I approached this book as a life-long learner, undaunted by the promised focus on students.  From this perspective, the lessons apply to both college students and those in a career where progress requires keeping up with the latest knowledge.  Eat That Frog! For Students by Brian Tracy is much more than just the time-management book noted on the cover – it outlines a life-sized strategy for success in the context of a detailed plan for dispatching undesirable tasks and dealing with the stress that life inevitably brings, both in and out of school.

Author Tracy warns that this not a book filled with research and references, but rather a practical guide where the reader can jump straight to the sections of most interest.   In spite of this preface, phrases like “Neuroscientists have found that it is impossible to be angry when you accept full responsibility for yourself” seem dubious without backup.  If you keep reminding yourself that Brian Tracy is a renowned motivational speaker and view this book as another of his presentations, albeit between two covers, you will find his occasional hyperbole easier to accept.

It wasn’t until I had worked in industry and then returned to college as a Professor that it dawned on me – what I learned in school had less to do with the actual class content than with the process of learning and how it fit into my life.  There is never enough time for everything, and author Tracy uses this broader view to help the reader identify the most strategically important task to focus on.  This is the frog you must eat first. (continue reading)