Tony's Reviews > The Bullet Journal Method

I was in two minds about this book from the outset, and I wasn't sure what to expect from it. So is it really fair to say that it disappointed me? Probably not, but in any case, I came away 'nonplussed'!

The book is split into five sections: Preparation, System, Practice, Art and End.

It started well with an overview of the method and I learnt a lot. I should say that I've been keeping a BuJo for over two years now. Or at least I thought I had. My method was a long way removed from the official one - probably because I jumped straight in with all those fancy layouts and trackers peppering the internet. (Mr Carroll does not like fancy it seems - as others have pointed out. He doesn't quite go as far as to dismiss them but there are numerous phrases that leave you in no doubt about his opinion - if it works, great, but don't just make it pretty, and what's the use of tracking what TV shows I've watched, etc.)

The 'system' section gave me a number of valuable insights and I have a few sticky-tabs flagging things to go back to and implement or try.

But then it all seemed to fall apart for me as Mr Carroll spend a very long time labouring over self-improvement in the third part: Practice. Now, don't get me wrong, we can all do with bettering ourselves. But this section just goes on and on. For a system where Mr Carroll stresses simplicity and brevity, he seems to fall off the rails here. Others may relish this section - but not me. I am jaded of all the self-improvement systems and encouragement that wight down bookshelves. Sometimes we are the way we are and have to live with it. Also, the focus of 'me' at the cost of others is too much. In a world of self-idolisation, it would be nice to see a system that encourages selflessness. Sure, the BuJo is 'flexible' enough for you to track acts of kindness or word of encouragement given to others, but Mr Carroll seems to advocate self-f0cus, analysis, and praise. Not for me - not at this length anyway. I lost interest in this section and had to slog through to get to the bit I really wanted to read - case studies, examples, creativity, etc. Art.

Unfortunately, the section on Art was far too short. And it was oddly pretty having been prefaced with warnings about function over form, style without substance. I think this is where I finally became disappointed.

I really wanted to like this book. Really I did. But what I learnt I could just have easily acquired from searching the web. I didn't need so much self-improvement. I wanted more case studies from both those who were minimalist and those who were fancy-pants-creatives.

So, in the end, a reluctant 2 stars from me. Sorry, Mr Carroll.