Gridlock Economy

A 304 page book by Michael Heller
Perseus Books  - 2008

• A “commons” is a resource that everyone shares. The “tragedy of the commons” happens when too many people use a common resource, thereby destroying it.
• Societies often try to avert the tragedy of the commons by creating private ownership – “anticommons.” 
• A private owner of an anticommons may block the public from using it.
• The underuse of a resource limits its benefit to society as much as its overuse does. Anticommons harm society by stifling innovation and creativity.
• Learning to see the hidden costs of underuse is a key step in fixing gridlock. Lawmakers can end a black market by removing the reasons for its existence.  Informal organizations can protect commons by imposing their own rules on users. Voluntary cooperation and philanthropy can solve some gridlock problems.

When Organizing Isn't Enough

A book by Julie Morgenstern
2008 - Simon & Schuster

• SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life
• SHED stands for “separate” your treasures, “heave” your trash, “embrace” yourself, and “drive into the future.”
• Before you shed, develop a new theme for the life you want in the future.
• Inventory the three primary “shedding points”: your possessions, your activities and your bad habits.
• Assign each item, to-do entry and habit an attachment score and an obsolescence score, so you know what you can discard and what to keep.
• To shed properly, hold onto only 10% to 20% of what currently constitutes your life.
• Once you start to shed, you will feel energized. Don’t look back. Discard your burdens.
• When you are done, spend some quiet time reflecting on what you want and then begin pursuing your real goals.