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Do Nothing

How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving

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Do Nothing

By: Celeste Headlee
Narrated by: Celeste Headlee
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“A welcome antidote to our toxic hustle culture of burnout.”—Arianna Huffington
“This book is so important and could truly save lives.”—Elizabeth Gilbert
“A clarion call to work smarter [and] accomplish more by doing less.”—Adam Grant

We work feverishly to make ourselves happy. So why are we so miserable?

Despite our constant search for new ways to optimize our bodies and minds for peak performance, human beings are working more instead of less, living harder not smarter, and becoming more lonely and anxious. We strive for the absolute best in every aspect of our lives, ignoring what we do well naturally and reaching for a bar that keeps rising higher and higher. Why do we measure our time in terms of efficiency instead of meaning? Why can’t we just take a break?

In Do Nothing, award-winning journalist Celeste Headlee illuminates a new path ahead, seeking to institute a global shift in our thinking so we can stop sabotaging our well-being, put work aside, and start living instead of doing. As it turns out, we’re searching for external solutions to an internal problem. We won’t find what we’re searching for in punishing diets, productivity apps, or the latest self-improvement schemes. Yet all is not lost—we just need to learn how to take time for ourselves, without agenda or profit, and redefine what is truly worthwhile.

Pulling together threads from history, neuroscience, social science, and even paleontology, Headlee examines long-held assumptions about time use, idleness, hard work, and even our ultimate goals. Her research reveals that the habits we cling to are doing us harm; they developed recently in human history, which means they are habits that can, and must, be broken. It’s time to reverse the trend that’s making us all sadder, sicker, and less productive, and return to a way of life that allows us to thrive. Career Success Customs & Traditions Personal Development Personal Success Social Sciences Time Management
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Like many others I felt the same problem as her and wanted to change this pursuit of constant improvement. Celeste Headly shows a way out! Thank you!! Great book!

Great view on society and on life

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The author tells you that more work doesn't make you happier. If you already know this, then there is no reason to read this book.
There is a lot of facts in this book, but not much new to me.

True but boring facts

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I imagine this can be useful for a workaholic. I suffered through hours of history recaps only to get a few useful points such as: don't work during your vacation and make sure to have work-life balance. The essence of the book is: do whatever you can to save time to do nothing - that's all you need to know. I should have been doing nothing instead of wasting over 7 hours listening to this...

a mix of useless history lesson and common sense

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