Don’t Read this Book

As creative people, we have ideas. Some of us have many ideas, others have really good ones, and most of us have many really good ideas. But most of these never see the light of day. Why? If you ask a creative person, the answer will always revolve around time. We simply need time to execute an idea (and do it well) — more time than we have.

Don’t Read This Book focuses on how to make choices about everything you do in your daily creative practice and life. The book follows the 'To Don't List' method: When you say 'no' to one idea, you have more time to execute another one. In short: the more you subtract, the more focus and time you get.

The book is divided into three parts: Life, Workplace, and Projects. It covers everything from defining your life goals, to writing a five sentence-long email, to leaving out as much as possible in a project.

Whether you are a student or professional, this book will save you time. (Of course, if you don’t read it, you will save some time directly.)

Donald Roos is an independent typographic designer, entrepreneur, and teacher at the Royal Academy of Art in the Netherlands. In his daily life as a designer, he creates movie titles for motion pictures and national television. He also designs complex interfaces and teaches type design and typography. He set up several online projects because he loves to execute new ideas. His biggest problem: too much to do and too little time. That's why he came up with the To Don't List method and this book.