Get Everything Done

Preordered too, thanks avrum!

Burkeman wrote the long-running Guardian column "This Column Will Change Your Life" [1] where he took an oblique look at self-help genre, fads, techniques, tips, etc. He scratched up some really great ideas there that I'd never heard of before [2], and also summarized authors' books and theories very well. He has a dry sense of humor, which made all the info go down easier.

He has written two books in the self-help genre already that I think are good, level-headed looks at the practitioners and the practices. I think once you peel away the layers, he finds that there are only a few very simple generalizable ideas that work for everyone -- but they're so simple no one believes they could work or (as in his next book, it appears) they appear so limiting as to seem demotivating.

I have linked to a couple of his articles in this forum over the years, and yes, he has cited Mark in his column and elsewhere [3]. I don't know if he haunts the forums here or not, but he is well aware of Mark's presence and influence. I've exchanged a few emails with him; nice guy.

Burkeman lives in Brooklyn now, I think.

[1]: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/series/thiscolumnwillchangeyourlife
[2]: for example, http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/24/two-things-to-know-oliver-burkeman
[3]: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/20/oliver-burkeman-time-to-ditch-to-do-list

I was somewhat hesitant in buying the book, thinking it would be a rehash of this Ted talk of his about how to stop fighting time:

http://youtu.be/XtfCmhPr-J8

Although I did enjoy a lot of his articles so decided to push through. Appreciate the discussion here about his work. Still waiting for it to drop in Kindle (should be later today.)

He has a few videos on Youtube, one of which is on the book, and a website with articles that he has written. Also, there is a preview on Google books of the book. All of these I have sampled.
One can Google search his name and find them.
There were some good insights and tools.
That was a week ago, and I only remember a few things, perhaps not original, but they were well written and presented.

What I read of the book on Google books seemed to be developing slowly, and I wasn't motivated to get the book.

I've read the whole book, and the comments about it being meandering and slow seem ironic from that vantage point. Here's a quote from the book: "In a world geared for hurry, the capacity to resist the urge to hurry---to allow things to take the time they take--- is a way to gain purchase on the world, to do the work that counts, and to derive satisfaction from the doing itself." If you are looking for a book that will give you another time management system or a set of rules on how to manage your to do list to get more done in a shorter amount of time, then this book is probably not for you. If you read it all the way through, though, you may find significant insights into why you want another time management system or set of rules to help you get more done. Some of us, myself included, may be looking for ways to control a future which is in no way guaranteed, or strive toward a future self which can never materialize because we're never quite satisfied with the way things are right now. This post isn't intended as an attack on time management system junkies (I am one). I just encourage you to pick up the book and read it through before making any judgments. It could make for some spirited discussions on this forum.

Avrum, it seems I inadvertently hit a nerve. My post wasn't attacking you or your opinion of the book, but offering a different viewpoint to potential readers from someone who has actually read it. Oliver Burkeman's style isn't for everyone. I've read two of his books, and in each he layers concepts from various philosophical, economic, and religious disciplines, chapter by chapter, to a thoughtful conclusion. I also see a lot of humor in his writing. It doesn't feel like a slog to me, but tastes are varied and ours are clearly different.

BTW, kudos on sticking with the same workflow system for 4 years. With all of the new ideas from Mark and others presented on this forum in that time, your dedication is impressive.

Like JeffVc, I read the book from cover to cover. The biggest takeaway for me is the concept that in our physical reality, we have limited time and limited control over it but from our mental point of view of time, we feel we should have almost unlimited control of our time and unlimited options. No wonder we seem less than satisfied or at ease with our accomplishments and experiences. The book was an eye opener and I highly recommend it.

I got the ebook and added the Audible narration so I could listen, read, or read along while I listen. It’s 6 hours long and I’m 2 hours in. What George mentioned has been repeated many times already, so I’m wondering if it’s ever going to move on for the other 4 hours or not. It does seem like the type of thing I need to hear but, to take a cue from the book itself: do I really want to spend my time reading it? Haha. I probably will but the table of contents isn’t giving me a lot of confidence.

For me, what I took away is that I need to be clear in myself that I'm not ever going to get all my todo's done, and accept that I can only do so much each day and focus on the few that I actually can do something about. And then not stress about it too much. To learn to accept that some things will take time (chapter about Patience) and no amount of time management is going to make it faster. (So basically like what George said.)

For anyone who has his priorities and goals clear and already has a good system in place, then I don't think this book will add to that. He did provide some concrete tips at the end (the one Avrum mentioned about closed and open list). Kind of reminded me of DIT.

@JeffVC: " why you want another time management system or set of rules to help you get more done. ...ways to control a future which is in no way guaranteed, or strive toward a future self which can never materialize because we're never quite satisfied with the way things are"

Good reminders. Humans might need to just be more humble and accepting of our limitations. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronos#/media/File:Pierre_Mignard_(1610-1695)_-_Time_Clipping_Cupid's_Wings_(1694).jpg)