#21 in Economics
Slow Productivity
- 257
- Pages
- about 4.5 h
- Reading time
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About the book
A New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and IndieBound bestseller "Brilliant and timely" — Oliver Burkeman ~ Do Fewer Things. Work at a Natural Pace. Obsess over Quality. ~ From the New York Times bestselling author of Digital Minimalism and Deep Work, a groundbreaking philosophy for pursuing meaningful accomplishment while avoiding overload Our current definition of “productivity” is broken. It pushes us to treat busyness as a proxy for useful effort, leading to impossibly lengthy task lists and ceaseless meetings. We’re overwhelmed by all we have to do and on the edge of burnout, left to decide between giving into soul-sapping hustle culture or rejecting ambition altogether. But are these really our only choices? Long before the arrival of pinging inboxes and clogged schedules, history’s most creative and impactful philosophers, scientists, artists, and writers mastered the art of producing valuable work with staying power. In this timely and provocative book, Cal Newport harnesses the wisdom of these traditional knowledge workers to radically transform our modern jobs. Drawing from deep research on the habits and mindsets of a varied cast of storied thinkers – from Galileo and Isaac Newton, to Jane Austen and Georgia O’Keefe – Newport lays out the key principles of “slow productivity,” a more sustainable alternative to the aimless overwhelm that defines our current moment. Combining cultural criticism with systematic pragmatism, Newport deconstructs the absurdities inherent in standard notions of productivity, and then provides step-by-step advice for cultivating a slower, more humane alternative. From the aggressive rethinking of workload management, to introducing seasonal variation, to shifting your performance toward long-term quality, Slow Productivity provides a roadmap for escaping overload and arriving instead at a more timeless approach to pursuing meaningful accomplishment. The world of work is due for a new revolution. Slow productivity is exactly what we need.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 7.5 across 192 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 51% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Economics average of 7.9. That is how 7.7 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | 7.5 | 192 | 100% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“Sometimes a book comes along with exactly what you need when you need it. This one helped me reflect to on my own mindset about productivity and make adjustments to be happier and healthier. The main premise of the book is stated early (on page 8): A philosophy for organizing knowledge work efforts in a sustainable and meaningful manner based on the following three principles. - Do fewer things. - Work at a natural pace. - Obsess over quality. ”
“some of this I vibed with and some of this was absolutely nuts e.g. just sneaking away from work for an afternoon every month to go to the cinema?? (even if you work in an office)”
Frequently asked
What is Slow Productivity rated?
7.7 out of 10, from 192 reader ratings across 1 independent sources.
Is Slow Productivity worth reading?
Readers give it 7.7/10 from 192 ratings, which puts it ahead of 20 % of the Economics shelf.
How long does it take to read Slow Productivity?
About 4.5 hours at an average reading pace — 257 pages.
Where does Slow Productivity rank?
#21 in Economics on the current snapshot.
How long is Slow Productivity?
It has 257 pages — shorter than 82% of the ranked books in Economics.
If you liked this
The same shelf — Economics — and a score of 7.8, the closest to this book.
