Baobab - Shop now
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows.
Buy new:
-46% $10.79
FREE delivery Friday, June 13 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$10.79 with 46 percent savings
List Price: $20.00
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Friday, June 13 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Tomorrow, June 9. Order within 21 hrs 14 mins.
Arrives 6 days before Father's Day
In Stock
$$10.79 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$10.79
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$8.82
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Has some minor shelf wear, pages are clean, all text is legible. Has some minor shelf wear, pages are clean, all text is legible. See less
FREE delivery June 27 - July 3 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery June 27 - July 1
Arrives after Father's Day. Need a gift sooner? Send an Amazon Gift Card instantly by email or text message.
$$10.79 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$10.79
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity Paperback – March 17, 2015

4.5 out of 5 stars 10,139 ratings

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$10.79","priceAmount":10.79,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"10","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"79","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"VkFAjjF0I8jRGnwEREWwsQf2g0K8tupY58fBSj5RbrTVFxK0HqkcUS1uLFvi5PaDOxLNGTbqToJr4mt4Yhppo7I1Wod8lS1ufKjPeSenQ0NczWTLYAa1JdwzDUBwpXMlK23hMQ0WKZbI6q%2FeAseH1A%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$8.82","priceAmount":8.82,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"82","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"VkFAjjF0I8jRGnwEREWwsQf2g0K8tupY3wLy4fG%2FYZl%2FzPm%2FVf%2F0sV1Wq7KcmgX7lkmDuoi%2BNLjSkPGBzHLaPe1u6p8eUud1cVECgL7PtGlyxbbQp95e48oqLJgfm6dtxE37uiMHII5F5jN2SJBUnT%2B5thNgznl2iNqpJ7dB6zjqU5hfdJVldqQKlXydrDte","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

The book Lifehack calls "The Bible of business and personal productivity."

"A completely revised and updated edition of the blockbuster bestseller from 'the personal productivity guru'"
Fast Company

Since it was first published almost fifteen years ago, David Allen’s
Getting Things Done has become one of the most influential business books of its era, and the ultimate book on personal organization. “GTD” is now shorthand for an entire way of approaching professional and personal tasks, and has spawned an entire culture of websites, organizational tools, seminars, and offshoots.
 
Allen has rewritten the book from start to finish, tweaking his classic text with important perspectives on the new workplace, and adding material that will make the book fresh and relevant for years to come. This new edition of
Getting Things Done will be welcomed not only by its hundreds of thousands of existing fans but also by a whole new generation eager to adopt its proven principles.
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.

Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.

Frequently bought together

This item: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
$10.79
Get it as soon as Friday, Jun 13
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$9.49
Get it as soon as Friday, Jun 13
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$16.33
Get it as soon as Friday, Jun 13
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.
Popular Highlights in this book

From the Publisher

From the author of GETTING THINGS DONE: Team by David Allen and Edward Lamont

Editorial Reviews

Review

“I am a devout, card-carrying GTD true believer. . . . The entire approach has boosted not only my productivity but also my wider well-being. But what amazes me just as much is how deeply GTD has taken hold around the world. . . . This is a genuine movement.”
—Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive

Getting Things Done offers help building the new mental skills needed in an age of multitasking and overload.”
Sue Shellenbarger, The Wall Street Journal

“I recently attended David’s seminar on getting organized, and after seeing him in action I have hope. . . . David Allen’s seminar was an eye-opener.”
Stewart Alsop, Fortune

“Allen drops down from high-level philosophizing to the fine details of time management. Take a minute to check this one out.”
Mark Henricks, Entrepreneur

“David Allen’s productivity principles are rooted in big ideas . . . but they’re also eminently practical.”
Keith H. Hammonds, Fast Company

“David Allen brings new clarity to the power of purpose, the essential nature of relaxation, and deceptively simple guidelines for getting things done. He employs extensive experience, personal stories, and his own recipe for simplicity, speed, and fun.”
Frances Hesselbein, chairman, board of governors, Leader to Leader Institute

“Anyone who reads this book can apply this knowledge and these skills in their lives for immediate results.”
Stephen P. Magee, chaired professor of business and economics, University of Texas at Austin

“A true skeptic of most management fixes, I have to say David’s program is a winner!”
Joline Godfrey, CEO, Independent Means, Inc., and author of Our Wildest Dreams 

