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Reviews
The Art of Doing Nothing: Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself by Veronique Vienne, Erica Lennard
rscuderi's review against another edition
4.0
A gorgeous book. A brief sometimes tongue in cheek treatise on the lost art of relaxation in today's world.
birdie_27's review against another edition
This has to be my favorite non-fiction book! The ideas are simple, yet powerful. Each chapter was intended to make the reader stop and examine themselves and the world around them. Their thoughts, actions, body, everything. I enjoyed the writing style, it felt fluid and relaxing. The photos were beautiful additions to each topic. I think this has great daily reminders, and with it being small I can carry it with me. Love!!
willowsfair's review against another edition
5.0
My goodness, I loved this book. A stellar reference for how to most wonderfully spend one's time.
garrodot's review against another edition
2.0
DNF I think this is satire of self help masquerading as self help
hekate24's review against another edition
3.0
My psychiatrist told me to read this book. I used it to pass the time on a two hour plane flight, and while I thought it was pleasant enough reading material I also found it a bit cutesy?
However, I've been finding that the ideas in this book have stuck with me. I've been living in the moment a bit more than I've been wont to do. This book doesn't posit a carpe diem approach to life in the way, say, movies would have you go about it. No admonitions here claiming you should go bungee jumping or you're clearly an office drone wasting your life. Instead, living in the moment is reduced (or elevated!) to much simpler ideas; letting yourself contemplate a river going back, enjoying the peace and quiet of a nap, really tasting food as you eat it. Since reading this book I have been finding myself going about life a bit slower, and enjoying life more. Really, this book is about giving yourself a break. It sounds like the easiest thing in the world, but it often proves to be one of the most difficult.
So yeah. My counselor was right.
However, I've been finding that the ideas in this book have stuck with me. I've been living in the moment a bit more than I've been wont to do. This book doesn't posit a carpe diem approach to life in the way, say, movies would have you go about it. No admonitions here claiming you should go bungee jumping or you're clearly an office drone wasting your life. Instead, living in the moment is reduced (or elevated!) to much simpler ideas; letting yourself contemplate a river going back, enjoying the peace and quiet of a nap, really tasting food as you eat it. Since reading this book I have been finding myself going about life a bit slower, and enjoying life more. Really, this book is about giving yourself a break. It sounds like the easiest thing in the world, but it often proves to be one of the most difficult.
So yeah. My counselor was right.
carlydbar's review against another edition
4.0
A great short read making me really slow down and self assess.
hekate24's review
3.0
My psychiatrist told me to read this book. I used it to pass the time on a two hour plane flight, and while I thought it was pleasant enough reading material I also found it a bit cutesy?
However, I've been finding that the ideas in this book have stuck with me. I've been living in the moment a bit more than I've been wont to do. This book doesn't posit a carpe diem approach to life in the way, say, movies would have you go about it. No admonitions here claiming you should go bungee jumping or you're clearly an office drone wasting your life. Instead, living in the moment is reduced (or elevated!) to much simpler ideas; letting yourself contemplate a river going back, enjoying the peace and quiet of a nap, really tasting food as you eat it. Since reading this book I have been finding myself going about life a bit slower, and enjoying life more. Really, this book is about giving yourself a break. It sounds like the easiest thing in the world, but it often proves to be one of the most difficult.
So yeah. My counselor was right.
However, I've been finding that the ideas in this book have stuck with me. I've been living in the moment a bit more than I've been wont to do. This book doesn't posit a carpe diem approach to life in the way, say, movies would have you go about it. No admonitions here claiming you should go bungee jumping or you're clearly an office drone wasting your life. Instead, living in the moment is reduced (or elevated!) to much simpler ideas; letting yourself contemplate a river going back, enjoying the peace and quiet of a nap, really tasting food as you eat it. Since reading this book I have been finding myself going about life a bit slower, and enjoying life more. Really, this book is about giving yourself a break. It sounds like the easiest thing in the world, but it often proves to be one of the most difficult.
So yeah. My counselor was right.
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