The long-awaited follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Getting Things Done.
David Allens Getting Things Doneread full description
David Allens Getting Things Doneread full description
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Sep 03, 2011
Catherine
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The thing that keeps David Allen, developer of the Getting Things Done (GTD) philosophy, from being completely insufferable is that he freely admits to falling down frequently and has purposely developed GTD so that it's easy to get back up to speed.
I'm a little over my promised six-month revisiting of Allen's original book, Getting Things Done and believe me, I have fallen down in the interim. About two weeks ago, I stumbled on this follow up on a bargain table and immediately though More...
I'm a little over my promised six-month revisiting of Allen's original book, Getting Things Done and believe me, I have fallen down in the interim. About two weeks ago, I stumbled on this follow up on a bargain table and immediately though More...
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Feb 10, 2009
Douglas
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Simultaneously inspiring and daunting. One can't help but get the vague sense that this was not an easy go for the author; that he worked very hard to keep it fresh, interesting, and different from his first book, but in the result, it somehow feels a bit laboured, and not exactly light and breezy. Even the hypothetical 'Gracie's Gardens' scenario towards the end seems cheerless. He also seems a bit defensive that, 'Really, folks, this is as simple as I can make it!' That having been said, m
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Jul 17, 2010
Gregory
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Let me start out by saying I loved Mr. Allen's first book "Getting Thing's Done" and have put the practices in to place, have sent employees to his seminar and have generally been a cheerleader.
This book falls flat. This is what it felt like Mr. Allen was saying to me.
1. You DIDN'T understand what I was trying to say in my first two books.
2. You CAN'T understand what it was I was trying to say in my first two books.
3. Let me make try to make th More...
This book falls flat. This is what it felt like Mr. Allen was saying to me.
1. You DIDN'T understand what I was trying to say in my first two books.
2. You CAN'T understand what it was I was trying to say in my first two books.
3. Let me make try to make th More...
Mar 08, 2009
Ron
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This book digs a little deeper into the principles Allen laid out in Getting Things Done, spending a bit more time on each of the steps in his process for dealing with what's on your mind, and on the varying levels of perspective we have on our life, from fundamental principles to that thing we've got to do right now. It's an inspiring system for gaining control and perspective over your life, enabling you to move forward with greater clarity.
I'm still learning to apply GTD consisten More...
I'm still learning to apply GTD consisten More...
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Sep 19, 2011
Mike
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Fantastic discussion about how accomplishing your tasks and keeping your life organized is the REAL secret to work/life balance. We all know that feeling of being "in the zone" and that's the sort of feeling that David Allen wants people to experience as often as possible (he uses the phrase having a "mind like water" to describe it). Allen has a unique perspective that at the end of the day, you just have a list of things you feel like you need to do and you will feel stress
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Dec 03, 2009
Robb
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Good follow up book to his first book "Getting things Done: The art of stress free productivity." This was helpful to solidify some things I had already learned in the GTD system. Will probably read it again in 6-12 months or refer to it. If you feel like you want more control in managing your life, and are willing to to try a whole new system, GTD (Getting Things Done) system is a good one to do. When I am actually implementing the concepts it is very helpful. Staying committed t
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Oct 21, 2009
Todd
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This book, along with Getting Things Done The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, is one of the most influential books for me in terms of reducing stress, increasing productivity, and generally having a much more peaceful worldview.
As a pastor, I am constantly torn between the desire to be productive and to engage in pastoral care with my congregation. Allen has helped me to put all of these things into perspective, and has allowed me to balance the various parts of my life (home an More...
As a pastor, I am constantly torn between the desire to be productive and to engage in pastoral care with my congregation. Allen has helped me to put all of these things into perspective, and has allowed me to balance the various parts of my life (home an More...
Jul 05, 2011
Ian
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I'm really not one for American business gurus and life coaches but Allen's earlier book really did change everything for me. I have an eclectic job and had got used to a life of "slightly swamped". Following Allen's mantra of "getting clear" I now operate on a zero inbox, weekly reviews, contextual to dos, etc and it helps. A lot.
In this sequel Allen reinforces much of what he has said before which I've found useful for reflecting on how it has all gone so far. H More...
In this sequel Allen reinforces much of what he has said before which I've found useful for reflecting on how it has all gone so far. H More...
Apr 16, 2009
Rukshana
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I really liked the first chapter or two of this book and the chapters on perspective toward the end. He expands on the different levels of perspective in this book, something that was lacking somewhat in Getting Things Done. The appendices were really helpful as well - good to have some visual aids to the concepts in the book and it saved me all the notetaking I did with his first book!
