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sandrinepal's review against another edition
2.0
Although there were some ideas to be gleaned from this pamphlet of a book, I felt like the Marxist discourse clouded the issue quite a bit. This might be because I am not well-versed enough in philosophy to appreciate the intricacy of the arguments. Maybe it is itself a result of what Mr. Crary calls the "counter-revolution" of neo-liberalism. I find it hard to identify with a thesis that relies heavily on the personification of modernity as an intrinsically nefarious entity that is "out to get" natural bio-rhythms. I guess I drank the Kool-Aid. Anyway, when I picked up this book, I was hoping for something a little more down-to-earth, that would shed more light on the circumstances and examples of 24/7 in modern societies. And no, I wasn't thinking about the Internet or smart phones.
matthewjulius's review against another edition
good further reading after How To Do Nothing
hades9stages's review against another edition
3.0
this is one of only two books i bought myself when i was 16, in the beginning of the 2020 lockdown. i loved it. it was the first proper nonfiction books i’d ever read outside of school, and i thought it was so cool and advanced and sophisticated. so, i’ve spent the last few months excited to go back to my parents house where i left it, and read it again.
but this time around, exactly three years later? at many points i found it unreadable. anything after the fourth page is completely all over the place. there’s no flow or anything, just a constant block of text, constant buzzwords, references to classical literatures and philosophers and a bit of science jargon thrown in and… it really does drag, i don’t even think i learned anything.
but this time around, exactly three years later? at many points i found it unreadable. anything after the fourth page is completely all over the place. there’s no flow or anything, just a constant block of text, constant buzzwords, references to classical literatures and philosophers and a bit of science jargon thrown in and… it really does drag, i don’t even think i learned anything.
lnthurman's review against another edition
4.0
I read parts of this book for a college class, and wanted to revisit in full. It's dense and jargon-heavy slog, but vindicating and even resonant for anyone who have ever asked, "Why am I so tired all the time?"
clarissechiyo's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.75
longl's review against another edition
2.0
Meandering, unfocused, sprawling, shallow. Obvious. I was hoping for a more nuanced and insightful discussion about the changing nature of sleep in late capitalism but this read more like your usual broad generalization about capitalism, changing media, and consumerist ennui typical of academics for sport. The writing hops all over the place and features plenty of gratuitous name dropping.
niniane's review against another edition
3.0
The first chapter is interesting. It discusses how modern society has monetized eating, exercise, spending time with friends. The one area that hasn't been made "productive" is sleep.
Then it becomes too arcane for me, and too dense for me to read.
Then it becomes too arcane for me, and too dense for me to read.