Getting Things Done

The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

By: David Allen

Narrated by: David Allen

In today's world of exponentially increased communication and responsibility, yesterday's methods for staying on top just don't work. Veteran management consultant and trainer David Allen recognizes that "time management" is useless the minute your schedule is interrupted; "setting priorities" isn't relevant when your e-mail is down; "procrastination solutions" won't help if your goals aren't clear.

Allen's premise is simple: our ability to be productive is directly proportional to our ability to relax. Only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized can we achieve stress-free productivity and unleash our creative potential. He teaches us how to:

Apply the "do it, delegate it, defer it, drop it" rule to get your in-box empty.

Reassess goals and stay focused in changing situations.

Overcome feelings of confusion, anxiety, and being overwhelmed.

Feel fine about what you're not doing.

From core principles to proven tricks, Getting Things Done has the potential to transform the way you work - and the way you experience work. At any level of implementation, David Allen's entertaining and thought-provoking advice shows you how to pick up the pace without wearing yourself down.

©2002 David Allen, All Rights Reserved (P)2002 Simon & Schuster Inc., SOUND IDEAS Is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"[Allen is] the personal productivity guru." (Fast Company)

Good content - may not be best format

I thought the information was great, but I found the subject matter difficult to digest in the audiobook format. I would recommend picking up the $15 paperback instead.

AWESOME

This book is amazing. It not only provides excellent, practicle tips but it's well written and extremely engaging. I thought that his discussion on why we feel bad when we don't get things done is especially illuminating because it helped me to understand how to achieve the "stress-free" aspect of productivity. As a young working woman who is about to have a baby, understanding how to get more done in less time with less stress is important to me, and this book has definitely helped me to achieve this goal.

Pracatical Things that Work

When he describes how busy people do things wrong that sabotage their own efficiency it was like he watched me every day, to use me as his model. The things he advocates are not hard, but do take discipline. I've been doing this now for only a couple of weeks, but have noticed a drastic difference in how much I can get accomplished. It drastically cuts down that time I used to spend thinking to myself "man there is so much to do, where do I start". The simple aspect that seemed to help quite a bit is instead of creating lists of "stuff" to spend a couple more seconds and actually think through the next action step and capature that as well. It makes it so much easier to actually do it.

Very do-able

This was a great book to listen to while driving to work. It got me psyched up to get organized so that by the time I arrived I was ready to sort and file. Written in a single voice and being a "how-to" manual, it was especially easy to stop and start the book without having to re-read sections to remember where I was as I worked through it day-to-day. There were some good ideas for saving time and getting organized. At the conclusion, I made my three piles of papers and acquired my folders. I now sort through my collected papers once a week.

This is the kind of book that I could read again. I can imagine wanting a refresher in a couple of months...about the time tax preparation starts. While I would not go to the extreme of doing everything that the author suggests, I picked up some little tips and procedures to improve my organization without radically changing my life or work style. I found this book useful and actionable. Very do-able.

Uncomplicated, Sound Advice

Heard this audio-book as someone who might not know you well, but is trying to provide sound, well-rounded advice to endure with the ambient stress that clutters our everyday lives. It was very good for the author to outline the constant resurgent guilt and stress we create for ourselves by not addressing our mostly self-appointed chores in a non-constructive manner.

It was difficult sometimes to visualize some of the author's suggestions in audio form and I did wind up reversing the cd a few times. Yet, I found myself nodding in agreement with his simple and clear reasoning.

This should be considered a very positive review in that I still remember the author's suggestions (especially when I'm feeling frustrated and not doing them! :)).

What a difference

I first purchased this book thinking that it might help but I was skeptical. Then after listening to it the first time I realized it had real value. I started implementing the technique and found a big difference in my productivity as well as my reduced stress. That was over a year ago. In the last month I reviewed the book. Not only did I find new information hidden in there but I also found a rejuvenated self wanting to implement this system to its full capability. I have been using this system in full for the last 3 weeks and I have found that I am not only getting things done but am at greater peace with myself. I now know what I am not doing and it is OK!

A must read

"There's a place for everything and everything is in its place". Do the same thing with your thoughts and watch your life being transformed!
This books blends Eastern philosophy and Western methodology for increased productivity.

Very useful and practical

After listening for the first time I have already developed a system from projects to next action steps to outcomes. I already feel so much more relaxed that things are getting done for myself and that my colleagues can count on me to do the same. Excellent book for someone who is in A role where “getting things done” is the number one objective.

Simply GREAT

Very useful: it will help you reduce your stress with the "next-actions" method!

A classic on time management

Virgin it’s a little bit outdated in that it talks about files and file folder using filing cabinets. But the concepts are still valid in an iPhone era