nffictionophile's review
s_mavin's review
4.0
I liked Josh Cohen’s way of writing. What’s great about this book is that it isn’t prescriptive. It doesn’t give you a list of things to change about your life. What it does is puts forth ideas to mull over - it takes on ideas from Freud, Oscar Wilde, Hannah Arendt, Thoreau, Melville, etc to ask you to consider our relationship with being and doing. I like books that end in questions and not in over simplified answers.
Here are a few quotes/ideas I liked (the ones I remembered to note/highlight/copy. There are several other gems peppered in) -
“The desire for non-desire.”
“The state of doing nothing while doing everything.”
“Being is the essential antidote to the non stop inertia of doing, a way of resisting the gravity that drags us downwards.”
“The idea of UBI (Universal basic income) is promising because it points us beyond a technocratic solution to specific problems of job scarcity and automation, and asks us to address more essential questions : what is a human being? What is the human life for? - questions a blindly overworked life never has the chance to stop and think about.”
Here are a few quotes/ideas I liked (the ones I remembered to note/highlight/copy. There are several other gems peppered in) -
“The desire for non-desire.”
“The state of doing nothing while doing everything.”
“Being is the essential antidote to the non stop inertia of doing, a way of resisting the gravity that drags us downwards.”
“The idea of UBI (Universal basic income) is promising because it points us beyond a technocratic solution to specific problems of job scarcity and automation, and asks us to address more essential questions : what is a human being? What is the human life for? - questions a blindly overworked life never has the chance to stop and think about.”
readbyraisin's review
5.0
Had no idea what to expect when I picked this up, but far from disappointed. The author, a professional psychoanalyst, sheds light on work-related disorders discussed by his patients. Cohen argues that having your self worth tied solely to your job can be quite harmful, especially for over-achievers who tend burn out and 'overwork' themselves. Acknowledging toxic work culture and the need to have a sense of self separate from your professional career are two key takeaways from this gem of a book.
orangeoverload's review
4.0
I don't usually read non-fiction, but I am interested in work and how it affects us, so this book, written by a psychoanalyst, was perfect for that.
This book is split into 2 parts, and both parts have a person explanation and a real life example for Josh Cohen himself, then he goes into detail about a famous figure who fits that bill. So Part One, is about 'The Burnout' and example, Andy Warhol. Then 'The Slob', and Orson Welles. Part 2 consists of, 'The Daydreamer', and Emily Dickinson. And lastly, 'The Slacker' with David Foster Wallace.
I loved that he used different types of artists as his examples, because for someone like me who doesn't read much non-fiction, but is very artsy, it was enticing to read about people like Andy Warhol and the elationship he had with work.
I recommend this book highly if you want to learn more about how work affects our mental health, and it may be a sign for you if you need to 'stop'.
This book is split into 2 parts, and both parts have a person explanation and a real life example for Josh Cohen himself, then he goes into detail about a famous figure who fits that bill. So Part One, is about 'The Burnout' and example, Andy Warhol. Then 'The Slob', and Orson Welles. Part 2 consists of, 'The Daydreamer', and Emily Dickinson. And lastly, 'The Slacker' with David Foster Wallace.
I loved that he used different types of artists as his examples, because for someone like me who doesn't read much non-fiction, but is very artsy, it was enticing to read about people like Andy Warhol and the elationship he had with work.
I recommend this book highly if you want to learn more about how work affects our mental health, and it may be a sign for you if you need to 'stop'.
halfmanhalfbook's review
3.0
Work is a four letter work according to my long retired father. He is lucky to have left the world of work when he did, before the advent of 24 / 7 emails and messaging, constant stress and the relentless pace that we have today. Work can be a positive thing but it feels at the moment that there is no relief from it. The view from the treadmill of the people burning themselves out, seeing those that are choosing not to do anything is not always the best encouragement.
From his position as a psychoanalyst, Cohen looks at the four faces of inertia - the burnout, the slob, the daydreamer and the slacker. Using these generic themes he looks at four people, Andy Warhol, Orson Welles, Emily Dickinson and David Foster Wallace, who have shown strong signs of these types of inactivity. From these specific profiles, he poses the questions on how we might live a different and more contented life in the modern world.
