Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

Must read book on productivity.

Even though following the entire system of GTD does not fit me personally, there should be at least parts of the system that most people can use in their lives.

It is also inspiring for actually taking action and improving one selfs productivity.

I've had this on my shelf for ages. I first got it after hearing Merlin interviewing David Allen, and soon gave up because his monotonous voice on the audiobook talking about business douchebaggery bored me to tears. In Back to Work #95 LINK, Merlin persuades Dan to read the book as prep for the next show, so I went back to it and listened to it myself. And yep, once again, monotonous voice talking about business douchebaggery. However I did bear it to the end and I didn't learn ANYTHING that I haven't already learned from hearing Merlin talk about productivity. And when I listen to Merlin talking about it, I get so much out of it it's quite ridiculous. I have implemented a lot of GTD into my workflow without having read the book and it helps me tremendously.

So my recommendation to anyone who is not a business douchebag and is wondering whether to read this book, don't bother. Instead, read Merlin's stuff and listen to his podcasts. If you're the corporate boardroom type, maybe give the book a whirl, but if you're not into filing cabinets, golfing weekends and big cigars, Merlin's the go-to guy for you. Start with the podcast linked above, which has loads of links in the shownotes, including Merlin's article on 43folders.com: Getting started with GTD

Finally got through it! I figured out why I put it down halfway through before – the second half is basically just reitaration / in-depth discussion / examples of what he's already established in the first half.

While this may be more useful for high-powered CEOs than the rest of us, there are some good techniques here. I think it's worth reading to see what you might be able to apply to your life. For me, it was the “two minute rule”, universal collection, and the concept of open loops.

It didn't change my life or anything but it did give me more tools and models, always a good thing.

Some Good Advice!: Allen's approach to managing yourself and your world is very good advice on how to be more productive and satisfied. This book is filled with practical, hands-on ideas, tips, tools, and techniques for more effective self-management. Many of us feel overwhelmed and out of control in today's fast-paced world. This book and the book [[ASIN:1434322580 Understanding: Train of Thought]] are great ways to get a handle on all that “stuff” in our lives and figure out how to better manage the flow of information that never seems to stop. Five stars all the way!