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Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and the Business of Life
The companion to the blockbuster bestseller, Getting Things Done .
Since its publication in 2001, Getting Things Done has become, as Time magazine put it, "the defining self-help business book" of the decade. Having inspired millions of readers around the world, it clearly spoke to an urgent need in an increasingly time-pressured society. Now, in the highly anticipated sequel Making It All Work , Allen unlocks the full power of his methods across the entire span of life and work. While Getting Things Done functioned as an essential tool kit, Making It All Work is an invaluable road map, providing both bearings to help you determine where you are in life and directions on how to get to where you want to go.
Since its publication in 2001, Getting Things Done has become, as Time magazine put it, "the defining self-help business book" of the decade. Having inspired millions of readers around the world, it clearly spoke to an urgent need in an increasingly time-pressured society. Now, in the highly anticipated sequel Making It All Work , Allen unlocks the full power of his methods across the entire span of life and work. While Getting Things Done functioned as an essential tool kit, Making It All Work is an invaluable road map, providing both bearings to help you determine where you are in life and directions on how to get to where you want to go.
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
453 people are currently reading
4523 people want to read
About the author
David Allen
84 books1,484 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
David Allen is an American author and productivity consultant. He created the time management method Getting Things Done.
David Allen is an American author and productivity consultant. He created the time management method Getting Things Done.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
March 10, 2020
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 this more academic and less understandable so I can write another book to tell you how you don't understand the complexity of simplicity.
HOWEVER - I would highly recommend getting the book from the library, skipping directly to the appendices, and making copies for personal use. There is some real value in those last 8 - 10 pages.
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 this more academic and less understandable so I can write another book to tell you how you don't understand the complexity of simplicity.
HOWEVER - I would highly recommend getting the book from the library, skipping directly to the appendices, and making copies for personal use. There is some real value in those last 8 - 10 pages.
June 24, 2013
This is billed as a sequel to Allen's Getting Things Done, and as a sequel, it may disappoint those who've already read the first book cover-to-cover, and are desperate for new material. However, as a revision of the original GTD system, it's exactly what I was looking for. Getting Things Done contained a lot of useful information, but was deeply lacking in some places: the horizons of focus, for one, were mentioned, but not really expanded on, and I was left with the feeling I was supposed to be engaging on another level without really knowing how.
GTD's shortcoming, though, is where MIAW shines, however. The presentation of the GTD system is revised and streamlined, with less emphasis on Allen's recommended tools, and more on the system itself, and how it interacts with the bigger-picture things -- goals and principles that can't easily be turned into next actions.
I'd highly recommend both books: GTD is wonderful for people who have some idea of where they're going but need help taking control of their projects and dealing with the huge pile of unsettled stuff that can accumulate in their lives, while MIAW is really great for those of use who have no clue what we need to be doing and why, while still providing the necessary tools to deal with that terrifying stuff-backlog.
GTD's shortcoming, though, is where MIAW shines, however. The presentation of the GTD system is revised and streamlined, with less emphasis on Allen's recommended tools, and more on the system itself, and how it interacts with the bigger-picture things -- goals and principles that can't easily be turned into next actions.
I'd highly recommend both books: GTD is wonderful for people who have some idea of where they're going but need help taking control of their projects and dealing with the huge pile of unsettled stuff that can accumulate in their lives, while MIAW is really great for those of use who have no clue what we need to be doing and why, while still providing the necessary tools to deal with that terrifying stuff-backlog.
November 4, 2017
Listening to this again after a number of years, I realize that David Allen's advice has been very valuable. For example, a "next action" at the end of every meeting has made me and those I work with qualitatively more effective. This seems obvious now, but I had not seen it modeled in meetings I went to. I just used the "Control/Perspective" model this past week again to help with a management issue. Allen's advice is what you might call "life hacks" for the current environment of decision-overload that many people face. This is a niche different from Covey, Carnegie and other business self-help.
The presentation involves annoyances like repetitive use of catch phrases, but the content is worth it.
The presentation involves annoyances like repetitive use of catch phrases, but the content is worth it.
April 4, 2009
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 components, rather than a way to encapsulate the entire GTD process. If you are interested in GTD as a system, I recommend that you start with the book of the same title, rather than this one.
The book contains some very helpful appendices, including a "project planning trigger list" to make sure that your mind dumps are complete, leaving no stone unturned.
