I found out about this book from the short video on YouTube of David Allen training some Google executives. I find his approach to work flow realistic and practical: get the "today" stuff under control as a means to allow for higher levels of thinking and strategy. As he says in the beginning of the book, even if you don't take his approach whole cloth you will likely find plenty of "tricks" in this book that you can use in your existing approach to your work. Beyond that, there is also a benefit to looking over someone else's shoulder at their approach to work. Just hearing how someone else approaches to-do lists and in-baskets can help you think through your own. I've found Allen's book very helpful to my work, and my only criticism is his use of his own terminology and "business speak." I don't know if words like tickler file, capture, stake in the ground, collection buckets, open loops, etc. are common to most workplaces, but they were not common to mine. Having any one of Allen's terms used in a sentence was not tough, but when he strings them together it can make it hard to follow on the first read-through. Once you get used to his terminology you're fine. It's a MINOR criticism and should not be prohibitive to your getting this great resource. Finally, I always appreciate it when an author will read the unabridged audio of his/her own work. Enjoy.

I tried to listen to this thing for the first 20 to 30 minutes. This one is completely unmotivating. I take that back... I was so bored listening to this thing that I thought of things I could get instead of falling asleep to this man's monotone voice. If that's what motivates you by all means...

I think this book was way too long for the message it presents. A lot of it is just commom sense. I got one good point from it which is this: "if it takes you 2 minutes to accomplish or less, do it now!".

This is not a motivational or inspirational book. Rather, it's a step by step pragmatic guide to organizing the multiple demands many professionals face. The problem is, once everything is organized and has been put in its place, the book punts on exaplaining how to cut through the tasks on the various to-do lists with increased efficiency. Pre and pos- implementation of Allen's system, I am left with the same amount of work to do and still have no strategies to get trhough it all more efficiently. Allen just helped me find neat places to put my work (e.g., lists, baskets, etc). The only helpful piece of advice I got to process work faster is to observe the 2 minute rule. At the same time, the book gives you what it says it will give you so I would recommend it.

David speaks so fast and anxiously that I couldn't hear more than ten minutes of this audio... He will spend quite a few minutes of your time boasting himself of his many clients, his astounding and brilliant work, his competence... Too much pride to stand...
Yet I rated it two stars because I am sure he has somethings good to tell you... If you can stand him, of course.