Zen to done

Zen To Done (ZTD) is a productivity system built around habits. It aims to keep tasks and projects organized, the workday structured, the desk and email inbox clear, and attention on the work that needs doing.

The book is for readers who want to get their lives in order and actually carry out what sits on their to-do list. Its method is to change existing habits rather than pile on new tools.

The author writes in the first person and argues from his own record. Using the habit-changing techniques he lays out, he quit smoking, took up running, ate healthier, finished a marathon and a triathlon, and lost more than 20 pounds. He also doubled his income, got his finances in order, has nearly cleared his debt, and started a successful blog.

As a practical self-help guide, it keeps the system simple and puts the weight on building habits one at a time. The question it turns on is whether a person can change the routines that keep a to-do list from getting done.