• 18 Minutes

  • Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done
  • By: Peter Bregman
  • Narrated by: Peter Bregman
  • Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (408 ratings)

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18 Minutes  By  cover art

18 Minutes

By: Peter Bregman
Narrated by: Peter Bregman
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Publisher's summary

Based upon his weekly Harvard Business Review column (one of the most popular columns on HBR.com, receiving hundreds of thousands of unique page views a month), 18 Minutes clearly shows how busy people can cut through all the daily clutter and distractions and find a way to focus on those key items that are truly the top priorities in our lives.

Bregman works from the premise that the best way to combat constant and distracting interruptions is to create productive distractions of one's own. Based upon a series of short bite-sized chapters, his approach allows us to safely navigate through the constant chatter of emails, text messages, phone calls, and endless meetings that prevent us from focusing our time on those things that are truly important to us.

Mixing first-person insights along with unique case studies, Bregman sprinkles his charming audiobook with pathways that help guide us - pathways that can get us on the right trail in 18 minutes or less.

©2011 Peter Bregman (P)2011 Hachette Audio

What listeners say about 18 Minutes

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Really great system

I have found Peter Bregman's method very helpful and simple. The whole book could probably be summarized in about an hour but his stories are engaging. I would recommend this book if you find the days going by too fast and you feel like you are not really accomplishing what you would like.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not for everyone

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

18 Minutes offered interesting ideas on how to get through the day, but the ideas cannot be applied to all jobs. Only those who have the choice of what work is assinged to them can really use the suggestions.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed Bregman's enthusiasm for his book but had a hard time following at times. It was difficult to tell where one chapter ended and another began.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Right Advice at the Right Time

What made the experience of listening to 18 Minutes the most enjoyable?

I was struggling with a major career decision when I listened to this book, and it gave me the exact advice I needed to stop struggling and make the right choice. I found this book filled with great advice and useful ideas. Will definitely listen to it again soon so that I can take notes and recall things I've forgotten.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent advise, thought provoking and very helpf

If you could sum up 18 Minutes in three words, what would they be?

Get it done!

What other book might you compare 18 Minutes to and why?

Brian Tracy's work

What about Peter Bregman’s performance did you like?

Good delivery

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Get serious about doing your work and purpose for being on the planet!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Practical and to the point!

Would you listen to 18 Minutes again? Why?

Absolutelly. It has daily tips and topics that we need to be reminded constantly to achieve great success

Would you recommend 18 Minutes to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

An unfocused book, but it had many good ideas

What made the experience of listening to 18 Minutes the most enjoyable?

The book does contain several good pieces of advice for people who need to figure out what they would like to do and provides helpful (or at least innovative) suggestions for how they go about doing so. Some things are new and some things are common sense. However, people uncertain about their direction in life (and are stressed out about it) probably benefit from being told the common sense stuff too, even if they already know it.

What about Peter Bregman’s performance did you like?

He speaks clearly, with conviction, and with a story teller's flair.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It is remarkably unfocused. The thread meanders so much that you are often left wondering what the particular anecdote or section has to do with obtaining focus. Many of the examples, or the metaphor of Google Earth are groanworthy, in that they are examples so frequently cited by others or are the meme of the day.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

not so good

I feel like I just waisted my money listening to this person. if their is a refund I will be glad to apply for it to get my money back. he is so boring and you don't get no benefit from his idea or writhing.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

HIGHLY Recommended....

Listening to this audio book, it was astounding how much I could relate to. It was like the author had read my mind and uncovered the hidden mental struggles and unanswered questions that have floated around in my mind, waiting for something to trigger an 'aha moment'. Well, listening to this book, I quickly realized I need this as an eBook, as well....the message is just too valuable not to thoroughly absorb visually and audibly to learn and take the action I know I need to make, yet didn't know why or how to move forward....Awesome book. Thank you for this.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not worth the price

Mostly obvious life lessons wrapped in cliche allegories. This book should be tossed into the $0.89 bin where it belong. It would be like paying $20 for a hot dog to a street vendor, ridiculous.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book with many daily life experiences

What made the experience of listening to 18 Minutes the most enjoyable?

The book is useful for day to day problems.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No you need to reflect on some recommendations

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1 person found this helpful