Books

Probably no skill is more important to achieving our goals and realizing our success than the ability to craft the best questions. In this small book David provides a compelling explanation of why this is so, and provides some excellent guidelines for crafting the best questions possible in any number of circumstances or life situations. This...

In 'Cornerstones of Civilized Society' David does a deep dive into the four pillars (cornerstones) of civilized societies worldwide and across time. If you are interested in the essential components of civilization then this is the book for you. It takes a somewhat complex topic and makes it clear and understandable. Hopefully, reading this...

In this concise and densely packed book David Allen does an excellent job of describing just what curiosity consists of, why it’s important and how anyone can foster its growth. Few books on the topic will pay such rich dividends for the time invested. This book is essential reading for anyone wishing to improve their quality of life and...

In his first book of poetry David expresses himself in his own simple voice. The topics are varied and are the result of his wide ranging interests. You may find something of yourself in these simple poems.

In this book David helps us to understand the nature of problems. That is, what makes a problem a problem in the first place? He makes the case that problems are beneficial. They help us grow. He clarifies what all problems have in common and then derives from this commonalty a blueprint for solving all types of problems. He then applies these...

In this installment of the ‘Understand the Great Ideas’ series David explains the concept of order. First he defines it, then he explains why the concept is important and how the idea has changed over time. Next, he explains the two primary types of order, planned and spontaneous. And finally, he lays out the implications of those two types of...

In this installment of the ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ series David helps us understand what comprises human nature, why it is important to understand, how our understanding has evolved over time, the two basic views of human nature and the implications of these different views. Understanding human nature will enable you to have better...

In this installment of the ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ series David helps us to understand the concept of censorship, how it manifests itself, why it’s important to understand and how we can push back against it and champion free speech. There has probably never been a time when this topic was of more importance.

In this installment of the ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ series David take us on a tour of the idea of culture. We swim about in culture much like a fish swims in water. We are often unaware of the culture in which we are submersed, and are less well off than we might be as a result. David provides a clear definition and explanation of...

In this installment of the ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ series David helps us understand just what constitutes boundaries, the historical evolution of boundaries, why they are so important and the most vital types of boundaries. After reading this you will have a fresh appreciation for a concept you probably have little understood or...

In this next installment of his series ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ David helps us to understand what constitutes ‘Self-deception, why we all engage in it from time to time, the two types of self-deception, the effects self-deception has on society and how to avoid deceiving ourselves as much as is humanely possible.

In installment number 14 of his ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ series David takes on the topic of ‘Envy’ the green eyed monster. Along the way he will explain the meaning of envy and differentiate it from jealousy. He will help us understand the nature of envy, including its evolutionary roots. He will demonstrate its impact on society in...

In installment number 14 of his ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ series David takes us on a tour of the concept of trust. What it is, why it’s important and how to plant and nourish it. All of society is built upon trust, which is why this small volume is a valuable addition to the literature on the topic.

In this next installment of his ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ series David delves into the emotion that has more effect on human life than even that of love. The emotion is hate. It is the primary driver in so much of people’s behavior and is certainly on display today across the political spectrum.

In ‘Man’s Search for Certainty’ David explains the connection between certainty and meaning in our lives. He provides us with a definition of certainty, a brief survey of the idea’s history, makes a case for the concept’s importance, and provides suggestions for making the valuable things in our lives more certain and stable.

If and when a person stops believing in a supernatural god, does that mean that there is nothing worth believing in? Not so says David. There are other, and in David’s opinion superior belief systems to embrace. Humanism is one such system. It provides a rational explanation and impetus for man’s capability and responsibility to lead a moral...

In this final installment of the 12 book series entitled ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ David delves into the topic of morality. What it is. How it has been understood historically. Why it is important. And, what is the most rational and defensible foundation for morality. The topic is important and David’s exploration of it is informative.

In this installment of the ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ series David explores the fascinating topic of meaning. This is an idea that seeks to define itself. David provides us with a working understanding of the concept of meaning, a brief survey of its historical evolution and makes a strong case for why we should care.

In this next installment in the ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ series David explores the quintessential concept of love. There is probably no emotion or relationship more powerful than that of love. David explains what love consists of, how the understanding of love has evolved over the ages and why the concept is so important.

In installment number nine in the ‘Understanding the Great ideas’ series David takes us on a tour of happiness. What it is, why it’s important, how it has been understood historically and what you and I can do to increase our own happiness and that of those around us. Happiness is considered the ‘summon bonum’, or that which is the highest value...

In the next installment of the ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ series David takes us on a tour of the idea of property and the pivotal role it plays in civilized society. He make a compelling case for property as the foundation for all morality. In this small volume you will learn much about the concept of property that you have never been...

In this small volume David explores the concept of goodness. What do we mean by good? How has goodness been understood historically? Why is the idea of goodness important? How can we have more of the good in our lives?

