Book Review: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity will revolutionize your approach to time management

In Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, the world-renowned productivity and time management guru David Allen sets out a foolproof system for establishing your priorities, organising your time and making sure that projects get completed. The Getting Things Done, or GTD, method can be applied to both personal and professional tasks, making it a perfect system for managers, executives, busy employees and others who are feeling overwhelmed by increasing responsibilities. This clear and detailed analysis is ideal for anyone looking for an accessible guide to freeing up valuable time: it features a thorough exploration of the shortcomings of traditional time management techniques, a host of practical tips and a balanced discussion of Allen’s approach. It also provides definitions of key words, the main criticisms of the book and related approaches to time management, including the Pomodoro technique, giving you everything you need to understand this bestselling guide to productivity.

This accessible and insightful 54-page summary and analysis is structured as follows:

• Introduction to Getting Things Done
• About the authors and background to the book
  • The author: David Allen
  • Context and background
• Summary of Getting Things Done
  • Overview of the book
  • The horizontal GTD method
  • The vertical GTD method (natural planning)
• Impact of Getting Things Done
  • An enthusiastic response from the media
  • Praise from experts
  • Criticisms of Allen’s approach
  • The legacy of the GTD method
• Recap of Allen’s main ideas

About Getting Things Done

As its title suggests, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity’s purpose is twofold: to boost efficiency and minimise stress. Allen’s approach is based on a simple observation: the recurring thoughts that clutter up our minds when we are stressed are the result of problems that we need to solve. By breaking down these problems and working on them methodically, we can clear our minds and complete projects without distractions, which is more valuable than ever given the increasing role that information technology plays in our working lives.

About David Allen

David Allen has enjoyed a long and varied career: he claims to have tried his hand at 35 different jobs before the age of 35, including karate teacher, vitamin salesman and restaurant cook. In the 1980s, he won a contract to design a programme for executives and managers at the aerospace company Lockheed, which sparked an abiding interest in productivity and time management techniques. His Getting Things Done method has won over adherents across the world, and he has since founded the David Allen Company, which specialises in management and productivity coaching.