Allen uses this book to address his critics, and does an admirable job. Much of the criticism of GTD has been aimed at purists or those who take Allen's ideas to an extreme. Allen allows for a certain amount of flexibility and custom-tailoring (indeed, mandates it) and this book will help you do that.
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 components, rather than a way to encapsulate the entire GTD process. If you are interested in GTD as a system, I recommend that you start with the book of the same title, rather than this one.
The book contains some very helpful appendices, including a "project planning trigger list" to make sure that your mind dumps are complete, leaving no stone unturned.
Allen uses this book to address his critics, and does an admirable job. Much of the criticism of GTD has been aimed at purists or those who take Allen's ideas to an extreme. Allen allows for a certain amount of flexibility and custom-tailoring (indeed, mandates it) and this book will help you do that.
January 11, 2016
I strongly recommend this book if you read the first and have been working at applying GTD for a year or more. I first tried to read this about a year after I had read the first GTD book, and put it down in disappointment. I was caught up in the fussiness of realising GTD through software (Org-Mode in this case): an easy mistake to make, given how much is written on the web from this point of view, and also just how much wrangling with messy and incomplete commitments I encountered. Coming back to this book after several more years made all the difference.
There are two reasons for this. First, this book cleans up some of the thinking and terminology around the control aspects of the approach, and greatly clarifies the perspective aspects. Since, by his own admission, the author has carefully organised what might be taken to be common sense, it is unsurprising that it requires experience with the process to understand the subtleties. Second, only in this book did I begin to understand how radical a proposition this approach really is. I wish this was more forcefully argued. The most common criticism you will hear of GTD is that it is just too much micro management of lists. As I understand it now, this is almost entirely incorrect.
There are two reasons for this. First, this book cleans up some of the thinking and terminology around the control aspects of the approach, and greatly clarifies the perspective aspects. Since, by his own admission, the author has carefully organised what might be taken to be common sense, it is unsurprising that it requires experience with the process to understand the subtleties. Second, only in this book did I begin to understand how radical a proposition this approach really is. I wish this was more forcefully argued. The most common criticism you will hear of GTD is that it is just too much micro management of lists. As I understand it now, this is almost entirely incorrect.
April 3, 2015
This book feels influenced by critics of Getting Things Done. Much of it feels like he's saying, "yes this is common sense, yes it could be simplified, yes it could be more complicated, etc BUT." So parts are essay about those BUT's to critics. This book does not stand on its own. You really must have read Getting Things Done. Because it was fresh in my mind, I liked a lot in here. Just wish there was something new and thought provoking. It's always good to refresh yourself, but I was hoping for more. You're getting just slightly more reading this than you would rereading Getting Things Done. Maybe.
July 9, 2020
This is a really good follow-up to Getting Things Done. GTD is very tactical and detailed about setting up an organizational system. This talks about the same system, but it's much more meta—how to think about and engage with the process. It goes into much more depth about the goal-setting side of things.
If you haven't read GTD, read that first, or at least have it on hand. I don't think audiobooks of these would work as well: you'll want to pause to think and make notes, and there are a bunch of diagrams that really help with visualizing what's going on. This is the kind of content that I really want in a physical book, so I easily re-read sections and refer back to other parts of the book, and to the appendices.
When you read this, have two sheets of paper handy (or two Google docs or whatever you use). You'll want one to take notes on the book—capture insights and summarize the framework—and one to jot down all the things in your mental to-do list that pop into your head. Reading this will trigger all sorts of "oh right, I need to deal with that thing" thoughts; have somewhere to write them down. You have to do a bit of GTD Capturing just to get through it.
As with any self-improvement book, there's a level of "this will change your life" hucksterism that you just gotta roll with. And he may not be entirely wrong about that. I've never had the self-discipline to stick with this system, but even the bits and pieces I have managed to hold onto are a huge help in keeping my act together.
If you haven't read GTD, read that first, or at least have it on hand. I don't think audiobooks of these would work as well: you'll want to pause to think and make notes, and there are a bunch of diagrams that really help with visualizing what's going on. This is the kind of content that I really want in a physical book, so I easily re-read sections and refer back to other parts of the book, and to the appendices.
When you read this, have two sheets of paper handy (or two Google docs or whatever you use). You'll want one to take notes on the book—capture insights and summarize the framework—and one to jot down all the things in your mental to-do list that pop into your head. Reading this will trigger all sorts of "oh right, I need to deal with that thing" thoughts; have somewhere to write them down. You have to do a bit of GTD Capturing just to get through it.