David Allen always has something interesting to say, and it amazes me how he can expand so much and More...
David Allen always has something interesting to say, and it amazes me how he can expand so much and More...
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Apr 04, 2009
Rebecca
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For those who have read and/or familiar with Allen's Getting Things Done, this is a great follow-up. If you like Allen's strategies for organization and general productivity, but occasionally find yourself "falling off the wagon," this book will help.
The book elucidates the major mindsets crucial to GTD, but sometimes gets too wrapped up in its philosophical approach. The "horizons of focus" will cloud your system if you worry about implementing them as actual co More...
The book elucidates the major mindsets crucial to GTD, but sometimes gets too wrapped up in its philosophical approach. The "horizons of focus" will cloud your system if you worry about implementing them as actual co More...
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Apr 02, 2010
Garland
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While not as life-chaning as GTD, I thought this was an excellent follow up to GTD. The first part of the book reviewed GTD and was ok. (Though the idea it gave to help young children clean up their mess was worth the price of the book.)
The rest of the book gives you the basics of crafting and reviewing Roles, Goals, Vision and Purpose.
I found Allen's ideas insightful and helpful for thinking about these areas of life. My favorite thing is how practical he is. He never denies the hec More...
The rest of the book gives you the basics of crafting and reviewing Roles, Goals, Vision and Purpose.
I found Allen's ideas insightful and helpful for thinking about these areas of life. My favorite thing is how practical he is. He never denies the hec More...
Sep 19, 2011
Gene
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Making It All Work is a valuable companion to Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, the ultimate guide to getting anything and everything on track. The core tactic to stress-free productivity is to capture EVERYTHING into a trusted system.
The purpose of this volume is to reinforce and deepen the core principles of the first volume -- GTD to the uninitiated. Much of Making It All Work covers the concepts of the five stages of Control and the six stages of Perspecti More...
The purpose of this volume is to reinforce and deepen the core principles of the first volume -- GTD to the uninitiated. Much of Making It All Work covers the concepts of the five stages of Control and the six stages of Perspecti More...
Sep 09, 2010
Paul
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Imagine David Allen got to write his doctoral thesis on the topic of... David Allen. And suppose no one told him he needed an editor... or concrete examples. What would you have?
You'd have Making it All Work, of course: a very insightful, very in-depth exposition of Getting Things Done stuff in which Allen never says "use" when he could say "utilize" (or at least it feels that way). It's for serious scholars of his philosophy. If you pretend you're walking into Al More...
You'd have Making it All Work, of course: a very insightful, very in-depth exposition of Getting Things Done stuff in which Allen never says "use" when he could say "utilize" (or at least it feels that way). It's for serious scholars of his philosophy. If you pretend you're walking into Al More...
May 29, 2009
Kathryn
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I need all the help I can get, when it comes to organizing "the stuff of life and work," so I'm happy to get help from productivity master David Allen. I read his original book, and while it had great information, all the details about how to label files alienated me a bit. This book worked better for me, since he talked more about the big picture.
I have to say that Allen's linguistics give me quite a chuckle, as he talks about his "methodology." My favorite quot More...
I have to say that Allen's linguistics give me quite a chuckle, as he talks about his "methodology." My favorite quot More...
Oct 12, 2010
Reid
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This book is hard to describe. After a cursory glance, it seemed mostly like a less-helpful retread of "Getting Things Done". There's a lot of useful additional content in here, however, particularly the examples of what implementing GTD really looks like and much more fleshing-out of Allen's "Horizons of Focus". The Horizons of Focus (aka Perspective) sections of Getting Things Done were somewhat thin and Making it All Work adds some meat to those bones. I can't say I'd
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Jun 22, 2011
Ryan
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Allen retreads the basic principles of his first book Getting Things Done, then goes on to answer a lot of questions I had about actually implementing his system, as well as going into more detail on the big picture, goal-centric aspects of his process. I recommend reading the first book first, but this is definitely a worthy followup that will be useful to anyone who's fallen off the GTD wagon.
Dec 01, 2010
Mike
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David Allen's second book, Making It All Work, was not nearly as insightful and engaging as Getting Things Done. In fact, it was mostly (80-90%) just a rehash of GTD.
This book is really only appropriate for those who are looking for a little more depth than GTD had to offer. Or that need a kick in the pants to get them moving forward on GTD but don't want to re-read the same book.
