Order Getting Things Done, not Making It All Work

Admittedly, I am a big fan of David Allen's techniques for improving one's productivity/sanity. However, David Allen is trying to stretch his concepts into more marketing $ money with this latest release. If you choose this book as an intro to the GTD method, it would lack the practical depth as his orginal "Getting Things Done" book. If you are already a student of the GTD method, I doubt you would find anything materially different here. Instead, choose to re-read "Getting Things Done". Sorry so harsh. On the contrary, "Getting Things Done" is brilliant...so there, I'm even.

77 people found this helpful

An inspiring and essential look at GTD

This is a fantastic and inspiring book.

First I'll get the quibbles out of the way. While this version is "unabridged", it does not include the start-of-chapter quotes from the hardcover version. There aren't many of them, and their absense doesn't affect the material in any way, but I loved the quotes and wished they had been included in the audio version. Also, if you find the first chapter or two slow-going or tedious, keep listening it does get much better.

If you are new to David Allen's work and have not yet read (or listened to) "Getting Things Done", then you really should begin with that book and come back to this one later, after you've been working with his methods for a while.

However, if you're already using the GTD system then this book is an incredible follow-up to the first one and an absolute must-read to take your use of GTD to a new level. It explains and clarifies many of the concepts that I found most difficult to understand in the first book (horizons of focus, for example), and it delves into how the GTD system can be used to help you get perspective on your life and tie your deepest values and life vision to your everyday tasks.

It is narrated by David himself and he does a great job - there's just nothing like hearing an author's words in the author's own voice, especially when he's a good speaker.

What can I say people, if you're a GTD-er there is no better use of a credit than this.

66 people found this helpful

Loved it

Simple, effective, and even fun at times to apply these intensely practical lessons in my everyday life. As good as "Getting Things Done." Will probably listen to it again next year for a refresher!

18 people found this helpful

Wonderful

I am a big fan of David Allen's Getting Things Done and this book, Making It All Work, extends those concepts to a new level. The author does a nice job reading the book and is more clear in this work on how to apply the GTD concepts in practice. I have found his insights very useful in reducing my stress at work, but would suggest reading Getting Things Done first.

13 people found this helpful

Disappointing after loving GTD so much

Let me lead by saying that Getting Things Done completely transformed my life. I've used it's principles heavily over the last two years and have accomplished so much I never thought possible.

Making it All Work, on the other hand, simply rehashes much of Getting Things Done. It also spends quite a bit of time talking about how wonderful GTD is. After reading it I cannot point to a single new principle I will adopt or use.

Do yourself a favor and read Getting Things Done. If you have already read it you might consider re-reading it over purchasing this book.

6 people found this helpful

insipid rehash

GTD was a good book. this is just a reahash of lot of well known concepts. its all over the place and just a marketing tool for self aggarandisation. avoid

6 people found this helpful

Just what I needed to read

What did you love best about Making It All Work?

Making It All Work was the book I needed to read to get a handle on my business and my life. It offers clear and concise recommendations on how to use the concepts of David's earlier book "Getting Things Done" to improve your life.

What did you like best about this story?

What I liked best was the flexibility of the recommendations and how practical it is.

Have you listened to any of David Allen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This book is as good as "Getting Things Done", but I think you should read "Getting Things Done" first.

1 person found this helpful

Pure Kindling for Getting Home Fire Started and Maintained

Great for all ages for key understanding of all that’s required to find fulfilling contentment.

Good addition to GTD

David goes through the parts of the GTD and adds more information to tie it all together.

GTD Rewritten

I loved the original GTD and had listened to it 4-5 times. While I like David’s dry and straightforward delivery, I really didn’t find much in the way of new material here. There is probably some value in listening to the same book in different order and wording so your mind is forced to process it fresh again, I didn’t feel like I gained any new knowledge. It mostly just reiterated the importance of the principles of GTD from a higher level rather than the specific steps. Overall, I don’t regret this listen but I wouldn’t do it again.