Reviews - How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy

4.43k reviews for:

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy

This was a heavier, more academic read than I was expecting, but even so, I found some things, particularly the discussion about why "detoxes" and communes don't really work in the long term, to be thoughtful and novel.
As Odell points out repeatedly, the book really isn't about convincing us to sit and do nothing. It's instead an attempt to draw our attention to the ways capitalism and its deeply ingrained, accompanying "ethics" regularly steal our peace and keep us from sinking into our environment with the layered attention that results in us feeling deeply connected to the larger world. While not a quick or easy read by any means, it raises some points I'll be chewing on for a while.

kimberlyagsmith's review against another edition

4.0

Fuck capitalism

lillianvi76's review against another edition

3.0

This might have been a good book, but I could not stand the audiobook narrater. The book also went off track for a LONG time. I didn’t understand the point of whole chapters

theanthropomorphicbunny's review against another edition

3.0

emotional hopeful informative reflective

Not as good as Jenny Odell's other book Saving Time. It was a lot less depressing but also a lot less specific and impactful. It wasn't bad by any means but for me individually Saving Time was a lot more memorable.

tabookish's review against another edition

3.5

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

carson_moore's review against another edition

5.0

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Amazing read that opened my eyes to a whole new world and perspective. A much more holistic and approachable take on the "attention economy". I loved the idea of resisting in place. I love the way she ties in ecology and bird watching. Changed my whole perspective on life, work, growth, the economy. Very concise and each chapter packs a huge punch.