Tyranny of the Urgent

This is such a tiny book, but a great read. It gives you a real foundation about how you spend your time. I think it's quite fitting that the book is a small read so it doesn't waste much of your time. : ) I would recommend anyone that works, is a parent, student, or lives on this planet and has many responsibilities, to read this. Helps you get your priority straight.

"Work expands to fill all the available time." I've heard this many times in my life. But why? In large part it's because we don't know what our priorities are in life. Jesus told us how to prioritize our lives and our time. He took time for the important things of life, namely the needs of people. And Jesus took time to rest... on the sea, in the garden, on the mountain. It's not complicated, but it takes effort to overcome our physical human nature in lieu of the guiding of God.

This is a highly recommended booklet that many Christian organizations require, or at least suggest, for their students, ministers or missionaries.It is short (31 booklet pages that can be read in about 30 minutes or less) and easy to read with simple, practical steps for how to prioritize your life activities so that you can have peace knowing that you are doing the important things that are in keeping with your goals, rather than being tyrannized by "urgent," but less important, things. The booklet is addressed to Christians but a non-Christian can apply the principles.I recommend this little book to anyone who considers him/herself to be a servant of God. If you are too busy serving to read this little pamphlet, you might be too busy.This booklet might NOT be helpful to you if:--You already mangage time well AND you feel that you are on track with goals and priorities (but it could be a could reminder or refresher)--You are looking for examples or detailed how-to steps (this book would be a starting point if you haven't started)--You don't want to read anything with God in it.

This is a classic that every Christian should read. It distinguishes between what is urgent on the one hand and what is important on the other hand. This is an essential distinction that every Christian (probably every person) should learn. Hummel then proposes a way to make the important drive the urgent rather than the other way around. This plan uses a daily time with God, a weekly evaluation, and monthly planning.The examples are somewhat dated; he considers a phone on a wall to be obtrusive without imagining mobile phones with texting and social media. Also, his picture of Jesus tends toward that of a really good human teacher. Still, the fundamental point is worth this read of less than 30 minutes.

This classic little booklet from Charles Hummel was one of the earliest resources (first published in 1967) to first introduce the distinction between the important and the urgent that later time and/or life management books such MacKenzie's "The Time Trap" and Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" incorporated. But Hummel introduced it in a Christian and Biblical context where God's Will and Word take precedence in determining what's important. This resource is a simple introduction to time management using the following four steps: decide what's important, discover how one's time is now being spent, budget the hours and follow through. Each step is given some exposition. If one already has Hummel's newer book "Freedom from Tyranny of the Urgent," then this booklet isn't necessary since it is essentially incorporated into the book. But for those Christians who have an initial adversity to the whole concept of time management and scheduling and don't see how it is integral to discipleship or produces greater freedom rather than bondage, this booklet may make you reconsider your belief. For those who want more insight into time and life management from a Christian perspective, read Ken Smith's "It's About Time." Hummel is one of many who recommends it.

I ordered 50 'Tyranny of the Urgent' pamphlets. I recieved only 49 in 3 separate mailings (two envelopes and 1 box). I only received 49 pamphlets.

I bought 5 for my brother!

I seem to spend my day running after my thoughts. Think of what I need upstairs and take off after it. Only to get there and forgot what I went to get. Which leads to another trip downstairs to go where I was standing when the thought occurred to me. I now keep a pen at the top of the stairs and one at the bottom. Just how much of our lives (daily) are hyjacked by all of the urgent things that come up...only to put the IMPORTANT things off to another time. If you find yourself in this Vicious cycle, the three piece set is a definite life changer. I think about it everyday and have since I read it for the first time about 20 years ago. Please order these material and you will make a change in your life!!!

Urgent (and relatively important) matters can often conspire to crowd out the really important things in life. This little book is a call to action against these tyrants. What can be more important than ensuring our eternal destiny is assured. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36. A short read but a message we all need to hear.

This short book is a perfect reminder that we all have the same number of hours in the day to achieve our aims.Stop for a moment and make an inventory, to enable you to live with with greater devotion and productivity. The world as a whole, continues, wherever you are or aren’t in it. Your personal sphere of calm can enhance it so do make time to pray and maintain perspective.

I didn't reckon much to it. I didn't like the fact that it was religious. The Bible is the only book of that nature I would read.

I first read this little booklet about 35 years ago. If your life is disorganised, or too often stressful, this booklet could change your life!

Inspiring work. Practical tools for application in real life. Stresses the importance of priorities with biblical references. Brings aspects of Christ's humanity to light.