A review by okayshea
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.5
this book shared a lot of perspectives/advice that i think i need to hear and keep in mind. i found four thousand weeks much more pleasant and encouraging to read than other "self-help" type books i've read recently, like atomic habits and set boundaries, find peace. i feel like the difference is that those other books try to instruct the reader on what to do, what changes to make, in order for them to have a better or more content life -- and then those books usually leave me feeling inadequate as i try to implement their advice and still find my issues unresolved. i'm left feeling like i just have to try harder or do better, or find different strategies, to achieve what those types of books promise.
but four thousand weeks rejects that line of thinking by acknowledging that nothing can ever feel truly resolved or exactly how you might want it, and advises the reader to simply accept that reality rather than fight against it. i think this book was similar to the courage to be disliked/happy in some ways like that, as it focuses mostly on striving toward self-improvement through shifting your mindset instead of taking specific actions.
i enjoyed the different historical contexts and examples burkeman used to illustrate his points throughout the book and found it digestible and easy to follow. i listened to the audiobook, but i would definitely consider getting a physical version of this to revisit and take some more time with (hah!) again later.
but four thousand weeks rejects that line of thinking by acknowledging that nothing can ever feel truly resolved or exactly how you might want it, and advises the reader to simply accept that reality rather than fight against it. i think this book was similar to the courage to be disliked/happy in some ways like that, as it focuses mostly on striving toward self-improvement through shifting your mindset instead of taking specific actions.
i enjoyed the different historical contexts and examples burkeman used to illustrate his points throughout the book and found it digestible and easy to follow. i listened to the audiobook, but i would definitely consider getting a physical version of this to revisit and take some more time with (hah!) again later.