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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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In Praise of Slowness summary
Carl Honoré
Challenging the Cult Of Speed
11 mins
Brief summary
In 'In Praise of Slowness', Carl Honoré challenges the notion of fast-paced living, offering insights into the benefits of slowing down and embracing a more mindful approach to life, work, and relationships.
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In Praise of Slowness
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First we chopped time into pieces and now time is chopping our lives into pieces – if we let it.
What’s the first thing you do upon waking up? Do you pet your cat? Or open the blinds to check the weather? Nope. You look at the clock to check the time.
People have always tracked time in some way or another. As far back as the Ice Age, hunters counted the days between lunar phases, carving notches into sticks and bones. Moreover, all great ancient civilizations, like the Egyptians and the Chinese, had their own calendars.
After our ancestors learned to measure the years, months and days, they began to chop time into smaller units, like the hours of the day. The first instrument to divide the day into equal parts was an Egyptian sundial from 1500 BC.
Later, in the course of the Industrial Revolution, we became slaves to our schedules.
For the greater part of human history, life and work moved slowly, limited by the speed of our bodies and the animals we used in industry and agriculture. But since the Industrial Revolution, machines have enabled us to exceed such speed limits.
Since then, we have had to adapt to the speed of our machines, and our lifestyle has become determined by schedules.
That’s why many are joining the international Slow Movement and fighting the tyranny of time pressure.
Many people feel that a way of life dictated by clocks and machines is bound to dehumanize us. One example of this sentiment can be found in Chaplin’s Modern Times, which depicts hectic assembly line workers who move and act just like automatons, and a protagonist who’s swallowed up by a machine.
People today are joining forces to promote a slower lifestyle. For instance, every October the Society of the Deceleration of Time hosts a conference in the city of Wagrain to explore ways of slowing down.
But what does it matter that life is faster than ever? Read on to find out.
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What is In Praise of Slowness about?
In Praise of Slowness (2005) offers both an indictment of and an alternative to the high-speed lifestyle that plagues many people today. It examines how the rat race impacts our minds, bodies and souls – and offers concrete tips on how to slow things down.
In Praise of Slowness Review
In Praise of Slowness (2004) explores the fast-paced modern society and encourages readers to embrace a slower, more deliberate way of living. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers a fresh perspective on our obsession with speed, revealing the negative consequences of our fast-paced lifestyle.
- Through compelling examples and thought-provoking arguments, it challenges the notion that faster is always better and inspires readers to prioritize quality over quantity.
- The book presents a balanced approach towards slowing down, offering practical tips and suggestions for incorporating mindfulness and slowness into everyday life.
Best quote from In Praise of Slowness
Man measures time, and time measures man. - Italian proverb
—Carl Honoré
Who should read In Praise of Slowness?
- Ambitious parents who push their children to have a very busy schedule
- Anyone who eats at their desk
- People who feel like they are always in a rush
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In Praise of Slowness FAQs
What is the main message of In Praise of Slowness?
In Praise of Slowness encourages us to embrace a slower and more mindful approach to life.
How long does it take to read In Praise of Slowness?
The reading time for In Praise of Slowness varies, but it would take significantly less time to read the Blinkist summary.
Is In Praise of Slowness a good book? Is it worth reading?
In Praise of Slowness is a valuable read that sheds light on the importance of embracing a slower pace of life.
Who is the author of In Praise of Slowness?
Carl Honoré is the author of In Praise of Slowness.
What to read after In Praise of Slowness?
If you're wondering what to read next after In Praise of Slowness, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim
- Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu
- The Joy of Missing Out by Tanya Dalton
- Everybody Matters by Bob Chapman & Raj Sisodia
- Make Today Count by John C. Maxwell
- How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price
- Existentialism Is a Humanism by Jean-Paul Sartre
- The Hidden Power of the Five Hearts by Kimberly Snyder
- Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
- The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking