Jenny Odell is an artist and writer based in Oakland, California. She teaches at Stanford University and has been an artist-in-residence at Facebook, the Internet Archive, the San Francisco Planning Department, and the San Francisco garbage dump. Her art has been exhibited in galleries around the world.
Jenny Odell Books
- Listen to the Intro00:00
What's How to Do Nothing about?
How to Do Nothing (2019) is a study of what’s gone wrong in contemporary society and what we can do to fix it – and ourselves. Ironically, the most effective tactic against our 24/7 culture of productivity might just be doing nothing. When we stop, step back, and refocus our attention, Jenny Odell argues, we can begin to see the contours of a better, more meaningful existence.
Who should read How to Do Nothing?
- Social media addicts
- Creatives and artists
- Blue-sky thinkers
- Listen to the Intro00:00
What's Saving Time about?
Saving Time (2023) takes a deep dive into the complicated concepts surrounding time and the multitude of ways it can be experienced. Combining historical research, philosophical ideas, and social commentary, it offers new approaches to perceiving time that can help us learn to truly live in the present while looking toward a more hopeful future.
Who should read Saving Time?
- Anyone curious about the concept of time
- People suffering from a lack of time or burnout
- Fans of history, science, and philosophy