Getting Things Done describes an incredibly practical process that can help busy people regain control of their lives. It can help you be more successful. Even more important, it can help you have a happier life!”
Marshall Goldsmith, coeditor, The Leader of the Future and Coaching for Leadership

“WARNING: Reading Getting Things Done can be hazardous to your old habits of procrastination. David Allen’s approach is refreshingly simple and intuitive. He provides the systems, tools, and tips to achieve profound results.”
Carola Endicott, director, Quality Resources, New England Medical Center 

About the Author

David Allen is widely recognized as the world’s leading expert on personal and organizational productivity. He has more than thirty years of pioneering research and experience as a management consultant and executive coach to some of America’s most prestigious organizations, such as New York Life, the World Bank, and the U.S. Navy.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 17, 2015
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Revised ed.
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143126563
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143126560
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.46 x 0.7 x 8.36 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 10,139 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
David Allen
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

David Allen is widely recognized as the world’s leading expert on personal and organizational productivity. His thirty-year pioneering research and coaching to corporate managers and CEOs of some of America’s most prestigious corporations and institutions has earned him Forbes’ recognition as one of the top five executive coaches in the U.S. and Business 2.0 magazine's inclusion in their 2006 list of the "50 Who Matter Now." Time Magazine called his flagship book, "Getting Things Done", “the definitive business self-help book of the decade.” Fast Company Magazine called David “one of the world’s most influential thinkers” in the arena of personal productivity, for his outstanding programs and writing on time and stress management, the power of aligned focus and vision, and his groundbreaking methodologies in management and executive peak performance.

David is the international best-selling author of "Getting Things Done: the Art of Stress-Free Productivity"; "Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life"; and "Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and the Business of Life".

He is the engineer of GTD®, the popular Getting Things Done® methodology that has shown millions how to transform a fast-paced, overwhelming, overcommitted life into one that is balanced, integrated, relaxed, and has more successful outcomes. GTD’s broad appeal is based on the fact that it is applicable from the boardroom to the living room to the class room. It is hailed as “life changing” by students, busy parents, entrepreneurs and corporate executives. David is the Founder and Chairman of the David Allen Company, whose inspirational seminars, coaching, educational materials and practical products present individuals and organizations with a new model for “Winning at the Game of Work and Business of Life.” He continues to write articles and essays that address today’s ever-changing issues about living and working in a fast-paced world while sustaining balance, control, and meaningful focus.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
10,139 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find this productivity book to be a great reference manual that helps them live more effectively with purpose and manage their time more effectively. The techniques are simple to understand, and they appreciate the updated content with references to advances in technology. However, the book receives mixed feedback regarding its wordiness and pacing, with some finding it carefully written while others say it gets too wordy and is overwhelmingly repetitive. Additionally, customers disagree on the book's length, with some finding it too long while others consider it very short.

420 customers mention "Information quality"388 positive32 negative

Customers find the book's information quality excellent, describing it as a great reference manual and the most proficient productivity system. They appreciate how it helps them live more effectively with purpose, with one customer noting its usefulness for planning long-term goals.

"...about how to manage business and professional responsibilities without losing your mind and being able to enjoy your life. Well worth the read." Read more

"...written and the edition I have was updated in 2015 to include discussion of new technology (not specific applications) and how it impacts the GTD..." Read more

"...GTD IS A CULT. MOKES OLD TIME MANAGEMENT BOOKS OBSOLETE. INCREASED MY PRODUCTIVITY." Read more

"...I had all these lightbulb moments while reading. Immediately practical with uncomplicated solutions that help you see how to tackle any problem by..." Read more

150 customers mention "Ease of implementation"112 positive38 negative

Customers find the book easy to follow and understand, with extensive detail on various methods, making it a sensible methodology that's simple yet profound.

"...Done, or GTD, is a productivity methodology based on a few deceptively simple concepts. Now, I’m still very new to GTD, but this is how I see it...." Read more

"...before, and each time I like the new system more and more, and it’s easier and faster to use and more reliable...." Read more

"...the right way, getting ideas out of your head and actually doing stuff by taking simple steps instead of putting up a goalpost and then pretending..." Read more

"...Don’t buy his first version, it doest have enough tech involved. This book explains that, however. Im pretty sure its already outdated now." Read more

111 customers mention "Stress reduction"106 positive5 negative

Customers find the book effective at reducing stress, noting it frees their minds completely and provides real peace of mind.

