Do More Better is a short book with the goal of enabling its readers to live a “calm and orderly life, sure of your responsibilities and confident in your progress” (p. 6). The key to such a life is doing good to others, and productivity aids in that cause (v. 16). Productivity is defined as “effectively stewarding my gifts, talents, time, energy, and enthusiasm for the good of others and the glory of God” (p. 16). Standing in the way of productivity are three thieves: laziness, busyness, and the combination of thorns and thistles (pp. 19-23). To combat these thieves Challies suggests a productivity worksheet, which is downloadable from his website (p. 28), developing a limited mission statement for each area of our responsibilities (p. 36), and living by the motto “a home for everything, and like goes with like” (p. 49).
The heart of the book, however, is three essential online tools: A task management tool (he recommends Todoist), a scheduling tool (he recommends Google Calendar) and an informational tool (he recommends Evernote) (pp. 46-49). The rest of the book informs the reader of how to set up and use each of these tools. As a bonus Callies gives ideas on taming our email (pp. 105-114) as well as twenty tips to increase productivity (pp. 115-119).
Do More Better is full of helpful ideas and instruction on how to increase ones productivity. But of course these suggestions have to be implemented and herein lies the rub.
by Tim Challies (Cruciform Press, 2015), 120 pp paper $9.99
Reviewed by Gary E. Gilley, Pastor-teacher at Southern View Chapel