As with any self-improvement book, there's a level of "this will change your life" hucksterism that you just gotta roll with. And he may not be entirely wrong about that. I've never had the self-discipline to stick with this system, but even the bits and pieces I have managed to hold onto are a huge help in keeping my act together.
July 20, 2020
To achieve your goals effectively, you have to go through two steps: first, you need to organize all tasks and requirements and turn them into feasible to-dos, and second, you have to align all of these tasks and projects with your larger goals. This way you can make sure that what you are doing is actually helping you achieve your goals (Blinkist, 2020).
January 15, 2018
It was alright. It's a sequel. Add a few things. Repeat a few things. Make a few more bucks on GTD. Overall GTD changed my life, in the sense that I'm much more organized. This wasn't a mind blowing addition but a good one. Start with GTD first though.
November 11, 2015
This book is truly the book I needed at this time. Having accumulated more and more responsibilities and areas of focus in my career over the last three years, I have found it difficult to ‘keep up’ with all the things that need to be done. I have heard of GTD before, but haven’t read the book. I think this may have made it a little harder to take everything in as I read, but I still feel like this was the best book for giving me clarity in the possibility of making it all work.
The Control/Perspective graphic given at the beginning of most chapters is very helpful as you move through the book. I’ve found myself many times thinking through what categories are appropriate for tracking tasks and projects, and also thinking and researching which tools might lend themselves to my life now. One of the beneficial things that I have taken away from the book is the subcategories of next actions by context. I will need to refine and clearly define some of them for me, but it was very comforting to start using them on a to-do app knowing that they are time-tested.
I am glad that I bought this book, as I marked it up pretty good and stick-noted pages and will need to go back to it as I develop in my use of the system. While I am definitely a beginner, I look forward to putting the ideas and structures from the book into action and I already feel like my life will be less chaotic, and more under control and in perspective.
Highly recommended for those feeling like they are always emergency scanning, plugging up leaks, and fighting fires as they pop up!
The Control/Perspective graphic given at the beginning of most chapters is very helpful as you move through the book. I’ve found myself many times thinking through what categories are appropriate for tracking tasks and projects, and also thinking and researching which tools might lend themselves to my life now. One of the beneficial things that I have taken away from the book is the subcategories of next actions by context. I will need to refine and clearly define some of them for me, but it was very comforting to start using them on a to-do app knowing that they are time-tested.
I am glad that I bought this book, as I marked it up pretty good and stick-noted pages and will need to go back to it as I develop in my use of the system. While I am definitely a beginner, I look forward to putting the ideas and structures from the book into action and I already feel like my life will be less chaotic, and more under control and in perspective.
Highly recommended for those feeling like they are always emergency scanning, plugging up leaks, and fighting fires as they pop up!
February 9, 2020
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 have been left flat. But with both the control and motivation that came out of adopting the system of the first book, this book added a great deal of clarity about where one might go from there.
2015: I used some of the chapters in this book as part of periodic reviews, but I really enjoyed reading this book again, cover-to-cover. For a half a decade the principles covered in David Allen's books have been the core of my approach to productivity.
2015: I used some of the chapters in this book as part of periodic reviews, but I really enjoyed reading this book again, cover-to-cover. For a half a decade the principles covered in David Allen's books have been the core of my approach to productivity.
September 11, 2017
Marking It All Work is a continuation of the GTD work that Allen has done continuing on the theme of how to make life and work more productive. I am not a strict adherent to GTD but maybe do 60% of the tasks that Allen recommends and even just doing that has been great to focus me into what I am trying to achieve and create.
The main things I took out of the book:
- Have a place where you write everything. This one has helped me the most as it empties out my head of all the ideas good and bad.
- Have next actions for tasks that you need to do. This way your tasks have logical next actions that either you or someone else can do.
- Create a weekly review where you review all the projects that you have on hand and attempt to go through and close, redefine or finish them.
There is other stuff but all of that is better explained in other books. But just doing the three things above has helped me be more focused.
The main things I took out of the book:
- Have a place where you write everything. This one has helped me the most as it empties out my head of all the ideas good and bad.
- Have next actions for tasks that you need to do. This way your tasks have logical next actions that either you or someone else can do.