"...an exception for David Allen’s Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity...." Read more

"...It is an amazing feeling of peace to know that I can reliably say yes or no to things, and I will honestly get back to them, finish them, remember..." Read more

"...This helped me get my life in order and relieved a lot of stress...." Read more

"...This book will change your life. You will realize how much stuff you have under your belt but doesn't make you guilty about it, but rather happy...." Read more

38 customers mention "Time management"38 positive0 negative

Customers find the book effective for time management, praising its formula for quickly getting things done and helping to eliminate procrastination.

"...each time I like the new system more and more, and it’s easier and faster to use and more reliable...." Read more

"THE NEW CULT TIMEMANAGEMENT BOOK. GTD IS A CULT. MOKES OLD TIME MANAGEMENT BOOKS OBSOLETE. INCREASED MY PRODUCTIVITY." Read more

"...Immediate processing of tasks as they come in..." Read more

"...They are a beautiful combo to time management and organizing your life with the most important things to focus on and accomplish daily, weekly, and..." Read more

34 customers mention "Update"26 positive8 negative

Customers appreciate that the book has been updated with references to advances in technology, making it relevant for today's environment.

"...reviews, the methodology is still very good as described, and yes, freshened...." Read more

"...You will learn a lot. Plus, It's completely updated for the digital age. He did a wonderful job with that." Read more

"...and resource should be framed as an ongoing study and periodically re-visiting the material...." Read more

"The ideas are good but not novel. These days one can implement this system by following some blogs online...." Read more

102 customers mention "Wordiness"50 positive52 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book, with some finding it very carefully and outstandingly clear, while others describe it as cumbersome to read and too wordy.

"...The book itself is very well written and the edition I have was updated in 2015 to include discussion of new technology (not specific applications)..." Read more

"...putting this book down and regret it is too boring and time consuming to get through...." Read more

"Good book to start with 2025. I use google tasks as my tool to organize my tasks. Intergrates quite well with the concepts of GTD" Read more

"...My only complaint with this book is that it is a little wordy...." Read more

84 customers mention "Pacing"55 positive29 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding the concepts fantastic while others note that it is overwhelmingly repetitive.

"...One of the fundamental ideas behind GTD is that the human brain is excellent at processing ideas and being creative, but not a great storage..." Read more

"...to tackle any problem by thinking about it the right way, getting ideas out of your head and actually doing stuff by taking simple steps instead of..." Read more

"...Some other parts were so repetitive and dull, especially part 3...." Read more

"...in place for all projects / tasks in your life and getting things quickly off your mind and into the system is simple yet profound...." Read more

27 customers mention "Length"3 positive24 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's length, with some finding it too long while others appreciate its concise nature.

"...Although, it would be a very short book if it was written that way, but well worth the money anyways." Read more

"...However, the implementation section of the book is wayyy too long, and honestly could be half as long or maybe even a few short pages...." Read more

"...But the author is wordy. And the book is overwritten. It could have been a lot shorter, more concise, even the steps made clearer." Read more

"...giving it 4 stars out of 5 is that it is a little too repetitive and lengthy." Read more

