Rating: 
Summary: The 2-minute drill
Review: Allen's book will tell you why you have so much junk cluttering up your life and what to do about it: Gather it all up and in no more than two minutes per email, voice mail or piece or stack of paper, apply one of the four Ds: do it, defer it (schedule it for later), delegate it or delete it. He has other helpful suggestions, but if you can internalize this one, you'll be 90% of the way to getting your life organized.
Rating: 
Summary: Does Anyone Have The Time To Do This System?
Review: Anyone who has the time to do Allen's system does not have a time management problem. This approach would be attractive to productivity experts, but is simply unworkable to the average over-worked Sally or Joe. It takes three hours a week just to feed this system and keep it going! I laid awake at night trying to figure out if an e-mail goes in @computer or @work? I could never find anything after I followed his system. Maybe it's me, but I believe there is better time management advice out there.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent, immensely practical book
Review: Anyone who manages multiple projects or a complex individual role will find this book an invaluable help (unless you are already superbly organized). Out of the many books available on time management, priority-setting, and turning plans into action, this is one of the very best. David Allen's system takes some investment of time to implement but then speeds up decision-making and improves clarity of thought by downloading all your free floating concerns into a well-developed framework of files and action lists. This allows you to focus on your current task without worrying about forgetting something and without losing track of materials needed in the future. After explaining his view of mastering workflow and project planning, Allen shows you how to set up for the process and then has you corral all your "stuff". You then process this until your in-boxes are empty. He shows clearly how to organize materials for reference and for later action, stresses the importance of regular review, and shows how to keep projects under control. Implementing the whole program requires an investment of time (preferably two full days), though some techniques can be put to use immediately with clear rewards, such as the two-minute rule and the use of special folders for action items that will help you clear your paper and email in-boxes, freeing your mind to focus on current tasks. Highly recommended for busy executives and anyone with a complicated life.
Rating: 
Summary: GOOD BUT A BIT COMPLEX
Review: Author David Allen states the obvious...we will all be more productive if we are more organized, both in our work and our lives outside of work. Ok, that's not exactly earth-shaking news. It's the actualy getting organized part that leaves most people stumped.
Allen is focused on in-boxes, both literally and figuretively. Our in boxes being not only the things on our desks, but applying to anything task we need to do in our lives no matter how mundane. Allen has what he refers to as the "Two Minute Rule" wherein if there's anything you absolutely must do that you can do right now in two minutes or less, then do it now, thus freeing up your time and mind tenfold over the long term. That makes perfect sense. And that is what this book is in broadest terms: common sense. These are things you probably know but just may no know the best way to organize them.
The book is very "system oriented" with all sorts of clever phrase-ology. These books always are, but Allen provides a simple one page flowchart that you can use as a reference on your desk or maybe even the fridge that you can always refer to without having to consult the book and that flowchart is the most valuable part of the book.
Well done!
Rating: 
Summary: Good organizational concepts
Review: Getting Things Done is hot right now and with good reason. We all have too much on our minds and on our plates. This book will help you cut through the clutter. (If you want to get a taste of the author's way of thinking, check out his website. Just do a Google search for "David Allen". The flowchart that is the core of his system is provided there.)
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Summary: Time Tested Principals
Review: I attended one of David's seminars in 1986. As a result, I was able to successfully manage 101 concurrent projects, finishing on time and under budget. Fast forward to 2001. I keep this book by my side at all times (David publish it in Ebook form so it's easier to carry!). The company I'm with now wonders how I get the "impossible" projects done. Using David's techniques in the book, it seems like I can complete a full work day in fewer hours because I know what all my "next actions" are, and do them promptly. Gives me a lot of worry free time.This is a book you "DO" not just read. Be prepared to work when you start out, but when the initial work is done, that's when the fun begins. I cleaned my inbox and email box of 300 items in less than 15 minutes, filtering out the junk, the things that needed immediate attention, and the "someday maybe" things (like buying my first Harley). This works for my personal life too. No more missed anniversaries, birthdays, phone calls, errands, etc. Do you ever think about work projects at home? Do you ever think about home projects when you're at the office? Ever worry about that phone call you need to make or that errand you need to run? Forget it! Get the book. It's awesome. Get the book - period. If you don't, you deserve your stress.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent productivity system
Review: I have tried many time management systems but this is the best. It works like a charm. I had a pile of emails in my in-box, a cluttered desk and was coming home at 9 pm to my family before I made the commitment to optimize my time. Now my inbox is clear, my desk is organized and I'm home at 7 pm. I discovered this great book and achieved my leap in productivity after reading Optimal Thinking: How To Be Your Best Self. I learned how to eliminate self-sabotage and make the most of every situation from Optimal Thinking. Getting Things Done showed me how to organize minutia that bogged me down at home and at work. Don't wait another second. Read both of these books and you will never settle for second rate again.
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Summary: Coping with Information overlead
Review: I have used many time mangement resources over the years. This is definitely the best system I have come across. I recommending reading Optimal Thinking: How To Be Your Best Self as well to learn how to maintain focus on the best actions to achieve what is most important.
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Summary: Truly the guide to stress-free productivity
Review: I manage a team of twenty, in a very stress-filled IT environment. We juggle multiple projects with overlapping deadlines all the time. This book taught me far more than the well known time management guides and gurus. I learned to put EVERYTHING - my work life, personal life, dream life (to be a millionaire without being the weakest link or swallowing bugs!) into one place, and organize it all based on me - my life, current job, etc. I also used it to help my team. We now breeze through our deadlines, with lots of productivity and very little stress. We are able to work long hours when needed, and take time off when needed. Hopefully, future releases will bring a companion workbook and this book unabridged on tape or CD. FYI - Mr. Allen has a wonderful web site ... where you can sign up for his free weekly newsletter and continue to learn and grow. He also lists lots more helpful tips, etc. on the web site that you can download and share with your peers and staff members. I urge anyone who is feeling overwhelmed in their life and career to give this process a try. You will be very glad you did.
Rating:
Summary: I like its "Martial Art" idea
Review: I read this book in 2002/4. Now, it totally changes my life.
Before this book, I admit I have problem in organizing my projects, and I was often driven crazy by un-expected surprises in my career. After this book, I spent about 3 days to read this book, I become more organized, sensitive, & creative...and more productivity. and thereafter, I've got a new job as a marketing manager to supervise a team about 10 guys. It's so crazy, but it's true that I can remeber all the projects I assigned to my staffs, and discuss with them the projects details. I am still learning this book, I appreciate his "Martial Art" idea. I get to say, "this book is really useful", deserving read again & again.
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