- Create a weekly review where you review all the projects that you have on hand and attempt to go through and close, redefine or finish them.
There is other stuff but all of that is better explained in other books. But just doing the three things above has helped me be more focused.
January 12, 2010
My productive advice for the day is to read Getting Things Done and call it done. There's nothing really wrong with the book, it just isn't necessary.
December 18, 2017
Good information and relevant anecdotes. A good way to revisit the principles and philosophy behind Getting Things Done in greater depth. Some other reviewers feel this is unnecessary, that the original GTD book has everything you need, and it should be easy to decide for yourself which camp you're in.
My only major criticism is it feels like David Allen wants you to know how smart he is by beating you over the head with his vocabulary. It's not that the words are inappropriate or used incorrectly. But many such phrases stacked one after another can be tiresome and diminishes the message they contain. A mixture of simpler, shorter phrases and sentences would increase the value of this book.
My only major criticism is it feels like David Allen wants you to know how smart he is by beating you over the head with his vocabulary. It's not that the words are inappropriate or used incorrectly. But many such phrases stacked one after another can be tiresome and diminishes the message they contain. A mixture of simpler, shorter phrases and sentences would increase the value of this book.
January 12, 2025
This was a re-read, and I definitely got new things out of it this time around. I was able to refine my personal GTD system, especially at the levels of Purpose, Vision and Goals. I found myself really appreciating the case study that's provided, which I don't remember finding so useful on the first reading.
August 11, 2017
So the basic is that write what you think on paper and organise your self. simple
June 24, 2022
This book helped me identify and clarify the need to define a consistent and effective system to collect, review and execute tasks. While reading the book I managed to think and develop my own process and structure which is now an extremely effective and integral aspect of my profession life.
October 23, 2022
Lectura obligada para todos los que llevamos entre 1 o 2 años con el método GTD, es un libro que complementa y nos enseña de nuevo a tener una visión correcta de todos los procesos de GTD.
Clarifica muy bien los horizontes más diarios como “la pista de aterrizaje” hasta los “15.000 metros”.
Clarifica muy bien los horizontes más diarios como “la pista de aterrizaje” hasta los “15.000 metros”.
September 25, 2012
"Making It All Work: Winning At The Game Of Work And The Business Of Life" by David Allen is a follow up and companion book to his widely popular "Getting Things Done." If you have read the first book, and want a little extra on the same principles, with some further guidance in them, you may enjoy this book. If you are looking for something completely different, or expanded on, you may be disappointed.
The book does repeat the same concepts, so if you have not read the first book, you won't be lost. There is a bit of a different framework with the principles he teaches, with different horizons of focus, which essentially is a way to look at the various areas of your life in the immediate to the larger long range picture. It's a good model, and if you do look at your life through these horizons, you will undoubtedly begin to define those activities that are important and what needs to be done to achieve your goals.
The book starts out with chapters on the GTD system, and the chapters on the main concepts of capturing, clarifying, organizing, reflecting, and engaging. Then there's a chapter on applying the concepts to life and work, followed by chapters on getting perspective on various levels of your life. It ends with a summary and description of making it all work in the real world.
Sometimes, people get caught up looking for the "new" or "better" system. If you purchase this book looking for that, after already having read "Getting Things Done," again you will be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a complementary text on the principles found in the first book, along with some repetition, but also with some additional direction, this book may fit the bill for you nicely. Especially if it has been a while since you read the earlier work and have drifted away from the application of some of the strategies and principles. The review and the motivating words in this book will help you get back on track.
I find reading these kinds of books help keep me on track. Even if I know the principles, sometimes I don't act on them. Reading books on productivity help me stay on track, and I also pick up little nuggets and gems that I incorporate into my planning, scheduling, and organizing to help me be more efficient. So I liked the book, and enjoyed the quick read and review.
The book does repeat the same concepts, so if you have not read the first book, you won't be lost. There is a bit of a different framework with the principles he teaches, with different horizons of focus, which essentially is a way to look at the various areas of your life in the immediate to the larger long range picture. It's a good model, and if you do look at your life through these horizons, you will undoubtedly begin to define those activities that are important and what needs to be done to achieve your goals.
The book starts out with chapters on the GTD system, and the chapters on the main concepts of capturing, clarifying, organizing, reflecting, and engaging. Then there's a chapter on applying the concepts to life and work, followed by chapters on getting perspective on various levels of your life. It ends with a summary and description of making it all work in the real world.
