Book Review: The Checklist Book by Alexandra Franzen

I'm a list maker. When I saw Alexandra's book, The Checklist Book, I knew I had to read it. Sometimes I think I make lists just for the sake of making a list. Other times, I'll make a list, and then I don't follow it and end up doing other things.

One of the big things I learned from reading Alexandra's book is why certain checklists don't work for me. It’s the same reason I make a list then don’t follow it!

The Psychology of Checklists and Check Marks

As someone who studied psychology as an undergrad, I love it when books include sections about the psychology behind why we do things. We make checklists for a number of reasons. For me, I love a checklist to get everything out of my brain so I don’t have to work so hard to remember it.

But checklists are also good for keeping projects on task, prioritizing, and getting things done!

I enjoyed the section on the history of the check mark. It’s believed to have started as a “V” in Roman times. This stemmed from the word Veritas, meaning truth. Alexandra says, “during Roman times, putting a ‘V’ next to something indicated ‘it’s truly done’.”

Another thing I enjoyed about the book are images, like the one below, that are included throughout the book. 

The Right Way to Make a Checklist

Before reading this book, I had no idea there was a right way to make a checklist. How to make a checklist correctly depends on your personality as well as the purpose of the checklist.

The way I usually make a checklist is by brain dumping—making a list of everything that’s rolling around in my brain so I’m not stressed about forgetting something. The Franzen Checklist Method is much more than that. The Franzen Method encourages you to make your checklists based on how you want to live your life.

A key difference between how I used to make checklists and The Franzen Method is making sure there are items on the checklist that reflect how I want to live my life. For example, it’s important for me to spend time with my kids every day, so I should put specific things I want to do with them (e.g. read a book, go for a bike ride) on my list.

In her book, Alexandra teaches that it’s best to have a clear purpose for your checklist. The book focuses on the Daily Checklist, but she also discusses checklists for loose-ends, seasonal items, and survival. If you get stuck, there’s a helpful checklist troubleshooting chapter.

The book also includes several sample and blank checklists for you to use. You’ll find sample checklists for students, business owners, parents, and job hunters. Whether you are a pro list-maker or have never made a checklist before, this book will give you something to think about.

So, if you want to make a better checklist and get more done, grab a copy of Alexandra's book! It’s a fun, quick read so you can get straight to work on making your checklist.