Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

This book is about approaching the use of time under the realization that we only have a shockingly finite amount of it (hence the title). This is a healthy and useful way to approach how we spend our days, and entering this book I was hopeful that there would be wisdom in it about how to live a life oriented toward purpose and meaning, and how to use the time we have to do good rather than waste it. Instead, I was very surprised to find that the very idea of "using the time we have" is something to be argued *against*. The author says -- over and over -- that there is no point in trying to control time, and any attempt to do so is a willful blindness to the fact that our lives are finite. Instead, he argues, we should live in the moment, embracing our cosmic insignificance (there is a whole chapter on this!) because nothing we do will matter in the end anyway. It's definitely true that we cannot control time, and that would be a fine way to unwind the arguments in the book, except the author takes "controlling time" and takes it to mean any kind of plans a person might make to put their lives in order. The author misses the point that plenty of people try to put their lives in order, to decide in advance through careful thinking just exactly what matters most to them and then planning out what projects they take on and what tasks they will focus on in certain times of the day, precisely *because* their lives are finite and they don't want to waste them. Instead, those people would be branded by this book as delusional, holding a hyperinflated view of their own significance, and foolish. It's clear that the author has run afoul of toxic productivity gurus who preach unrealistic life hacks to people while promising control over time. But this book is an overcorrection, applying straw men arguments and reheated Epicurean philosophy in a repetitive way that unfortunately makes it very hard to hear a useful message.

It helped me with time-related axiety. Better in combination with the sam harris waking up app

I like this book very much, for the philosophical as well as the practical implications it has for us in our Western society. His sources and references are new to me, many of them, and this book has added significant thoughts for me to ponder. As a believer in the Gospel of Jesus, and as one who hopes in a better tomorrow as a result, I see ways that my view of time and the way I spend it—and especially the way I feel about its passing and all the things I realize I will never get to do—run against that hope and against being truly grateful for the person God intends me to be (i.e., my finiteness). Such refusal at some level to accept and live within my limits can rob us of much joy and peace. I especially appreciate the thoughts on productivity and on procrastination. These have been especially helpful and even liberating for me. Having written what I mentioned above, this book is not written from a Christian perspective, though it does resonate with the book of Ecclesiastes, which looks at life from a perspective of life without God in the picture. Those looking for such will find it echoed here. But to get the whole picture and the verdict thereof, I recommend the latter. I thank Mr. Burkeman for writing this book, and for sharing his insights with us. It bears my re-reading it again, with enjoyment.

The main point is...choose your course and do whatever you choose now or don't...action or no action will end in the same place--death. It sounds brutal, but really, it's uplifting.

This is one intellectual man’s journey to a more peaceful life. The key is to accept our limited time, unknowns, and uncontrollable to find peace and productivity. He uses universal truths on time based on insights from history, philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers; current and ancient Oliver offers an alternative way to look at time management. It’s heavily researched and referenced, with 13 notes pages and 8 pages of index. He does this via many stories, history, and examples in dense sentences. It can be funny, engaging, and at times tedious. The gist is “Finitude.” We have limited time. Four Thousand weeks if you live to be 80 years old. His premise is that to become empowered; you must accept the limitations and lack of control over your life. . You accomplish more of what matters and is meaningful to you. The book ends with ten tools to help you embrace your Finitude. The rest of the book is a journey to prove it, entertain you, and inspire you. This is his journey and justification for his life. Much of it I can relate to. I, too, was a productivity junkie and taught project management. I found some places where I disagreed or didn’t have the challenges he had to overcome or differently. I was mentally arguing with him as I was reading. He comes across as a bit of an intellectual snob to me. He doesn’t seem to like “self-help,” yet this is what the book is about. He uses romance novelist Danielle Steele as an unhealthy example of time management and Rod Stewart as a good example. There are long winding sentences. There were a few words I had to look up the meaning. I used this book for a book group, and there is something for everyone in this book.