Sometimes, people get caught up looking for the "new" or "better" system. If you purchase this book looking for that, after already having read "Getting Things Done," again you will be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a complementary text on the principles found in the first book, along with some repetition, but also with some additional direction, this book may fit the bill for you nicely. Especially if it has been a while since you read the earlier work and have drifted away from the application of some of the strategies and principles. The review and the motivating words in this book will help you get back on track.
I find reading these kinds of books help keep me on track. Even if I know the principles, sometimes I don't act on them. Reading books on productivity help me stay on track, and I also pick up little nuggets and gems that I incorporate into my planning, scheduling, and organizing to help me be more efficient. So I liked the book, and enjoyed the quick read and review.
Read
February 20, 2016I read and enjoyed Getting Things Done a few years ago, and implemented his system in my own way, unsuccessful in the end, but knowing. This is like a brand extension of his first book, adding a bit where things were not made clear in the original, and repeating some of the basics. Sort of a Double-Stuf Oreo of a book. Like the Double Stuf, I found this one not very necessary when you have the original, but there are circumstances where it has some value. For me, that was mostly for topics relating to ticklers and dealing with the longer term. And, like always, I liked to read about others on “the GTD way” and being successful in getting organized. I always hope I can determine the secrets to their success, but unfortunately its always persistence, and that’s what I lack.
I listened on audio, and the version I have did not have an appendices. Others have mentioned in their reviews that the appendices were valuable, so you may want to check out a non-audio version. I did appreciate that the author/narrator took a long time to describe a 2x2 matrix in detail. Usually, things like that in the paper book are just ignored on the audio rendition.
I listened on audio, and the version I have did not have an appendices. Others have mentioned in their reviews that the appendices were valuable, so you may want to check out a non-audio version. I did appreciate that the author/narrator took a long time to describe a 2x2 matrix in detail. Usually, things like that in the paper book are just ignored on the audio rendition.
November 5, 2015
Do Davida Allena nie mogę podejść obojętnie. Jestem fanem.
Z GTD jest trochę tak, że do pełnej aplikacji systemu trzeba dojrzeć. Mój pierwszy kontakt to jakieś 10 lat temu i pełna koncentracja na operacyjnej części GTD - listy zadań, projektów, archiwum, proces itp. Im dalej w las tym bardziej czuję potrzebę skorzystania ze strategicznych elementów systemu - horyzonty skupienia, cele wizja itp. Jednocześnie jestem mocno zainteresowany pogłębieniem wiedzy na temat wszystkich elementów, które już stosuję, nie zawsze z pełnym sukcesem.
"Making It All Work" czytam drugi raz. Świetne uzupełnienie podstawowej książki "Getting Things Done", które:
- lepiej tłumaczy, dlaczego GTD działa
- dokładniej opisuje strategiczny wymiar systemu
- odpowiada na zarzuty przeciwników GTD
Nie ma sensu sięgnąć, jak nie zna się oryginalnej książki opisującej podstawy systemu. Nie ma sensu również czytać, jeśli nie ma się pewnych doświadczeń w korzystaniu z GTD. Przy tych dwóch warunkach spełnionych - świetne. Ale wiem, jestem fanem. :)
Z GTD jest trochę tak, że do pełnej aplikacji systemu trzeba dojrzeć. Mój pierwszy kontakt to jakieś 10 lat temu i pełna koncentracja na operacyjnej części GTD - listy zadań, projektów, archiwum, proces itp. Im dalej w las tym bardziej czuję potrzebę skorzystania ze strategicznych elementów systemu - horyzonty skupienia, cele wizja itp. Jednocześnie jestem mocno zainteresowany pogłębieniem wiedzy na temat wszystkich elementów, które już stosuję, nie zawsze z pełnym sukcesem.
"Making It All Work" czytam drugi raz. Świetne uzupełnienie podstawowej książki "Getting Things Done", które:
- lepiej tłumaczy, dlaczego GTD działa
- dokładniej opisuje strategiczny wymiar systemu
- odpowiada na zarzuty przeciwników GTD
Nie ma sensu sięgnąć, jak nie zna się oryginalnej książki opisującej podstawy systemu. Nie ma sensu również czytać, jeśli nie ma się pewnych doświadczeń w korzystaniu z GTD. Przy tych dwóch warunkach spełnionych - świetne. Ale wiem, jestem fanem. :)
July 14, 2015
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 add value to what he has already said about GTD. I like that his defintion of work is broad and applies to working life and to personal life - I certainly feel like my personal life is "work!"