This book is really only appropriate for those who are looking for a little more depth than GTD had to offer. Or that need a kick in the pants to get them moving forward on GTD but don't want to re-read the same book.
Jun 16, 2010
Phil
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Building on "GTD," David "clarifies" a bit more on some subjects that were murky or un-touched in the first work. I like where he's going. Personally, I've strugged with adopting his system to my PDA. I guess I will always prefer to write my lists, goals, etc. Also, there's that issue about Murphy's Law and a dead phone battery. Where's my list when I need it?!?
Apr 02, 2011
Ethernight
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This book went beyond the productivity and organizational system introduced in GTD, and focused on the higher levels of life management. It covered many of the things that I had big question marks around at the end of GTD--what about responsibilities, long term goals? How do I make sure I'm keeping track of the things that matter, and not getting mired in the day-to-day tasks?
While it addressed these questions, the tone of the book was both more self-helpey than GTD, and less refin More...
While it addressed these questions, the tone of the book was both more self-helpey than GTD, and less refin More...
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Aug 02, 2010
Jeff
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Making It All Work is a great sequel to Getting Things Done The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. GTD really changed my life and helped me to get control of the things that I'm doing. This book came along just in time to help me broaden my scope of attention and planning just when having control was starting to make me yearn for a bit more direction. I would recommend this book to anyone, but personally I do think it should follow GTD. If I had encountered this book first, I think I would ha
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Jul 22, 2011
Chris
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Great follow up to David's first book, Getting Things Done. This book provides greater clarity to the five phases of workflow combined with the six horizons of focus. Together the phases and horizons bring great control and clarity in life. A must read for those serious about maximizing your one and only life.
Sep 15, 2009
Coral
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A lot of reviews are saying this isn't all that different from Getting Things Done. It's definitely built on the same system - GTD - but digs into the philosophy and motivation behind the system. It also has a great case study for using the system. I borrowed it from the library and listened to it on a long drive.
Oct 24, 2009
Sarah
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Dallin and I and Dallin's parents are reading this book together. I have to admit it has been a harder book for me to read. I am not a huge fan of David Allen's style of writing, but this book is much better than his other book "Getting Things Done." Despite my feelings about the writing, the information I am gaining about how to organize my life is well worth the cost of reading a slow read. I have still not perfected his whole system in my life, but the parts I am already using h
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Aug 05, 2009
Mrs. Riding
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As I take on new roles as the Library Media Instructional Technology Specialist at a junior high school, I read this book to refine my pattern at home and work to get things done. This is the sequel to Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. This book helped me to see how to organize and manage the multiple roles and tasks that I am responsible for. Allen's writing is engaging and sequenced in a manner that is useful to implement the GTD way of life. Finally, there is hope,
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Jan 27, 2011
Cathleen
rated it:
Ehhh. I like David Allen's system, but this book was hard to get through. It tended to be redundant and wordy. He could have edited the book to highlight and explain his core principles and have added additional strategies. It would have been a more productive use of time to reread Getting Things Done.
Jan 24, 2010
Curtis
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Counterpart to getting things done. Well worth the read. If you've read getting things done many of the ideas won't be new. I did find that the way everything was presented helped me cement my understanding of getting things done even better.
Apr 11, 2011
Alon
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This book elaborated on the original GTD book in ways that were sometimes insightful or inspiring but more often seemed rambling and long winded. Thought I would get an update on the original book but ended up wishing I had just read that instead.
Jul 01, 2009
Mike
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I admit that I'm a David Allen fan. I read and re-read his stuff all the time. This book took me some time to get comfortable with. That is, the first couple of chapters seemed too much like Getting Things Done and Ready for Anything. But the further along I got, the more I enjoyed it.
If you haven't read Getting Things Done yet, I'd recommend reading that first, then read Making It All Work. The latter expands on the former to a large degree. But, Allen does a nice job of touching on More...
If you haven't read Getting Things Done yet, I'd recommend reading that first, then read Making It All Work. The latter expands on the former to a large degree. But, Allen does a nice job of touching on More...
Jan 06, 2012
Erin
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Useful followup to Getting Things Done. I will use it to revamp my weekly reviews.
For those who enjoyed GTD. (Read that first if you're interested in list-writing, ubiquitous capture, efficiency, etc.)
For those who enjoyed GTD. (Read that first if you're interested in list-writing, ubiquitous capture, efficiency, etc.)
Jul 27, 2010
James
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I'll probably be re-reading this about once a year. This is a rich book full of gems. Right now I'm really doing pretty good on the day-to-day, but there's a lot more I could be doing about the higher levels.
