Essentialism isn't about getting more done in less time. It's about getting only the right things done. Have you ever found yourself stretched too thin? Do you simultaneously feel overworked and underutilized? Are you often busy but not productive? Do you feel like your time is constantly being hijacked by other people's agendas? If you answered yes to any of these, the way out is the Way of the Essentialist. Essentialism is more than a time-management strategy or a productivity technique. It is a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not, so we can make the highest possible contribution toward the things that really matter. By forcing us to apply more selective criteria for what is Essential, the disciplined pursuit of less empowers us to reclaim control of our own choices about where to spend our precious time and energy -- instead of giving others the implicit permission to choose for us. Essentialism is not one more thing. It's a whole new way of doing everything. It's about doing less, but better, in every area of our lives. Essentialism is a movement whose time has come. - Jacket flap.

Part I: ESSENCE. The essentialist ; Choose: the invincible power of choice ; Discern: the unimportance of practically everything ; Trade-off: Which problem do I want? -- Part II: EXPLORE. Escape: the perks of being unavailable ; Look: see what really matters ; Play: embrace the wisdom of your inner child ; Sleep: protect the asset ; Select: the power of extreme criteria -- Part III: ELIMINATE. Clarify: one decision that makes a thousand ; Dare: the power of a graceful "no" ; Uncommit: win big by cutting your losses ; Edit: the invisible art ; Limit: the freedom of setting boundaries -- Part IV: EXECUTE. Buffer: the unfair advantage ; Subtract: bring forth more by removing obstacles ; Progress: the power of small wins ; Flow: the genius of routine ; Focus: What's important now? ; Be: the essentialist life -- Appendix: Leadership essentials.