There were several parts of this that I liked, in particular, the mini-biographies of the four people he uses to expand on the points he was making. However, I did find that he asked a lot of questions, but it felt like the answers were a little lacking as to how we set about unwinding our own personal addictions to the workplace. It would have been good to have methods to mitigate the effects that overwork has on our health and society. It did make for an interesting read though. 2.5 stars
From his position as a psychoanalyst, Cohen looks at the four faces of inertia - the burnout, the slob, the daydreamer and the slacker. Using these generic themes he looks at four people, Andy Warhol, Orson Welles, Emily Dickinson and David Foster Wallace, who have shown strong signs of these types of inactivity. From these specific profiles, he poses the questions on how we might live a different and more contented life in the modern world.
There were several parts of this that I liked, in particular, the mini-biographies of the four people he uses to expand on the points he was making. However, I did find that he asked a lot of questions, but it felt like the answers were a little lacking as to how we set about unwinding our own personal addictions to the workplace. It would have been good to have methods to mitigate the effects that overwork has on our health and society. It did make for an interesting read though. 2.5 stars
jackielaw's review
2.0
“So you abandon wage slavery for some long-term freelance project – a novel or invention or fast fortune or cult blog. You wake up now to vast expanses of time, craving the relief of the regular hours and definable tasks you stupidly gave up, feeling chronically deprived of the urgency, direction and clarity of purpose you’d taken for granted when you’d had somewhere to go and something to do each day.”
Not Working is strap-lined Why We Have to Stop – an interesting if somewhat impractical premise, I thought, when I chose the book to review. The author is a psychoanalyst and Professor of Modern Literary Theory at Goldsmiths, thereby appearing well qualified to create a compelling argument. What we have here, however, is more akin to a series of opinion pieces injected with memoir alongside personal critiques of artworks and their creators. As a whole it lacks coherence.
The book opens with a lengthy introduction. The author then tries to shoehorn his views into four sections: Burnout, Slob, Daydreamer, and Slacker. Each of these sections includes a study of an artist the author associates with the anti-work type he is writing about. All those included have created acclaimed output so I struggled with the connections being attempted. They each worked at their craft.
Many examples from the author’s life are included. Patient cases – merged for confidentiality – are also cited but added little to the main argument.
The author posits that modern man regards work as something to be avoided if possible. There is little discussion about: the pride that may be taken in a job well done, the self-respect gained from contributing to a project, the camaraderie amongst colleagues. There is acknowledgement of the potential downsides of not working including: depressive exhaustion, listless entitlement, loneliness, and marginalisation.
I disagreed that ‘serious’ art – however that may be defined – offers more pleasurable satisfaction than science.
Personally I cannot appreciate Tracy Emin’s bed ‘masterpiece’ but understand that the value of artistic works is whatever someone is willing to pay for, or pay attention to. The majority of artists may struggle financially but this is not a modern phenomena. The author does not discuss the quality of outputs beyond his famous examples. Perhaps it is the act of creation rather than the finished product that he finds worthwhile – although most creatives, at whatever level, do seek some form of affirmation.
“Not working has almost always been valued only to the extent that it serves the cause of work. It is time we spoke up for not working, in all its creative possibilities, as its own value.”
The author’s opinions are stated as facts. Assumptions are made – such as that a rabbit being looked after temporarily enjoys a ‘serene emptiness’. Cohen cannot know this as he has never been a rabbit and cites no scientific study of the creature. In many of his stated opinions he comes across as arrogant.
The problem of choice is discussed from several angles in what is described as our overworked and accelerated culture. Parents are blamed for both distancing themselves and being too involved in their offspring’s choices – supportive parenting leading to a fear of disappointing.
“there could be nothing worse than to choose one thing and so lose the possibility of others”
“I barely know how to do anything without wondering if I’m doing it well enough.”
I found no mention of the gig economy or part time working. The pressure to work seemed geared towards the professions who could, perhaps, afford a psychoanalyst such as Cohen. I pondered the author’s privilege and outlook.
