GTD - "Reading a Book"
I have a reading pile the size of Texas waiting for me. Any thoughts on how to identify a project/next action for literally "reading a book?"
I'm struggling with this and the best I come up with is a project called "Books to Read," with a list of tasks being the titles of the books I want to read, and then putting the next candidate on top of the list.
Any better ideas than this, or is just having a list the ticket?
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2 Posted by Proximo on 02 Aug, 2010 06:16 PM
Glenn,
Sometimes the simple idea is the best idea.
I read a lot and I also have a long list of books that I want to read. I think having a Project with each task as the book title would work just fine, as long as it works for you.
I have an Evernote list of books I want to read and use this to keep track of what books I have yet to read.
Once you decided which is the next book to read, you must purchase it. This may be a small project with a couple of simple task such as.
I will be honest here and say that I don't do this at all. I simply choose the book that I want to read next from my list in Evernote and create a single task called.
"Purchase ABC Book"
If I like buying books from a book store, I will have a context called "Errand" and simply order the book.
If I like buying books on-line, I will have a context called "Internet" to remind me that I can purchase this book anywhere I have access to the internet.
That's it.
When the book arrives, I set aside times of the day for reading. I don't keep a project on reading the book, I don't have a chapter goal by task for reading the book.
I keep things simple and have read many books successfully. I also use Evernote to write down notes specific to a book I am reading for future reference.
Reading is a habit that does not need the granular control of other task or projects.
If I have a goal to read the book in 1 month, I simply figure out how many chapters it has, I figure out how many chapters I need to read daily or weekly to accomplish that goal and I use a Sticky tab to mark where I should be by the end of the week.
Simple but effective.
3 Posted by Glenn on 02 Aug, 2010 06:32 PM
Thanks Proximo. I needed another viewpoint here. I'm using Evernote too, but need to update my organization there at some point (new task! : -) )
I like the idea of using "purchase" for books I want to read, but don't have. My immediate project is dealing with the pile of books I already have that I want to read. I think I'll just start adding them to the "list" and knocking 'em off one by one.
4 Posted by Proximo on 02 Aug, 2010 10:01 PM
There are many ways to accomplish your goal. I always suggest to stick with the simplest solution that works for you.
I have seen people create extremely complicated projects with many books to read and every step to accomplish the purchase of the book, what chapters are going to be read and when.
I just don't see the point.
I read on average of one full book per month and I sometimes read two books. I normally read Productivity and Self Improvement books that are not always short or easy to read. Keeping things simple allows me to focus on the reading and not preparing. Kinda like Nirvana when compared to the system I used in the past. :-)
Just saying. :-)
5 Posted by Glenn on 02 Aug, 2010 10:26 PM
"I just don't see the point."
100% agreed!
6 Posted by Glenn on 11 Aug, 2010 07:27 PM
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David McLaughlin closed this discussion on 01 Feb, 2011 04:04 PM.