Perfect for the ADHD'er Needing Help with Organizing To-Dos and Doing Them
5 out of 5 stars
Perfect for the ADHD'er Needing Help with Organizing To-Dos and Doing Them
Disclaimer: I have not listened to this entire book (yet), but I cannot express just how helpful (and validating) this book (and David Allen) is. If I did not know better, I'd say he has ADHD. (Which is a good thing.) I'm eager to share so much, but here is how I found and approached this book. I will also explain what I have gotten out of what I have listened to so far. I have an ADHD Coach. The Coach has a summer group course going on (focused on goal setting). Part of the previous week's homework is to set your goals, create your daily system so you can set/see tasks to do for that goal, and prepare for accountability. I joined an accountability group online (MeetUp). I hit a goldmine. The group leader is phenomenal and the entire foundation for the group's principals and actions are based on this book. Getting Things Done was obviously the next book I was going to look into. I first listened to the Summary of this book (albeit on accident via my digital local library app). I was upset but it was super helpful to know what chapters to go to for my current needs. I purchased the audiobook after listening to the summary and then hopped to the chapters that were relevant to my immediate needs (I did not need any fluff or explanation what I had problems with, I needed action steps). Last night I jumped to Chapter 5: Capturing. Very helpful. Then actually listened all the way to 9. This morning I jumped right into Chapter 11: The Power of the Capturing Habit. I'm in Chapter 12 and I'm absolutely he is in my head... from the garage needing cleaning to lightbulb needing changing in the kitchen, to the towels sitting in the dryer to the birthday present I need to get.... especially the work I need to get done. I've read a ton of self-help and business books. I've read about organization, time management, 1MTD which is one of my favorites, and I have an ADHD Coach. I take a little something from each one and a ton learned from my coach. But this book; it's my head spilling out onto a piece of paper. I love it because he speaks straight, relates completely to my issues (and many ADHD'ers- diagnosed or not). He tells you what to do with 'stuck' piles. I feel like I am completely understood. But more importantly, I believe he gets it and his goal isn't to taught himself...just to relate and help. A must read if you feel like you can't get things under control with work and to-do lists (and especially if you feel mental blocks often on action/tasks - and/or think you may have ADHD - even though it's not labeled for that I think it's very valuable in that area)!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2017
    Self help is not a genre of books I read very often, but I made an exception for David Allen’s Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. One of my goals for 2017 was to become better organised and to be more productive. I first learned about the GTD methodology through Carl Pullein’s YouTube channel that I follow. I’ve been working on this for around six weeks now, so it’s too early to tell, but I’m happy with what I’ve learned so far.

    Getting Things Done, or GTD, is a productivity methodology based on a few deceptively simple concepts. Now, I’m still very new to GTD, but this is how I see it. One of the fundamental ideas behind GTD is that the human brain is excellent at processing ideas and being creative, but not a great storage facility. A key part of GTD is getting all ideas, projects and commitments out of your brain and into a trusted system or external brain.

    There are five activities to GDT: Capture, Clarify, Organise, Reflect and Engage. If I can take from the GTD website, this translates to:

    Capture: Collect what has your attention. For me, this means adding all my ideas, commitments and to-dos in my list manager application of choice, Todoist. I really love this application and regret that I don’t have it at work. I try to capture everything from my doctor’s appointments, to buying cat food for Lushka to a reminder to ask my husband if we have picture hooks. I’m planning a trip to Europe this summer, so any time I think of something like oh, I must remember to get Swiss francs, into Todoist it goes.

    Clarify: Process what it means. Here I can’t be any more concise than or as clear as the workflow diagram on the GTD website:

    Gtd

    Honestly, if I take away nothing more from my experience with GTD than the two minute rule (if you can do it in two minutes, do it now, otherwise delegate it or defer it) and the discipline to define the next physical action to move a task along it will have been worth it.

    Organise: Put it where it belongs. This is probably the area of GTD that’s least intuitive for me – I’m not very organised! At the very least, I try to put any appointments on my calendar, any tasks in the appropriate section of Todoist, and potentially relevant non-actionable information in Evernote. One interesting aspect of GTD is the use of contexts. This means organising your tasks not by priority but by the tools, location, and/or person you need to be able to complete them successfully. So, for example, in my Taxes 2016 list I have an item; pick up tax receipt from pharmacy. I tagged that as “pharmacy” along with other items like pick up Polysporin and drop off new prescription. So when I go to the pharmacy I just check that tag to be reminded of all the things I have to accomplish while I’m there. Similarly, while planning my trip to Europe I have a context of Susanne, the friend I’m visiting. Any time I think of something I need to ask her, I add it to that list of things to discuss next time I call or email her.

    Reflect: Review your to do list and calendar frequently. The idea here is to keep your “external brain” current with everything that you need to accomplish. If you don’t add to it or clear our stale items, your real brain will no longer trust your system and it will break down. Most GTDers do a review at least once a week.

    Engage: Simply do. Pick the tasks that are available to you based on your contexts and get cracking!

    The book itself is very well written and the edition I have was updated in 2015 to include discussion of new technology (not specific applications) and how it impacts the GTD workflow.

    if you are interested in improving your productivity and generally getting things done you could do a whole lot worse than to check out this book.

    I gave Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free productivity five stars out of five.
    165 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2023
    I have read a lot of books on how to organize your life:
    Love People, Use Things
    Essentialism
    7 Habits of Highly Effective People
    One Minute manager
    The Fifth Discipline

    I have also read books on leadership, self-help, therapy, productivity, working through failure, and on and on.

