I love this book! I'm not a runner. I don't like to run. However, this book has changed my attitude about running and my attitude and enjoyment of runI love this book! I'm not a runner. I don't like to run. However, this book has changed my attitude about running and my attitude and enjoyment of running has totally changed. Running information and philosophies woven into the author's story makes this a book that you won't want to put down... regardless of how you feel about running....more
When I'm reading a good book... or shortly after I finish a book, I have a tendency to feel that it's the best book ever. After reading "Getting ThingWhen I'm reading a good book... or shortly after I finish a book, I have a tendency to feel that it's the best book ever. After reading "Getting Things Done", I felt the same way. I loved the book. I loved the "tricks" and ideas presented. I thought it was the best book ever.
In order to combat my overly enthusiastic response to the book, I waited to write my review, knowing that my initial infatuation with the book would fade with time and I would write a more rational, less emotional review when the next book on my reading list moved up to the "best book ever" ranking.
However, a month later, I'm still a big fan of this book and still feel that it may be (at least one of) the best books ever on execution and getting things done. It’s clear, concise, and practical. There is valuable information for anyone, regardless of their current level of organization.
David Allen provides a number of great "tricks" that help to rid your mind of all the thought clutter. The key is letting your brain know that you have a reliable system that you check regularly. With such a system, your brain doesn't feel the pressure to remember everything (what you need from the store, that you need to follow up with a client, that your son has a soccer game at six) and is free to relax and be more creative� leading to less stress.
I liked it. I'm using many of the practical applications Allen introduced. I'll likely read it again... although I can't promise that I'll still feel it's the best book ever....more
This book wasn't what I expected and I've been pleasantly surprised. Despite the negative reviews, I'm really digging this book. His pompous attitude This book wasn't what I expected and I've been pleasantly surprised. Despite the negative reviews, I'm really digging this book. His pompous attitude doesn't annoy me, for whatever reason. I can definitely see how it would be highly irritating, but it doesn't get to me. If you can get past that, the book has some interesting ideas to offer.
I read it and I also listened to it on audio book. If you're hoping to get the details, the book is definitely the way to go, as he lists numerous websites and other details that would be better seen than heard.
For anyone looking to start an online business, there are a number of great resources and ideas. ...more
This is an easy read and gives a quick overview of Sarah Palin's life, from youth to her role as governor of Alaska. The book is obviously written to This is an easy read and gives a quick overview of Sarah Palin's life, from youth to her role as governor of Alaska. The book is obviously written to portray her in a positive light.
If you love her, you will likely love the book and finish it with the belief that she is a tough woman who stands up for what is right. There's no question that she didn't allow the good 'ol boys of Alaskan politics to push her around or keep her quiet.
If you don't like her, you will likely hate the book and find it annoying. There's no mention of troopergate, although it may have been unresolved at the time of the writing. The author glosses over some of her less popular actions, but mentions them, just the same.
It's really such a quick, easy read. If you have any desire to learn more about Sarah Palin, it's worth the short investment of time to check it out, whether you love her or not....more
I loved this book. There were lots of practical tips for organizing your home, your time, your life, your office, your family, and everything in betweI loved this book. There were lots of practical tips for organizing your home, your time, your life, your office, your family, and everything in between. The book was easy to read and had ideas that you could incorporate immediately, rather than some of the organization books that require a dozen steps before you can even start the organization process.
My one complaint about the book is that I sometimes had a hard time making it all the way through a chapter. I would get so motivated to go organize that I wouldn't finish the chapter.
Readers of organizational books will likely hear something they've heard before, but even if you've read a number of other organizational books, (including other books by Ronni Eisenberg), this one is definitely worth the time....more
I couldn't even get through this book. The author tries to be hip and trendy by frequently referencing pop culture, but the references don't work to fI couldn't even get through this book. The author tries to be hip and trendy by frequently referencing pop culture, but the references don't work to further the points. It feels like the references are more important to him than communicating anything meaningful.
One chapter about Desperate Housewives is intended to communicate that it "takes time to land a star-making role". Cute idea, but very poorly executed... almost like he thought, "how can I work Desperate Housewives into this book?" and then really reached to make it (unsuccessfully) happen.
The constant efforts to work "twenty-something" references into the book are unbelievably annoying.
