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Next Action Associates - Which books should you be reading about GTD?

Thumbnail of the video “Next Action Associates - Which books should you be reading about GTD?”
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Author: Next Action Associates
Categories: Education Productivity
Tags: education, productivity
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-16 04:02 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: Start with David Allen's Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (2001) if you are new to GTD, since it is the original, practical, detail-oriented book that lays out the methodology. The speaker also suggests Making It All Work for a high-level framework view, Ready for Anything for short inspirational reviews, and GTD for Teens for younger readers, with a new GTD Workbook due in the autumn.

Key Points

  • Getting Things Done was first published in 2001 and summarized about 25 years of David Allen's work; it has sold just over two million copies and been translated into about 30 languages, according to the speaker.
  • Ready for Anything collects 52 shorter pieces, roughly one per week, written from what were originally email newsletters, covering specific GTD ideas such as the mind sweep.
  • Making It All Work (UK edition) organizes GTD around the five workflow phases (capture, clarify, organize, reflect, engage) and the horizons of focus, which help maintain perspective on long-term goals.
  • GTD for Teens introduces GTD to younger readers and is also useful for parents and carers; the speaker reports that a wife found it more appealing than other GTD books.
  • A new book, GTD Workbook, is expected in the autumn, focused on walking readers through implementing GTD.

Details Worth Noting

  • Concrete instructions: The video gives no step-by-step procedure. Its actionable guidance is to choose a book by need: read Getting Things Done for a brand-new start with practical implementation; read Making It All Work if you want to understand the framework at a high level before implementing; use Ready for Anything for a quick five-minute review or inspiration; give GTD for Teens to a younger person or use it as a fresh introduction; and watch for the GTD Workbook at your favorite bookseller or online store.
  • The horizons of focus are described as a model that ensures daily actions do not cause you to lose sight of longer-term, strategic goals.
  • The speaker notes that the original book's publisher asked for a sequel, and David Allen replied that the first book had taken 25 years, which is why Ready for Anything was built from earlier newsletter-style content.
  • The speaker says the GTD Workbook is planned for the UK and US in the autumn; translation schedules for other countries were not known.

Bottom Line

Pick the book that matches your stage: Getting Things Done for a full, practical start, and the others for framework understanding, quick inspiration, or younger readers.