Getting Things Done : The Art Of Stress-Free Productivity

Rating:
Summary: Excellent productivity system
Review: I have tried many time management systems but this is the best. It works like a charm. I had a pile of emails in my in-box, a cluttered desk and was coming home at 9 pm to my family before I made the commitment to optimize my time. Now my inbox is clear, my desk is organized and I'm home at 7 pm. I discovered this great book and achieved my leap in productivity after reading Optimal Thinking: How To Be Your Best Self. I learned how to eliminate self-sabotage and make the most of every situation from Optimal Thinking. Getting Things Done showed me how to organize minutia that bogged me down at home and at work. Don't wait another second. Read both of these books and you will never settle for second rate again.

Rating:
Summary: GOOD BUT A BIT COMPLEX
Review: Author David Allen states the obvious...we will all be more productive if we are more organized, both in our work and our lives outside of work. Ok, that's not exactly earth-shaking news. It's the actualy getting organized part that leaves most people stumped.

Allen is focused on in-boxes, both literally and figuretively. Our in boxes being not only the things on our desks, but applying to anything task we need to do in our lives no matter how mundane. Allen has what he refers to as the "Two Minute Rule" wherein if there's anything you absolutely must do that you can do right now in two minutes or less, then do it now, thus freeing up your time and mind tenfold over the long term. That makes perfect sense. And that is what this book is in broadest terms: common sense. These are things you probably know but just may no know the best way to organize them.

The book is very "system oriented" with all sorts of clever phrase-ology. These books always are, but Allen provides a simple one page flowchart that you can use as a reference on your desk or maybe even the fridge that you can always refer to without having to consult the book and that flowchart is the most valuable part of the book.

Well done!

Rating:
Summary: Does Anyone Have The Time To Do This System?
Review: Anyone who has the time to do Allen's system does not have a time management problem. This approach would be attractive to productivity experts, but is simply unworkable to the average over-worked Sally or Joe. It takes three hours a week just to feed this system and keep it going! I laid awake at night trying to figure out if an e-mail goes in @computer or @work? I could never find anything after I followed his system. Maybe it's me, but I believe there is better time management advice out there.

Rating:
Summary: Good organizational concepts
Review: Getting Things Done is hot right now and with good reason. We all have too much on our minds and on our plates. This book will help you cut through the clutter. (If you want to get a taste of the author's way of thinking, check out his website. Just do a Google search for "David Allen". The flowchart that is the core of his system is provided there.)

Rating:
Summary: Roadmap for Better Sleep
Review: The bane of my existence is that I often feel that I lack the time and energy to complete everything required of me, both personally and professionally. Mr. Allen presents a fairly convincing argument that the best thing you can do is to scrap your "to-do" lists and adopt a system that allows you to process information on a ongoing systematic basis. He believes that most people bog down in their efforts to reduce their burdens because they are relying too much on their memories and not enough on a system that allows them to retrieve and process information. I've only started to put his suggestions into practice but already believe that I've become more efficient in processing the vast amount of paperwork that comes across my desk on a daily basis. I probably will never achieve the level of mastery needed to fully capitalize upon his system, but I feel better for whatever progress I make.

Rating:
Summary: mind like water!
Review: This book is a great book, a life-saver for anxious, overworked people. I now get more done, but with less anxiety ("mind like water", as David puts it). I was an obsessive list-maker, but his system and suggestions helped me control my lists (instead of vice versa). Some people might think this book covers "obvious common sense", but knowing about something and knowing how to put it into action are OCEANS apart. I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Coping with Information overlead
Review: I have used many time mangement resources over the years. This is definitely the best system I have come across. I recommending reading Optimal Thinking: How To Be Your Best Self as well to learn how to maintain focus on the best actions to achieve what is most important.

Rating:
Summary: I like its "Martial Art" idea
Review: I read this book in 2002/4. Now, it totally changes my life.
Before this book, I admit I have problem in organizing my projects, and I was often driven crazy by un-expected surprises in my career. After this book, I spent about 3 days to read this book, I become more organized, sensitive, & creative...and more productivity. and thereafter, I've got a new job as a marketing manager to supervise a team about 10 guys. It's so crazy, but it's true that I can remeber all the projects I assigned to my staffs, and discuss with them the projects details. I am still learning this book, I appreciate his "Martial Art" idea. I get to say, "this book is really useful", deserving read again & again.