Zen to Done

The Ultimate Simple Productivity System

By: Leo Babauta

Narrated by: Fred Stella

Length: 1 hr and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Zen To Done (ZTD) is a system that is at once simple, and powerful, and will help you develop the habits that keep all of your tasks and projects organized, that keep your workday simple and structured, that keep your desk and email inbox clean and clear, and that keep you doing what you need to do, without distractions. This book was written for those who want to get their lives organized and actually execute the things on their to-do list by changing existing habits. And let me say that changing your habits is possible. Using the habit-changing techniques I describe in this book, I have made many habit changes: I quit smoking, started running, started eating healthier, completed a marathon, doubled my income and got my finances in order, have almost eliminated my debt now, completed a triathlon, lost more than 20 pounds, and started a successful blog, and more. Read this book. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish with this productivity system.

©2008 Leo Babauta (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

The simplest and right version of GTD. Recommended

- Small Notebook is the best way to capture things.
- Everything should be done as simple as possible.
- The best way to be productive is to find one single goal and do everything to achieve it.
- One habit at a time.
- Find passion. There is no other way to be happy with your job.

Minimalistic version of ZTD is amazing and really fits to my idea of life and to my new lifestyle desing. Amazing and short book. Much better to listen/read after GTD by David Allen.

ZTD or GTD?

I was introduced first with GTD. GTD is excellent. But if I was to make a choice which product is more effective, simple, better result and succinct in delivering the goods... then ZTD gets my vote.

Simple and Effective

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I cannot tell you how much i have struggled to get my life organised. The flow of this system worked for me. I had read GTD before and totally agreed with it's premise but never really implemented it in full (and then gave up). ZTD simplified the system in a way that gels with my way of thinking and working. I now carry a notepad everywhere (I am on on step 3 now) and even doing that one step changed my entire approach. After listening to this book I felt entirely capable of making the changes. The steps outlined do not require an entire overhaul of your life. If you are struggling to get yourself in order - this is the system you should look into. Simple, straightforward and very effective.
Thank you.

What other book might you compare Zen to Done to and why?

This is GTD as it should be - and I have listed to both books and the ZTD approach works for me. I love how you can organise you life with a notepad, a pen and some simple inboxes. Thats it!

Eliminate trivial and do the important things

It's short and simple... it provides actions to absorb, practice, and slowly implement so they become habits. There isn't anything inspiring just steps to follow to narrow down your "to do" items to essentials and to start from important to trivial (unless you've delegated and eliminated them).

rehash

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

New or original content. Coherent structure, lack of annoying redundancy...

What was most disappointing about Leo Babauta’s story?

An unorganized rehash of David Allen, who does it better. Seems like a bunch of blog posts hurriedly turned into a book.

What does Fred Stella bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

'Aside from the occasionally mispronounced word e.g. "moleskin" for "Moleskine"... he is an excellent and very professional narrator.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Might be good for someone unfamiliar with these concepts, but as another reviewer noted, it does assume a certain amount of familarity..

Any additional comments?

Skip this, go to David Allen.

Simple productivity

If you could sum up Zen to Done in three words, what would they be?

Simplicity is key

What about Fred Stella’s performance did you like?

Lively, yet serious reading style is sometimes unnecessarily theatrical

Any additional comments?

Babauta provides step-by-step instructions on how to develop a productivity system without becoming overwhelmed. I've only implemented a few steps and already see a difference in productivity!

Too simplistic and lacking in usefull insight

Would you try another book from Leo Babauta and/or Fred Stella?

No

Would you ever listen to anything by Leo Babauta again?

Maybe if it was longer and it recieved good reviews

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

No. It seem artificial and unnatural

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Irritation

Any additional comments?

In general this was just too short to be usefull. Every time it scratched at something interesting it jumped to a new topic...

Nice Organizing guide

What did you love best about Zen to Done?

I loved the ease on how this book teaches you about how to be better and focus on what you love to do.

What other book might you compare Zen to Done to and why?

Reworked - Because takes the same path of focusing on simplicity taking one goal and chopping it into smaller tasks.

What about Fred Stella’s performance did you like?

He's smart and knows exactly how to get the reader to understand and digest what he is saying.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Zen to Done?

Focusing on only one goal and one only, chopping the goal into daily tasks, weekly and monthly and not to star another goal until I have finished the goal I'm working on.

A series of blog posts about the same topic

Over and over. The narrator even references clickable links to other posts during the reading. This is a waste of money. You're better served going to the Zen Habits site and reading it for free, or just buying the actual book this is cribbed from.

A blantant rip off of GTD - Nothing new do not buy

What disappointed you about Zen to Done?

David Allan should sue this guy if he isn't already. There's nothing in this book that isn't a rewrite of the same principals of GTD. It's a patronizing, sanctimonious, arrogant, reinterpretation and self focused retell of his failed application of GTD.

What could Leo Babauta have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Written some new content.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger. At first I thought it was a joke and there would be some real content. He doesn't even hide the fact that he's pretty much just read GTD and decided to just rewrite it but then it became anger because I had been conned to buy this plagiarism.

Any additional comments?

I believe audible should take this book off the list.

ok, talks too much about GTD...

it's ok. After listening to this book I cannot remember, nor do I understand what Zen to Done actually is. The author spends too much time comparing his method to GTD. It would be far better If this book focused more on the structure, application, and examples of what ZTD is, and how and when to use it, rather than consistently compare it with GTD.

short, sound advice.

I've been a fan of leo for many years now. this book is a great combination of productivity ideas condensed to the bear essentials typical of Zen Habits.

Simple and sensible

I really liked this it was thought provoking and I will listen again. Long enough for me! A good listen