroll's "Collections" have helped me tackle larger projects (challenges, tasks, goals) in a way that welcomes insight, leaps of intuition, and ultimately productivity. I am designing a training program for my staff, re-organizing financial anxiety as a plan of action, and recognizing that I expend a lot of energy on caring for others. Yes, do this thing.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 9, 2019
One of the best self-help books I've read recently. Honestly, I expected this book to be about various Bullet Journal techniques and that's it. I was wrong. It's about organizing your life in general. I like the way Ryder explains things: he tells you pretty obvious things, but he doesn't sound like a mentor or parent, more like a friend who experienced a lot of similar things. Ryder's spectrum of knowledge about the topic is overwhelming. He easily combines thoughts of Stoics with recent research in psychology, modern thinkers like Malcolm Gladwell and Seth Godin with Chinese proverbs and quotes from Nietzsche. I like that he trusts his reader and expects that he already knows a lot of things: for example, he uses "KonMari" as a verb and he is sure--of course you know what it means! I like that he writes in simple short sentences. I like that the chapters are short and each has a specific focus. It's easy to consider Bullet Journalling another fad and skip this book ("I'm not going to Bullet Journal, why should I read it?"). Don't do that, give it a try. It's a really good book about organizing yourself, regardless of the method you use.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 8, 2018
I absolutely love this book and connect with it regularly to reference an idea Ryder suggests. This is so much more than a "How to" book on Bullet Journaling. The book is filled with content you can use for how to live life to the fullest. As I was reading, I felt like if I had this book years ago I could have saved a lot of money on therapy because Ryder has brought all the bits I have received from the professionals in my life and put it down in black and white. Also, Ryder has ADHD, which I didn't realize until I started reading, and I was also just diagnosed last summer, so this made the book seem even more relevant and doable. Three people I know have recently purchased the book after I told them about it so I figured I might just write a review. This book will be on and off my shelf for the rest of my life. Bullet Journaling is making so much sense now, and the way Ryder has the beginner get going is so simple. It's nothing like what I saw on social media. I'm getting stuff done!
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2021
Ryder Carroll did a wonderful thing when he told the world about his journaling and productivity method. I first encountered it a year and a half ago when I was struggling with digital fatigue. I needed a system that'd help me keep track of my life without an over dependence upon my iPhone. In my search, I stumbled upon Bullet Journaling, something I had remembered seeing briefly on Lifehacker. I learned the method and quickly made it a part of my life. In the time that's followed, I've since experimented, failed, and started again. So, it was a joy when I found out Ryder had written the Bullet Journal Method. Having read the website & blog, I at first hesitated to order the book, thinking it wouldn't have anything new. I bit the bullet (pun intended) and ordered the Collector's Set on Amazon pre-order, since I was in need of a new BuJo in the coming months & could get both the book and a new journal for what I'd pay for a journal. I'm glad I did. As an experienced Bullet Journalist, this book was a fairly quick read (one week, reading in the evenings and during lunch). It recapped a lot of what I already knew about Bullet Journaling, but it went deeper. Ryder uncovered a lot of the philosophy behind his methods and even clarified some things that had been a bit foggy (such as taking notes in the Daily Log). Once you get past the basics, the Bullet Journal Method gets into the nitty gritty of journaling and making it your own, which I enjoyed. It was nice to see his thinking, which will help me with a few projects I have on my plate. I won't spoil anything, but I will say this book is well worth the read. If you're curious about what Bullet Journaling is, this book is for you. If you're an experienced Bullet Journalist, this book is also for you. If you're somewhere in-between, this book is definitely for you. This book will proudly remain a staple on my bookshelf and I can see myself referencing it often for a refresher on advanced methodology, as well as the basics. The Bullet Journal Method is not only a great read, it's a book worth owning.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 30, 2018
Ok in all honesty this wasn't easy, but it was so worth it! I've struggled with intense ADHD my whole life, and while time and medication has lessened the vibrating, bouncing out of my chair and constantly daydreaming effects of my youth I have still very much struggled with this. I bought this book as I was returning to University after 2 years serving a proselyting mission for my church. During those 2 years I had the benefit of a constant companion and a structured and planned out routine/lifestyle as such my ADHD had become very easy to manage, but I knew that it would not be the same once I had gotten home. As such I tried to figure out a new way to bring structure to my life. While searching for time management strategies for individuals with ADHD I came upon this book and on impulse (yes mildly funny, I know) I bought it. I worked through it with the usual desperate intensity I experience at the start of new projects of which I am passionate about and even managed to stick with it for a while. I found it indeed made a difference but I had yet to make it part of my routine. So eventually I lost my journal (it was in the pocket of my bag that I almost never keep things in. Lol) and fell off the wagon as it were, eventually though I found it again and recently decided to revisit it. So I set a challenge for myself, for 100 days before New Year's I would wake up, take my meds, review my previous day and plan out my new day before posting a photo online. I am now over halfway done, and I have to say it has honestly been life changing, I paired it with an app called Habitica (also worth checking out) and have experienced the best grade and personal development towards my goals that I have seen in my entire adult life. I'm staying ahead in my classes, getting good grades, losing weight, improving my performance and being more productive/social than I have been before. I can honestly say that my application of the Bullet Journal Method is one of the keystone factors to this success and as such I can say at least in my experience this book has changed my life. There are of course still some things and tools included in this book I have yet to incorporate but what I have used so far has had a profound effect on my life, so if you're anything like me I cannot recommend this book enough!