    NOTHING ELSE HAS COME CLOSE.

    Now, this may be because of where I am in my life. It may be that this book isn’t any better than the others, it’s just WHAT I NEEDED at this moment.
    I have 5 teenagers, 3 jobs, my own clinic, I’m writing a book, speaking publicly often, and I’m also auditioning for a play next week. Oh, and I love free time, relaxing on weekends and evenings, spending time with friends, going to plays, and reading books.
    I also WANT TO BE DEPENDABLE. I want to do what I have said I will do. I want to make less agreements, and have less obligations, so that I can NAIL the ones I have made.
    That’s where this book was so very helpful. Yes the author eventually asks you to think about long term goals and life values and those things, but he really starts at the day to day level.
    “HOW DO YOU GET DONE, THE THINGS YOU SAID YOU WOULD?” How do you meet your current obligations? How do you finish each day with a feeling of satisfaction.
    How do you better handle the things you have already agreed to do, and manage the barrage of things coming at you all day every day that are unexpected?
    DOING what he suggests has made me feel RELIABLE. I know what I can do, and what I can’t. I know when I can say yes, and when I have to say no. I know when I have to adjust, or change a previous agreement because it just AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN the way I had hoped.
    It is an amazing feeling of peace to know that I can reliably say yes or no to things, and I will honestly get back to them, finish them, remember them.
    My first attempts weren’t perfect. My first organizational attempt from early January has already been discarded. As have my second and third attempts. But each time was BETTER than what I was doing before, and each time I like the new system more and more, and it’s easier and faster to use and more reliable.
    My wife and kids know exactly when I am free, and we can do ALL SORTS of fun things, and movie marathons, and visiting family in other cities, and on and on.
    GETTING THINGS DONE has changed my life in just two months.
    If your life feels out of control, your mind feels scattered, and you constantly miss things you agreed to… READ THIS BOOK.
    104 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2025
    This author is very helpful for the business owner or director. Not completely helpful to the average Joe. Don’t buy his first version, it doest have enough tech involved. This book explains that, however. Im pretty sure its already outdated now.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2025
    A wonderful resource about how to manage business and professional responsibilities without losing your mind and being able to enjoy your life. Well worth the read.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2025
    great condition super fast shipping
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2025
    THE NEW CULT TIMEMANAGEMENT BOOK. GTD IS A CULT. MOKES OLD TIME MANAGEMENT BOOKS OBSOLETE. INCREASED MY PRODUCTIVITY.

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • alok pole
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Copy
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on July 23, 2024
    Excellent read for every professional
  • sophie javary ellis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Méthode d’organisation personnelle visant à éliminer le stress
    Reviewed in France on August 29, 2018
    Livre remarquable de pédagogie sur la productivité personnelle et la façon pratique de s’organiser au jour le jour. A recommander
    Report
  • Víctor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Libro de Cabecera
    Reviewed in Spain on March 27, 2018
    ACTUALIZACION: 2021
    Al escribir esta review había empezado a aplicar algunos de los primeros consejos e ideas y noté una mejoría en la forma de gestionar el tiempo y acabar proyectos y tareas pendientes. Esto hizo que fuese dejando el libro y dedicarme a otras cosas, sin acabarlo completamente. Esto fue un error.

    El libro da todo su potencial cuando lo lees sin pausa. No significa que no vayas aplicando algunas de las ideas y pensando como ir aplicandolas a tu dia a dia, pero sí que no debes perder de vista el objetivo, que no es otro que aprender de forma consistente cómo mejorar la organización personal y profesional del tiempo y el trabajo.

    Lo anterior es importante tenerlo claro: hay que dedicarle esfuerzo a pensar sobre cómo aplicar las ideas del libro a tu vida y tu flujo de trabajo, proyectos, etc. No basta con leer el libro, sino que hay que dedicarle algo de esfuerzo en diseñar tu sistema de organización. Pero los beneficios son enormes, así que animo a hacerlo.