In this installment of his ‘Understanding the Great Ideas’ series David explores the idea of friendship. He offers a simple and understandable definition. He then provides sound reasons for why it is so important to human flourishing and finally provides guidance for how to begin and sustain quality friendships. Anyone can benefit from reading...

In this installment of the 'Understanding the Great Ideas' series David explains the history, meaning and importance of the idea or concept of justice. He explores its implications both for the individual and also for society at large. If the topic of justice is of interest to you then this book will make a worthwhile contribution to your...

In this small volume David explores the fascinating topic of rationality. What does it mean to be rational? How does our use of reason make us rational? Why is rationality so important? Is it possible to improve our ability to reason and our rationality? Little is more important in life than our ability to think rationally and logically when...

The concept or idea of truth is as important and central to western thought as any other. In this small volume David helps us to understand just what is meant by truth, why understanding the idea is do important, what are some factors which hinder truth, and how we can promote and support the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it makes us feel.

It’s difficult to conceive of a concept or idea more important than that of freedom. If we are not free to explore and express ourselves, then what are we to do? This small volume explains the concept of freedom’s meaning, its importance and how we can contribute to its continuation and proliferation.

In this small volume David explores the idea of progress. In western culture particularly. He provides a definition, explores the concept’s importance, traces its history and ties it altogether to make a rather complex topic simple to understand.

In this small volume David explores and explains the function of evidence in our understanding of reality. He compares how people of faith (the religious) and people of reason (the rational) view evidence and how knowledge can be obtained. The contrast is stark and the implications are of the utmost importance. If the topics of knowledge and...

In this small volume David explains how he was able to write and publish 15 books in 45 days. He then proceeds to offer important advice for any aspiring author. If becoming a successful author is your dream, then this book will provide some excellent assistance in realizing it.

It doesn’t matter whether you are promoting a product, a service or an idea, the key to success is employing the right marketing or promotional strategies. As Cavett Robert (the founder of the National Speaker’s Association) noted; some people have a good deal of valuable information to share but are not good at promoting themselves. They rarely...

No topic is more central to what it means to be human than that of thinking. In this condensed volume David takes you on a whirlwind tour of the topic of thought. What it is, why it’s important and how to improve it. There is not a person alive who will not benefit from reading this excellent work. It would be nearly impossible not to learn...

Probably nothing is more essential to our success in every area of our lives than being self-aware. In this short volume David lays out clearly and concisely just what being self-aware entails. He then proceeds to provide a simple actionable strategy for becoming more self-aware and thus more competent to live the ‘good life’ and leave something...

One way of viewing life is a series of small or intermediate goals we aim to achieve in order to accomplish our overarching life goal. In this small volume David explains simply yet elegantly just what goals are, why they need to be clear, and how we can improve our chances of realizing them. Do not let the brevity of this book deceive you. It...

In these commercialized times we are often fooled, by ourselves with the help of others, into believing that having more things will satisfy us and eventually lead to happiness. This of course is not true. Satisfaction actually lies in freeing ourselves from servitude to the material. This does not imply that we don’t need and cannot appreciate...

In this book David Allen explores the topic of failure. What it is. Is it always a bad thing? How to turn failure into success, and so much more. If you have been dissuaded from pursuing your dreams and life goals by some type of defeat, then this small volume will help you get back on your feet and on track to realizing your potential. The...

Everyday each and every one of us is confronted with a host of decisions which need making. Some of these decisions have already been essentially made. Others will be made almost entirely emotionally. The rest are those ranging from the mundane to the critical which must be made on the basis of evidence and reason. This book is concerned with...

This short book takes a long look at the very important topics of learning and especially lifelong learning. Here you will learn what learning is all about, why continuous learning is so important, and how the key to staying young is to never stop being curious or increasing your store of knowledge and understanding. You will also find tools to...

This book is a most interesting deep dive into the topic of stupidity. What it is. How prevalent it is. Why it’s dangerous. And how to protect yourself from its harmful effects. If you’ve never considered the implications of the stupidity which surrounds us, then here is your chance. This book is a distillation of the literature on the subject,...

Having lived all over the country and having had more careers than almost anyone else, David Allen has a fine appreciation for the concept of purpose. He also has a keen understanding of how to go about determining what our overarching purpose in life is, and how to go about making it a reality. This small book will provide the tools you need to...

This small book is densely packed with actionable information to help anyone come up with good to great ideas and then put them to work. This is a road map for idea generation. Follow it. As David points out, it isn’t the great ideas that change the world, it’s the good ones which are acted upon.

Cracking the Communication Code does just that. Whether you are a professional communicator or simply a lay person wishing to enhance your ability to communicate with the important people in your life, friends, family, associates, clients, etc., this book has the information you need. Do not be fooled by this book’s small size, the contents are...

Confessions of a Contractor is a unique book about the remodeling, renovation, and home improvement industry. Specifically, it addresses the problems that frequently occur with such projects. It provides a simple and clear strategy for avoiding the most common problems homeowners often encounter when taking on these types of projects. While the...