Books from David Allen

The Inevitable

A New York Times BestsellerFrom one of our leading technology thinkers and writers, a guide through the twelve technological imperatives that will shape the next thirty years and transform our livesMuch of what will happen in the next thirty years is inevitable, driven by technological trends that are already in motion. In this fascinating, provocative new book, Kevin Kelly provides an optimistic road map for the future, showing how the coming changes in our lives—from virtual reality in the home to an on-demand economy to artificial intelligence embedded in everything we manufacture—can be understood as the result of a few long-term, accelerating forces. Kelly both describes these deep trends—interacting, cognifying, flowing, screening, accessing, sharing, filtering, remixing, tracking, and questioning—and demonstrates how they overlap and are codependent on one another. These larger forces will completely revolutionize the way we buy, work, learn, and communicate with each other. By understanding and embracing them, says Kelly, it will be easier for us to remain on top of the coming wave of changes and to arrange our day-to-day relationships with technology in ways that bring forth maximum benefits. Kelly’s bright, hopeful book will be indispensable to anyone who seeks guidance on where their business, industry, or life is heading—what to invent, where to work, in what to invest, how to better reach customers, and what to begin to put into place—as this new world emerges.
David Allen
Entrepreneur, Writer
Kevin’s a cool guy. He was the initial editor of Wired magazine. Kevin said that the reason it’s called ‘The Inevitable’ is that these are 12 trends that are going on, and whether you like them or not, they are not going to stop.
Books from David Allen

The Checklist Manifesto

The New York Times bestselling author of Better and Complications reveals the surprising power of the ordinary checklistWe live in a world of great and increasing complexity, where even the most expert professionals struggle to master the tasks they face. Longer training, ever more advanced technologies—neither seems to prevent grievous errors. But in a hopeful turn, acclaimed surgeon and writer Atul Gawande finds a remedy in the humblest and simplest of techniques: the checklist. First introduced decades ago by the U.S. Air Force, checklists have enabled pilots to fly aircraft of mind-boggling sophistication. Now innovative checklists are being adopted in hospitals around the world, helping doctors and nurses respond to everything from flu epidemics to avalanches. Even in the immensely complex world of surgery, a simple ninety-second variant has cut the rate of fatalities by more than a third. In riveting stories, Gawande takes us from Austria, where an emergency checklist saved a drowning victim who had spent half an hour underwater, to Michigan, where a cleanliness checklist in intensive care units virtually eliminated a type of deadly hospital infection. He explains how checklists actually work to prompt striking and immediate improvements. And he follows the checklist revolution into fields well beyond medicine, from disaster response to investment banking, skyscraper construction, and businesses of all kinds. An intellectual adventure in which lives are lost and saved and one simple idea makes a tremendous difference, The Checklist Manifesto is essential reading for anyone working to get things right.
David Allen
Entrepreneur, Writer
Yes, that’s been out there for quite a while, as you know. But it’s just such a classic. Atul—who is a great guy, a super smart, major well-known surgeon in the US—quite simply said, ‘Pilots have checklists, but surgeons don’t.’ The reason is that the pilots are in the plane, right. So I guess if you were operating on yourself, you’d be pretty damn well sure you had a checklist because you’re experiencing the effects of that.
Books from David Allen