I would definitely like to reread this book sometime in the future. You should read Getting Things Done first before you read this book because he spends more time there talking about the nuts and bolts of his system.
David Allen always has something interesting to say, and it amazes me how he can expand so much and add value to what he has already said about GTD. I like that his defintion of work is broad and applies to working life and to personal life - I certainly feel like my personal life is "work!"
I would definitely like to reread this book sometime in the future. You should read Getting Things Done first before you read this book because he spends more time there talking about the nuts and bolts of his system.
May 21, 2014
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 refined. The "horizons of focus" seemed much more hand-wavey and arbitrary than the GTD system. Even after referring to the material repeatedly, I've had trouble figuring out how to apply the horizons of focus to my life.
It seems like a good attempt at addressing important and challenging questions, but ultimately I felt that it fell short.
Read:
* February 27, 2011 - March 5, 2011
* April 13, 2014 -
While it addressed these questions, the tone of the book was both more self-helpey than GTD, and less refined. The "horizons of focus" seemed much more hand-wavey and arbitrary than the GTD system. Even after referring to the material repeatedly, I've had trouble figuring out how to apply the horizons of focus to my life.
It seems like a good attempt at addressing important and challenging questions, but ultimately I felt that it fell short.
Read:
* February 27, 2011 - March 5, 2011
* April 13, 2014 -
March 9, 2009
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 consistently, but every step forward I take with it has been really helpful, and this book did a good job of setting me straight on why that is, and what I still have to gain.
I'm still learning to apply GTD consistently, but every step forward I take with it has been really helpful, and this book did a good job of setting me straight on why that is, and what I still have to gain.
September 16, 2011
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 and angst over those things whether they are personal or professional.
Highly recommended for anyone who feels like they have too much stress in their life or has too much to do. You'll quickly realize that the issue is not quantity of to-do's, but organizing and gaining the proper perspective on them!
Highly recommended for anyone who feels like they have too much stress in their life or has too much to do. You'll quickly realize that the issue is not quantity of to-do's, but organizing and gaining the proper perspective on them!
August 22, 2016
Mi sembra doveroso un chiarimento: il contenuto del libro merita 5 stelle. Il metodo GTD è il consiglio professionale più efficace che abbia mai ricevuto. Le 3 stelle si riferiscono alla qualità del libro: trattandosi di una rivisitazione di Detto, fatto! L'arte dell'efficienza, dopo circa due decenni di applicazione, mi sarei aspettato qualcosa di più quanto a sintesi nell'esposizione e concretezza nei consigli.
Resta che, se non conoscete il GTD, almeno uno dei due libri dovete proprio leggerlo!
Resta che, se non conoscete il GTD, almeno uno dei due libri dovete proprio leggerlo!
May 9, 2012
Now I've read Getting Things Done and implemented the GTD process. I though this book would help explain some things I may have not focused entirely on and help me reach the mind like water stage. Not only did it explain those areas, it helped me focus on every area I was weak in but didn't realize it. This book re-energized the entire process and I thought I was already excited for the process before that. thank you, thank you, thank you!
July 20, 2020
It's the second time I read this book. The last time was 6 years ago.
It's a great if you're already familiar with the GTD method since it connects the 5 steps workflow (capture, clarify, organize, reflect, engage) to the higher horizons (projects, areas of focus, goals, vision, purpose & principles). So it's the glue between Control and Perspective.
I loved re-reading it. It gave me some powerful insights and a deeper understanding of the GTD processes and how it can evolve over time.
It's a great if you're already familiar with the GTD method since it connects the 5 steps workflow (capture, clarify, organize, reflect, engage) to the higher horizons (projects, areas of focus, goals, vision, purpose & principles). So it's the glue between Control and Perspective.
I loved re-reading it. It gave me some powerful insights and a deeper understanding of the GTD processes and how it can evolve over time.
January 28, 2011
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.
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October 1, 2018Update: I’ll take this one out of the reread cycle. It lacks any additional insight for me beyond the other two books, and it’s the longest. This time around felt like plain rehash rather than good reminders or fresh inspiration.
This one's 3.5 for me but I include it when I reread the series every few years.
This one's 3.5 for me but I include it when I reread the series every few years.
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