"I got shot down more often than aspiring actors on ElimiDATE, and it sucked each time."
"When you start a new job, you will no doubt enter the office every day bursting with energy and ready to please, like a puppy that's been let out of its crate after a long night, or like Reese Witherspoon in Election."
"I don't care how talented, qualified, or personable you are, your chances of landing a cool job and accelerating up the food chain diminish significantly if you talk like Pheobe from Friends or the cast of The O.C."
"It's not like the firm is going to send a Nordic hit man after you for asking to many questions, like Bandini Lambert and Locke did to Gary Busey in The Firm."
I could go on. A few of these inserted occasionally would be tolerable, probably even amusing, but there's one or two on every page.
There are actually some valuable (although common sense) tips in the book, but again, they are poorly communicated. For example, "Social gatherings can be great for expanding your business network."
A few more sentences of elaboration, maybe even an example of a real life incident, and you communicate a worthwhile point. However, the author's real life example tells how he went to a party, started a conversation with a drunk who was getting ready to relieve himself in the host's swimming pool at 2am... who happened to have an apartment in Tokyo (where the author would be traveling and needed a place to stay). This is the chapter on rules for expanding your business network in social settings?
I'm not a twenty-something so maybe I'm too old to get this, but in my opinion, this book was a complete waste of time... even if you're only reading it for entertainment value. The few (very few) valuable points were destroyed by overkill of pop culture references and stories that were frequently irrelevant to the information offered.
No, I didn't read the entire thing. Maybe it gets better. When I glanced one last time at the book and briefly skimmed Chapter 30 about Leadership Skills, there was actually something of substance there. I certainly wouldn't have anticipated that, considering the chapter starts with, "Young professionals can learn more about leadership by watching Survivor than they can by reading most business magazines. I'm serious about this."
Words of wisdom that I'm sure are unknown to the editors of Time, Newsweek, and Forbes, but just as valuable as many of the teachings of Micheal Scott on The Office....more
I read this book in two sittings. The first sitting, I was captivated and I might have finished the entire book if I hadn't started it so late. The stI read this book in two sittings. The first sitting, I was captivated and I might have finished the entire book if I hadn't started it so late. The story is told by the main character, Christopher - fifteen years old and autistic. I found myself really wanting to understand him and relate to him, and as the story progressed, I became frustrated when others didn't. The story grabs you from the very beginning and the facination with Christopher and getting to know all his quirks kept me involved from the very beginning.
As the story unfolded, it pulled me deeper into the book, and while I intended to read only a chapter or two the first night, I kept thinking, "okay, just a few more pages"... and just kept reading. Every new development in the story led me to have to read just one more chapter. Eventually, self-discpline (or fatique) won out and I stopped midway through the book.
In the beginning, Christopher seems like the outsider, aversions to anything yellow or brown, a strong objection to physical contact, stressed by lack of order, reactions that seem illogical, obsessive compulsive, and confused by cliches (although gaining understanding for metaphors and similes). However, as I came to understand and relate to how he took everything literally, and how his need for order didn't always correspond with logic, I found myself understanding him more, and understanding "normal" behavior of the others less.
I loved the part where he explained his view on death and how we become part of the soil, and eventually of the trees and flowers. Probably due to my own personal experiences, his ideas on creamation really touched me. While he's not sure what happens with ash, he knows that smoke and vapor go into the air during creamation so he reasons that those who are creamated always remain near us. I'm poorly paraphrasing. It's much more powerful in the book.
I don't know if my mood was different when I picked it up the next time, or if it just changed pace. It was a well-written book, and there were new revelations around every corner, but perhaps the last part felt more predictable than the first part... or maybe I had become so engrossed with Christopher and his way of thinking that my frustration with others' lack of understanding affected my enjoyment of the book.
For me, the second half of the book wasn't nearly as exciting to read, and the ending left me feeling sad and empty. I don't believe it's intended to leave this impression, and I actually feel that it's meant to leave you feeling happy and hopeful, but that's not the way it worked for me.
Still, I did really like the book. For those who want learn more about some aspects of autism, for those who don't mind finding math formulas injected into their novels (and like me, may even enjoy it), and for those who love to spend hours engrossed in captivating literature, this is a great book....more
Loading...