Brainchains

In this book "BRAINCHAINS" you discover your brain, to unleash its full potential in a hyperconnected, multitasking world Prof Dr Theo Compernolle studied over 600 publications, surveyed 1200 professionals and wrote another easy readable and practical book.As a medical doctor, neuropsychiatrist and scholar with decades of experience in medical schools and business schools in many countries, he integrates science from many domains. What is your most important tool to be successful as a professional? Your brain!What do you know about your thinking brain? Nothing.The sad result: a majority of knowledge workers ruin the performance of their magnificent brain, and obstruct the matchless potential of their brain-ICT collaboration (Information and Communication Technologies).Taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of your brain you will also get the best results from your brain-ICT synergy. -Part 1: How your reflecting brain, your archiving brain and your reflex brain influence your thinking-Part 2: The BrainChains: how always being connected, multitasking, stress and lack of sleep ruin your performance-Part 3: Practical tools and tips to unchain your brain-The fifth BrainChain; "Badly Designed Offices" about disastrous open offices is a FREE BOOKLET at www.brainchains.org "Eye-opener! A great read for all of us who are "juggling-it-all," work and family, are interested in increasing productivity and to get the most of our brains AND our smart phones.Marjan Inbar, Senior Communications Consultant, NY. USA ..".quite a feat to integrate research from so many domains and turn them in a very readable, inspiring, useful often surprising and even stirring book... not only the problems... but also the solutions..."Daniel Blumberg, Principal and Investor, NY ..". a compelling, meticulously researched, and cleverly illustrated case against the twin tyrannies of hyperconnectivity and multitasking... also shows how to free ourselves from them" Nélida and Jorge Colapinto (Psychologists). Wynnewood. PA. USA "Read this book if you'd like to learn how to master information technology, rather than have it master you and letting it get in the way of doing your best work." Prof Peter Cappelli.G.W. Taylor Professor of Management. The Wharton School. Philadelphia. USA ..".Multitasking is impossible! Understanding and accepting this, helped me to refocus on tasks which matters and to rediscover my creativity. I used the short MULTITASKING test in my meetings in our global organization. It's exciting to see everywhere the "aha"-epiphany!"Dr. Peter zum Hebel, Vice President, Manufacturing, Kemira Germany ..". a revelation for me and helped me better understand why people do what they do in a health & safety context. An essential and easy read for practical people, who want to know how people work and what can be practically done to maximize their efficiency and reduce human error"Malc Staves, Global Health & Safety Director, L'Oréal .Paris France ..". an easy to read "page turner..". which I feel everyone in the "connected" world should read"Dave Scott President Barco, Inc. USA ..".everybody is complaining about a continuous input overload. Yet the real quandary is: while we are continuously flooded by the breakers of redundant signals we do suffer from a lack of relevant information. Theo Compernolle describes and analyzes this state of affairs and its impact on our daily life and our habitual and creative performance."Gottlieb GUNTERN, President of CREANDO - International Foundation for Creativity & Leadership, Switzerland ..".This book shows me a so powerful human brain ... Looking inside into my brain, I get my idea to have my life back under my own control... and recapture time to love and be loved..."Wei TAO, Business Information Manager of DSM China
David Allen
Entrepreneur, Writer
Well, you should understand just a very simple idea that Theo talks about: there are three parts of your brain. The most evolutionary, oldest part is the limbic part—that’s the survival one. That’s the one that lives in the present. That’s the one that recognizes tigers and bears and thunderstorms and berries and things to eat and so forth. It’s the execution part of your brain that works extremely well to keep you alive on the savannah and in the jungle.
Books from David Allen

The Organized Mind

Author and neuroscientist Daniel Levitin tackles the problems of twenty-first century information overload in his New York Times bestselling book The Organized Mind.'The Organized Mind is smart, important, and as always, exquisitely written' - Daniel Gilbert, Harvard University, author of Stumbling on HappinessOverwhelmed by demands on your time? Baffled by the sheer volume of data?You're not alone: modern society is in a state of information overload. The Organized Mind investigates this phenomenon and the effect it has on us, analysing how and why our brains are struggling to keep up with the demands of the digital age.The twenty-first century sees us drowning under emails, forever juggling six tasks at once and trying to make complex decisions ever more quickly. Using a combination of academic research and examples from daily life, neuroscientist and bestselling author Daniel Levitin explains how to take back control of your life.This book will take you through every aspect of modern life, from healthcare to online dating to raising kids, showing that the secret to success is always organization. Levitin's research is surprising, powerful and will change the way you see the world. It's time to learn why there's no such thing as multitasking, why email is so addictive and why all successful people need a junk drawer.In a world where information is power, The Organized Mind holds the key to harnessing that information and making it work for you.Dr. Daniel J. Levitin has a PhD in Psychology, training at Stanford University Medical School and UC Berkeley. He is the author of the No. 1 bestseller This Is Your Brain On Music (Dutton, 2006), published in nineteen languages, and The World in Six Songs (Dutton, 2008) which hit the bestseller lists in its first week of release. Currently he is a James McGill Professor of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience and Music at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
David Allen
Entrepreneur, Writer
He’s Professor Emeritus at McGill University, Fellow of the Haas School of Business at Berkeley . . . I mean, this guy’s got creds up the wazoo. I thought that was great—and it’s a good reminder for anybody who thinks that you should just carry stuff around in your head to grow up.He’s Professor Emeritus at McGill University, Fellow of the Haas School of Business at Berkeley . . . I mean, this guy’s got creds up the wazoo. I thought that was great—and it’s a good reminder for anybody who thinks that you should just carry stuff around in your head to grow up.