    En particular, aproveché una semana de vacaciones para dedicarme a leerlo a fondo desde el principio, tomando notas en lugar de intentar crear sobre la marcha un sistema de organización a medio hacer. Lo mejor es ir apuntando las ideas o formas de usar sus consejos y esperar a aplicarlo hasta acabar el libro, porque cuando ves el conjunto global, te das cuenta que no son ideas sueltas, sino que es un sistema de principios completo. Por tanto, cuando lo acabes tendrás una idea mucho mejor y más completa de cómo montar tu propio sistema de organización. Y que conste que lo reelerás más de una vez para revisar conceptos y adaptar el sistema a los cambios que ocurran al pasar el tiempo. De ahí que actualice esta review: voy a releerlo para reajustar y volver a ser igual de eficiente como cuando lo acabé la primera vez.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Cuando compré el libro, sabía que tenía un problema con mi sistema de organización. Así que me puse a leerlo inmediatamente. Lo cierto es que tenía algunas dudas, porque había leído otros del mismo tema que no pasaban de expresar lo obvio y de sugerir sistemas que le funcionaban al autor, pero no se adaptaban a mí. Pero este libro sí es bueno.

    No es como los anteriores, una simple guía de recetas. Sino que desmenuza los fundamentos básicos e, incluso, la psicología que implica un buen sistema de organización. Además, explica en cada paso el motivo de cada proceso o cada sugerencia. Lo que me encanta del libro es que no ofrece un sistema dise;ado y definido, sino que por medio de ejemplos va hasta el principio general que quiere explicar y eso permite que uno pueda adaptar o modificar las ideas a su propia forma de trabajar y a su propio tiempo. Quizá esto haga que algunas partes se hagan más largas, pero es muy recomendable.

    Lo que más me impactó fue la parte psicológica. En el libro explica uno de los principales problemas que tiene la gente que fue buscando su ayuda y es dejar tareas o cosas en una lista de pendientes, sin pararse a determinar las acciones que han de realizar para finalizar esa tarea. Como ejemplo: la tarea "solucionar problema con factura luz" debería dividirse en realidad en varias, siendo la primera, probablemente "Localizar número de atención al cliente de la compania", luego llamar (para algunas personas, eso requiere planificar la llamada en su agenda diaria), y de ahí, depende de la respuesta, se seguirán más pasos o no. Lo que comenta es que al compactar tantas tareas en un solo item, en realidad estamos obligandonos a dedicar mucho espacio mental a esa tarea y salvo que tengamos tiempo de sobra, probablemente se nos atasque un buen tiempo en la lista. De la otra forma, un dia damos por cerrada la tarea de localizar el numero. Otro, cerramos el de la llamada, otro el de enviar los datos que nos hayan pedido... Y el efecto psicologico de sentir que vamos resolviendo el problema es brutal. Porque ya no es el mismo item desde hace dias, sino que es el mismo asunto, pero con acciones mas concretas y simples.

    El libro esta lleno de ideas de este tipo que, una vez leídas, suenan muy obvias, pero es algo en que mucha gente (al menos yo) fallaba constantemente. Un libro imprescindible para cualquier persona con poco tiempo o que tiene problemas para gestionar su tiempo de forma eficiente.

    Como nota final diré que aún no he terminado el libro (llevo más de la mitad) porque es un proceso, no solo una lectura. Sin embargo, ya puedo confirmar que he mejorado la gestión de mis obligaciones y del tiempo en general, así que no puedo más que recomendarlo.
  • Nicole Brown
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book
    Reviewed in Australia on June 15, 2015
    Loved this book. I am implementing the GTD method and found a web based program IQTELL that helps make the whole process easy and fun. I am enjoying the increased clarity I am already experiences through implementing this strategy. I imagine that this clarity will continue to improve as I get more efficient with the method.
  • k84
    3.0 out of 5 stars 使えそうではあった
    Reviewed in Japan on May 19, 2019
    気になることを頭に抱え込んでいると、頭の中でどんどんふくらんでくるような気がするから、全部書いてしまいなさいという本。そこで、仕事場から私室から、全部のものを整理して、頭の中に浮かんでいる考えも全部書き出して、徹底的に整理して、プロジェクトにすべきものはしてしまおうという一大理論。

    かなり面白いものではあったが、星三つの理由は私の気質に合わないから。というか、合いすぎるから。

    プロジェクトにしたものは必ず「次の一歩」を書いて、毎週見直す。そういったところが特に、元々強迫障害気質の私には、やり過ぎて一週間で気が狂いそうになるのが見えていたので、やらなかった。

    ちゃらんぽらんだったり、根をつめるのが苦手な人は、やっても大丈夫だろうからやってもいいかもしれない。生真面目な人には危険思想。