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rosietomyn 's review for:
Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving
by Celeste Headlee
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.