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650 reviews for:
Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving
Celeste Headlee
3.87 AVERAGE
650 reviews for:
Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving
Celeste Headlee
3.87 AVERAGE
Gave up midway through the second chapter. I think the core points are valid, but their are some mind boggling inaccuracies in their historical “evidence” that they use to make their arguments that undermine the effectiveness overall. Individually, none of them are major but you can also see cascading effects as assumptions are layered atop one another, even in how it guided their assumptions. For example, calling the 1600s the Middle Ages, asserting that serfs us usually owned their land because most people owned land in the “Middle Ages” etc.
As I mentioned, none of these are big problems on their own, but cumulatively, it paints a picture of poor research, and of picking data to match a hypothesis rather than the other way around. When I can’t trust that a writer is telling me the truth (either due to ignorance or due to lying) why should I listen to anything they have to say, as it all becomes suspect?
Again, I agree with the assertion that we need to slow down (though reading other reviews here seem to confirm my suspicion that it doesn’t seem to really offer any actionable insight into how when your ability to do so is controlled by an employer) but I think the attempt to present a research-based approach ultimately fails in the execution.
As I mentioned, none of these are big problems on their own, but cumulatively, it paints a picture of poor research, and of picking data to match a hypothesis rather than the other way around. When I can’t trust that a writer is telling me the truth (either due to ignorance or due to lying) why should I listen to anything they have to say, as it all becomes suspect?
Again, I agree with the assertion that we need to slow down (though reading other reviews here seem to confirm my suspicion that it doesn’t seem to really offer any actionable insight into how when your ability to do so is controlled by an employer) but I think the attempt to present a research-based approach ultimately fails in the execution.
I don't get the top review for this book. From it's very outset, it's anticapitalist. It certainly wasn't my favorite book in the world, as the author comes from a place where she can just put in less hours and be fine, but this was something I needed to read before starting graduate school
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
If you take away nothing else from this book, I hope you understand that human beings are at their best when they are social, and human minds work best in connection with other human minds. It may not be the most efficient way to live, but it’s the most likely to foster well-being.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Didn't agree with everything but liked the overall message. We are too overworked. And for what?
I am struggling with how to review this book. I have had "Do Nothing" by Celeste Headlee on my "to read" for quite a while now, so when it popped up at the library I grabbed it. After finishing it I am...unmoved. Not necessarily disappointed as I went into this with no expectations, but definitely ambivalent.
First off, I have to credit that Headlee published this book *right* before the onslaught that is the COVID19 pandemic. We, as a global community, have learned much (and many are actively trying to unlearn much as we speak) about life/work balance, the importance of downtime, and the limitations of a capitalistic society during times of crisis. That said, there is still some glaring ommission when it comes to privilege and access in this book.
I appreciate many of Headlee's points about human evolution and the need for auditory input and personal human interactions. I also appreciate that she delved into the erosion of the middle class and how leisure has changed over hundreds of years.
Headlee also consistently admits her own privilege, which I appreciate. But she also goes so far as to acknowledge that anyone likely to read this book is also likely to have financial stability and a choice in their work/life balance. This felt...problematic and not a little tone deaf.
What I found most grating, is that after briefly acknowledging the impact of the labor movement and Henry Ford's belief that middle class stability builds company wealth, and even touching on the pitfalls of workdays being tied to the clock, she later echoes a need for employees to be forced to work in the office. She argues that emploees will go out of their way to work during times where they can have privacy -- but then throws that in the proverbial trashcan when she later argues that office time = relationships. She doubles down on the superficiality of workplace relationships, but then states that in-person office interactions are critical.
I am sorry, but what?!
I know this was written prior to all that we have learned since March of 2020 but the privileged position here is staggering when you consider that the average worker forced into an office (even "high earners" as she categorizes some) spends an extra two hours a day commuting. It is also staggering when you consider that additional pressure in the form of increased office real estate and workers utilizing transportation infrastructure is damaging not only to workers, but to entire communities.
I understand that we all need to unplug, unwind, and be more intentional. We need interactions beyond those we have on devices and at work. But we also need to unpack our understanding of wealth and privilege. Unfortunately this book missed the mark, big time.
First off, I have to credit that Headlee published this book *right* before the onslaught that is the COVID19 pandemic. We, as a global community, have learned much (and many are actively trying to unlearn much as we speak) about life/work balance, the importance of downtime, and the limitations of a capitalistic society during times of crisis. That said, there is still some glaring ommission when it comes to privilege and access in this book.
I appreciate many of Headlee's points about human evolution and the need for auditory input and personal human interactions. I also appreciate that she delved into the erosion of the middle class and how leisure has changed over hundreds of years.
Headlee also consistently admits her own privilege, which I appreciate. But she also goes so far as to acknowledge that anyone likely to read this book is also likely to have financial stability and a choice in their work/life balance. This felt...problematic and not a little tone deaf.
What I found most grating, is that after briefly acknowledging the impact of the labor movement and Henry Ford's belief that middle class stability builds company wealth, and even touching on the pitfalls of workdays being tied to the clock, she later echoes a need for employees to be forced to work in the office. She argues that emploees will go out of their way to work during times where they can have privacy -- but then throws that in the proverbial trashcan when she later argues that office time = relationships. She doubles down on the superficiality of workplace relationships, but then states that in-person office interactions are critical.
I am sorry, but what?!
I know this was written prior to all that we have learned since March of 2020 but the privileged position here is staggering when you consider that the average worker forced into an office (even "high earners" as she categorizes some) spends an extra two hours a day commuting. It is also staggering when you consider that additional pressure in the form of increased office real estate and workers utilizing transportation infrastructure is damaging not only to workers, but to entire communities.
I understand that we all need to unplug, unwind, and be more intentional. We need interactions beyond those we have on devices and at work. But we also need to unpack our understanding of wealth and privilege. Unfortunately this book missed the mark, big time.
Fascinating. And now I want to throw my phone in the ocean.
I mean there was some nice stuff in here but honestly I was bored. A lot of this felt line a history book/old news to me. But I think others would get more out of it. I’m just in a different place than I think the target audience is.