When discussing Emily Dickinson he mentions her unwillingness to marry, declaring reasons for her behaviour without explaining how he reached his conclusions. Given the time during which Dickinson lived and the autonomy she would lose to a husband – more than just her own, lockable room – I saw strength of purpose and innate knowledge that her work mattered more than social acquiescence.
Towards the end of the book the author explores how minimal activity can lead to finding a perfect inner state – nirvanic bliss – albeit transient. It can also lead to an inertial void. Few of the arguments made or opinions stated refuted the problems inherent in doing nothing – or that freeing up time only rarely leads to creativity in the arts.
Overall the writing lacked direction and was too wound around the author personally rather than the subject he purported to be exploring. I found this book hard work to read, and regularly during its perusal considered stopping.
Not Working is strap-lined Why We Have to Stop – an interesting if somewhat impractical premise, I thought, when I chose the book to review. The author is a psychoanalyst and Professor of Modern Literary Theory at Goldsmiths, thereby appearing well qualified to create a compelling argument. What we have here, however, is more akin to a series of opinion pieces injected with memoir alongside personal critiques of artworks and their creators. As a whole it lacks coherence.
The book opens with a lengthy introduction. The author then tries to shoehorn his views into four sections: Burnout, Slob, Daydreamer, and Slacker. Each of these sections includes a study of an artist the author associates with the anti-work type he is writing about. All those included have created acclaimed output so I struggled with the connections being attempted. They each worked at their craft.
Many examples from the author’s life are included. Patient cases – merged for confidentiality – are also cited but added little to the main argument.
The author posits that modern man regards work as something to be avoided if possible. There is little discussion about: the pride that may be taken in a job well done, the self-respect gained from contributing to a project, the camaraderie amongst colleagues. There is acknowledgement of the potential downsides of not working including: depressive exhaustion, listless entitlement, loneliness, and marginalisation.
I disagreed that ‘serious’ art – however that may be defined – offers more pleasurable satisfaction than science.
Personally I cannot appreciate Tracy Emin’s bed ‘masterpiece’ but understand that the value of artistic works is whatever someone is willing to pay for, or pay attention to. The majority of artists may struggle financially but this is not a modern phenomena. The author does not discuss the quality of outputs beyond his famous examples. Perhaps it is the act of creation rather than the finished product that he finds worthwhile – although most creatives, at whatever level, do seek some form of affirmation.
“Not working has almost always been valued only to the extent that it serves the cause of work. It is time we spoke up for not working, in all its creative possibilities, as its own value.”
The author’s opinions are stated as facts. Assumptions are made – such as that a rabbit being looked after temporarily enjoys a ‘serene emptiness’. Cohen cannot know this as he has never been a rabbit and cites no scientific study of the creature. In many of his stated opinions he comes across as arrogant.
The problem of choice is discussed from several angles in what is described as our overworked and accelerated culture. Parents are blamed for both distancing themselves and being too involved in their offspring’s choices – supportive parenting leading to a fear of disappointing.
“there could be nothing worse than to choose one thing and so lose the possibility of others”
“I barely know how to do anything without wondering if I’m doing it well enough.”
I found no mention of the gig economy or part time working. The pressure to work seemed geared towards the professions who could, perhaps, afford a psychoanalyst such as Cohen. I pondered the author’s privilege and outlook.
When discussing Emily Dickinson he mentions her unwillingness to marry, declaring reasons for her behaviour without explaining how he reached his conclusions. Given the time during which Dickinson lived and the autonomy she would lose to a husband – more than just her own, lockable room – I saw strength of purpose and innate knowledge that her work mattered more than social acquiescence.
Towards the end of the book the author explores how minimal activity can lead to finding a perfect inner state – nirvanic bliss – albeit transient. It can also lead to an inertial void. Few of the arguments made or opinions stated refuted the problems inherent in doing nothing – or that freeing up time only rarely leads to creativity in the arts.
Overall the writing lacked direction and was too wound around the author personally rather than the subject he purported to be exploring. I found this book hard work to read, and regularly during its perusal considered stopping.
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