Ready For Anything (2003), David Allen
Ready for Anything is the second book by David Allen that I found unengaging in majority. Allen does present some practical ideas for clearing the mind, organization and planning which can be summed up with these four parts found on the back jacket of the book:
-Clear your head for creativity
-Focus your attention
-Create structures that work
-Take action to get things moving

To begin to make sense of the whopping 52 subtopics (mysteriously an equal 13 subtopics per part, but I digress) for the four parts its almost neccessary to do one of two things to make sense of it all:
-Read one subtopic per week
-Read this book at least twice

I recommend the first option because I do not feel Allen's books are worth reading twice. If your experience with his work is like mind, you will find empty treasures with an occassional gem. The real gems I found were in the quotes in the margin luring my attention away from body of the book throughout my experience. Here is a strategy for navigating this book for the best return on investment, which I consider a balance of maximizing learning without wasting your time: Read each subtopic, the italicized summary directly beneath and accompanying quotes while skipping the body.

Prior to opening the book, my already impressed view of David Allen was skewed even more. Using a technique described in 10 Days to Faster Reading, I read the front and back of the book to better understand the context of the book and its author. What I found was a quote by several people used to sell readers like me on the validity of the methods described within. One of the quotes was by Arianna Huffington. Arianna Huffington?!? Please!!! On the book jackets she says, "What a sensible dose of common sense!…David Allen is a master at marrying the sensible with the sublime." Of course I would expect this to fly over the heads of most readers specifically leftfield liberals, but upon hearing Arianna Huffington debate in several forums and considering her biography I wouldn't credit her with sensibility or an expert on marriage. For Allen to use a Huffington quote as a creditable source on this subject greatly defaces his credit and integrity. Following up a mediocre at best experience with Getting Things Done, my overall experience with Ready For Anything is in line with my original sentiments for David Allen's work.