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 26, 2019
I assumed this book would teach its reader the 'hows' of bullet journal, instead it focused on the 'whys'. On times it seems to neglect bullet journals all together, as it forced the reader to assess their reason behind all of their daily actions, and to why aspects of their lives weren't currently working for them. It is only later that he introduced just exactly how bullet journals could be an aid in curing that. Areas such as imperfection and control were covered and it really opened my eyes to how I had been bullet journalling wrong, all these many months. It made me realise that part of the bullet journal appeal for me was purely aesthetic. I loved to view artistic daily spreads, complete with calligraphy headers and washi tape dividers. For me, this didn't work because there was no 'why' behind my wanting it. Aesthetics wasn't enough and the reason I felt such dissatisfaction was that this particular bullet journal set-up had no purpose in my life and so I was ultimately failing to connect with it. It became just another chore I had added, without making my daily processes any easier. Bullet journalling is an extremely helpful tool but also an extremely personal one, which is why no two will look the same. This life guide/bullet journalling how-to instructed me on organising my day, better managing my time, and transferring my dreams into goals, which is what makes this perfect for amateur and expert Bu-Jo'ers alike.
Jul 20, 2023
If you’ve already been using a bullet journal for a while, this book is still worth your time. I’d seen so many spreads on social media but The Bullet Journal Method was a welcome reminder of why this practice is essential to so many people: ‘Whether you’re an experienced Bullet Journalist or a newcomer, The Bullet Journal Method is for anyone struggling to find their place in the digital age. It will help you get organized by providing simple tools and techniques that can inject clarity, direction, and focus into your days. As great as getting organized feels, however, it’s just the surface of something significantly deeper and more valuable.’ As someone who works in marketing by day and blogs by night, having something which allows me to take some time and reflect at the end of the day is so important. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by digital distractions and I love having an offline space to reflect and prioritise.
Jul 20, 2023
I wanted to start a bullet journal so naturally I had to read about it by the person who started the method. I was so pleasantly surprised by my love for this book. There are different parts to it. One part is more the how-to which reads a little slower and more like a textbook but not necessarily in a bad way. Despite there being a how-to, I appreciated there being an emphasis on making your bullet journal your own and using it for your ever-changing needs as it's adaptable for many aspects and seasons of life. Then the other main part (my favorite part) is the why of bullet journaling. This part felt like it was written for me. It may be because I also suffer from ADHD like the author or it may be that I just really resonate with trying to slow down and be mindful... Either way, if you're interested in starting a bullet journal or want to feel inspired to start one, I highly recommend reading this book!
Jul 20, 2023
I have been bujo-ing (is this a word now???) for two years without ever reading this book. I just used pinterest and youtube for inspiration. When I found out the creator of THE bullet journal concept came out with a book, I got curious. Could it actually teach me something new about bullet journals? Is there possibly some spread I never came across that would change my life? Turns out, it did change my life. The book was filled with so many scenarios and reasons why you might need the journal. From medical reasons to daily life. I never thought about writing small things that happened in my weekly spreads with my to-dos and events. It was interesting to just write down I had a great chat with my sister or how work was crazy busy. I never wrote full entries but just having a bullet with something is still great to look back on. There are “One Line a Day” spreads but I don’t like feeling I have to find something EVERY DAY. I also liked how he explained the index and collections. I realised I was quite limited on what spreads I would do and how I think bullet journals should look like. But this really opened my eyes. Why not have a spread dedicated to random things whenever I want? Overall, it was a great insight to the original intentions of the bulllet journal and very easy to read and learn. I highly recommend!!
Jul 20, 2023
I finally found a method that helps me merge my love of organization with my necessity of scribbling notes and doodling. Seriously, I'm a former day planner freak who only wanted a space to write in...and this is a fantastic way to do that. I finished this book last night. There are too many good notes to highlight - my best moment of inspiration in this book was the mental inventory and working with taking stock of what's in my mental closet. The difference between vitals and everything else jammed in the closet made me want to do a few pages on what that is and why it's important. Really inspiring. Highly recommend.
Jul 20, 2023
I love the simplicity and depth of the Bullet Journal Method. Easy to get started, but with incredible potential in the long run. The book has two parts: the first one describes the 'how', the second part the 'why'. I learned valuable lessons from both parts. But reading the book is just the first step; implementing it and working with it for a couple of weeks/months is what it comes down to.
Jul 20, 2023
I had never felt such a strong connection with a book before like I felt while reading The Bullet Journal Method. For those who do bullet journal, it's a good reminder of everything that you should do in order to be productive in organized. For those who don't do bullet journal, this book can really be a life changing experience due to all the functions that a bullet journal can have. 10/10 highly recommend 😁
Jul 20, 2023
What a surprise!! I am so amazed by this impulse read. Not only BuJo system is incredible but this guide to it is absolutely fantastic. It shows a depth of thought, delivers the message is engaging and delightful manner, with insightful quotes and side stories... Who knew?! Highest possible recommendation 🤩 Seriously, get yourself a copy (and a journal 📓 )
Jul 20, 2023