How to be a Productivity Ninja. Forget Time Management: How to Get Things Done in the Age of Information Overload [Kindle Edition]

I bought this book on the strength of the sample chapter and the simple way it presents things. I think it's a decent book for an executive who is feeling completely overwhelmed with everything in his life but has no idea where to start. This book is a non-threatening way to do so. However, I would suggest looking at David Allen's classic "Getting Things Done", which this book seems only to be a watered-down version of.

The book turns traditional time management on its head, and asks us to accept the fact that we're never actually going to get `everything' done - so instead we should focus on finding ways to ensure that we're always doing the most appropriate thing at any given time. The book works its way through the CORD (collect, organise, review and do) system as a way of collating, processing and prioritising workloads.

Written in an engaging, down-to-earth tone, anecdotes and real-life examples are used throughout the book to illustrate ideas. The book's key metaphor, of approaching your work as a `ninja', gives a light-hearted approach that works really well. Developing ninja attributes such as zen-like calm, ruthlessness and unorthodoxy is an idea that gives a new spin to how we can work as efficiently and effectively as possible in the age of `information overload'.

As a coach myself I've worked with lots of people who have suffered with procrastination, lack of clarity and overload, and the engaging, straightforward advice Allcott given addresses these issues with simple tools, tricks and methods that stop us getting overwhelmed. He suggests a system that acts as a `second brain' - essentially getting everything out of your head and into a system that you can rely on and trust, and that won't fall to pieces when a sudden emergency rears its ugly head at work or at home and leave you wanting to throw in the towel.

I've read a few time management / productivity books, and this is the best so far. Loved it and would recommend it to anyone who has lots of balls to juggle!

Having been so enthused and energised by the 'Think Productive' workshops I have already attended, I sat down with the book with a sense of excitement about what I was about to learn! Graham's writing style makes this a very engaging read, and the prompts to think practically about the concepts introduced as you go along were helpful and if used properly will set you up with a great action plan on how to change your habits.

As a convert to the Think Productive models, I can honestly say that implementing the suggestions here has reduced my work based stress hugely, and work is not something I go home and worry about at all. I know I am on top of a complex workload, my inbox, and actions lists are all under control and if it's not getting done I know that this is because it isn't that important anyway!!!

I got many hints and tips from the book, some new, and some a reminder from the workshops. I would highly recommend and have already brought copies for colleagues. If only everyone could work in this way :)