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Politics Social Sciences

By Self Publishing Titans
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

by Oliver Burkeman

4.6 (10138 ratings)
Politics Social Sciences

Published

August 10, 2021

Pages

290 pages

Language

English

Publisher

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Available Formats & Prices

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Hardcover

$14.53

Paperback

$11.82

Audiobook

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About This Book

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Provocative and appealing . . .

well worth your extremely limited time." —Barbara Spindel, The Wall Street Journal The average human lifespan is absurdly, insultingly brief. Assuming you live to be eighty, you have just over four thousand weeks. Nobody needs telling there isn’t enough time.

We’re obsessed with our lengthening to-do lists, our overfilled inboxes, work-life balance, and the ceaseless battle against distraction; and we’re deluged with advice on becoming more productive and efficient, and “life hacks” to optimize our days. But such techniques often end up making things worse. The sense of anxious hurry grows more intense, and still the most meaningful parts of life seem to lie just beyond the horizon.

Still, we rarely make the connection between our daily struggles with time and the ultimate time management problem: the challenge of how best to use our four thousand weeks. Drawing on the insights of both ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, Oliver Burkeman delivers an entertaining, humorous, practical, and ultimately profound guide to time and time management. Rejecting the futile modern fixation on “getting everything done,” Four Thousand Weeks introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing finitude, showing how many of the unhelpful ways we’ve come to think about time aren’t inescapable, unchanging truths, but choices we’ve made as individuals and as a society—and that we could do things differently.

Introduction

In a world obsessed with productivity and efficiency, Oliver Burkeman's 'Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals' offers a refreshing perspective on the true essence of time management. Instead of providing typical tips and tricks to squeeze every minute from the day, Burkeman invites readers to reevaluate their relationship with time altogether. He explores the finite nature of human existence and challenges the endless pursuit of productivity, encouraging us to appreciate the limited time we actually have on this planet.

Through thought-provoking narratives and insightful reflections, the book becomes a guide to living a more fulfilling life.

Key Takeaways

Life's brevity emphasizes choosing what truly matters over trying to do everything. Embracing time's limits encourages prioritizing quality over quantity in our endeavors. Accepting impermanence allows a focus on meaningful experiences and genuine connections.

Detailed Description

Oliver Burkeman's 'Four Thousand Weeks' delves into the paradox of our efforts to control time in an attempt to lead meaningful lives. He argues that the obsession with maximizing productivity often leads to missing out on life's true essence. Instead of becoming more efficient he advocates for embracing the limits of time.

Through personal anecdotes and philosophical insights the book highlights how acknowledging life's brevity can transform our approach to time management. Burkeman encourages readers to prioritize tasks that truly matter and find fulfillment in imperfection. By accepting that we cannot do it all we discover peace in intentional living.

The book further examines societal pressures that push us to overcommitting and perpetually chasing the next big achievement. Burkeman suggests that resisting these pressures liberates us from unrealistic expectations. He emphasizes focusing on meaningful interactions and present moments rather than future accomplishments.

Burkeman's thoughtful exploration of time management redefines our perception of success and productivity. 'Four Thousand Weeks' becomes a beacon of wisdom inviting readers to savor time in a world that often undervalues presence and simplicity. His insights offer solace to those overwhelmed by the demands of modern living.

Ultimately Four Thousand Weeks' is a profound meditation on mortality that challenges conventional wisdom on time management. Through his compassionate and candid approach Burkeman encourages us to embrace life's uncertain span and find richness in the time we have.

Standout Features

The book challenges conventional time management philosophies by emphasizing embracing life's limitations rather than overcoming them allowing a more intentional and present approach to living Its blend of philosophical musings and practical wisdom creates a compelling narrative that resonates with anyone who feels overwhelmed by the pursuit of productivity and success Oliver Burkeman's candid and relatable writing style invites readers to confront their fears regarding time mortality and purpose fostering a deeper understanding of what truly matters.

Book Details

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Specifications

Pages:290 pages
Language:English
Published:August 10, 2021
Publisher:Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Authors:Oliver Burkeman

Rating

4.6

Based on 10138 ratings

Customer Reviews

A great book, marred by political dross.

Verified Purchase
Vince
April 3, 2024

3.5 stars would be more accurate, but I side on the positive. I just finished reading the main portion of this book and the afterword. While it has certainly helped the existential funk I've been in over the last few months, I can't help but believe this book will become incredibly dated within the next few years. The author falls victim to not only assuming the reader aligns with him politically, but uses the limited political views of the time the book was made to make several crucial points which seem naïve in hindsight and mar what could have been a timeless classic. The book is certainly worth reading, but it can also be alienating. YMMV.

Literally, time management for mortals :)

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Karla Ybarra
August 28, 2024

4,000 Weeks" is truly a life-changing book. It’s a perfectly crafted blend of self-help and philosophical writing, and it stands out as a wonderfully provocative read. Unlike the typical productivity guides that offer new tricks to cram more into your day, this book takes a refreshing and deeper approach: it questions why we feel the need to do so in the first place. What makes "4,000 Weeks" so impactful is that it doesn’t promise magical solutions to life’s challenges. Instead, it dives into the internal struggles we all face, using humor and keen observations to make us more humble and empathetic towards ourselves. It explores the very human experience of time in a way that feels both insightful and liberating. Rather than adding more to our to-do lists, this book invites us to re-evaluate our relationship with time and what truly matters. It’s a gentle reminder to embrace our limitations and focus on what’s genuinely important, making us more mindful of how we spend our finite weeks. I found "4,000 Weeks" to be incredibly insightful and resonant, offering not just advice, but a profound shift in perspective. It’s a book that not only challenges you but also encourages you to be kinder to yourself along the way. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to rethink their approach to time and life.

Helpful Antidote to the Quest for Productivity

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TacoT
May 6, 2024

I have spent the past 20 years of my life trying to juice as much productivity and accomplishment out of each minute as possible, to the detriment of my health and sanity at times. This book is thought provoking in its encouragement to re-think our relationship with time and productivity. A couple of chapters ramble a bit more than others, but overall this book is an engaging read and is well-written. I would definitely recommend reading it if you are the kind of person who is frequently anxious about your inability to get everything done. One small warning: The author is mostly philosophical and still practical. The philosophical reasoning for many of the practical points relies on a secular point of view that come across as nihilistic, or at least skeptical of religion. That comes through in the book’s repeated mantra that no one really cares about your life in the grand scheme so don’t stress out so much about it (as well as its frequent quoting of atheist philosophers). While our lives are far less significant than the modern American stresses themselves out believing, another way to support the conclusion without taking such a strong stance on religion or the meaning of life is that in the grand scheme of your life, the small things you stress out about moment to moment really are insignificant. This comes through in the final chapter’s suggestion to do “the next right thing.” If you have any religious inclinations, you can take the author’s own philosophy for a grain of salt and still benefit from the overarching concepts. Also note to the Author who I am sure reads comments on his books: Great job and I think I would love to get a beer with someone wired so similarly to me! Knowing that won’t happen (neither of us has time ;) ), I do recommend that you and other like-minded readers check out The Reason for God by Timothy Keller and Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller. I think you’d enjoy both books based on your love for philosophy and our shared search for significance and fulfillment.