Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Rest summary
Why You Get More Done When You Work Less
18 mins
Brief summary
Rest by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang argues that the key to being productive and creative is not working harder or longer hours, but taking regular breaks and cultivating hobbies and interests that renew our energy and inspire new ideas.
Topics
Table of Contents
Rest
Summary of 8 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 8
What’s in it for you? A Silicon Valley strategist’s guide to beating burnout.
Overwork is the new work. Today’s world is shaped by near-limitless connectivity. Even when you’re not in the office, you’re never more than a few seconds away from your email account. Then there’s the old dogma that success is all about grinding out long hours at your desk. Combine the two, and you end up with a work culture that encourages burnout.
That’s something Silicon Valley strategist Alex Soojung-Kim Pang knows all about.
After years of pushing himself to the limit, he took a sabbatical. Living a life of leisure for a few months wasn’t just a luxury – he quickly realized that he was getting more serious work done than ever before.
That got him thinking. What would a different, healthier and saner work culture look like?
After sifting through the latest empirical scientific evidence, he came up with an answer: it’d make much more room for rest, relaxation and recovery.
As these blinks will show, getting a good night’s sleep, taking a vacation and nurturing your hobbies doesn’t just keep you in top physical and mental health; it also does wonders for creativity, concentration and cognitive performance.
In these blinks, you’ll learn
- why your best work often comes when you’re not thinking;
- how exercise can boost your cognitive prowess; and
- why Winston Churchill took time out from running the United Kingdom to paint.
Want to see all full key ideas from Rest?
Key ideas in Rest
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Rest about?
Rest (2016) takes aim at the common misconception that the longer we work, the more we’re able to get done. Written by a Silicon Valley strategist whose punishing regimen of long office hours brought him perilously close to a burnout, this empirically grounded study turns that idea on its head. Hitting your targets and achieving success isn’t about grinding out endless hours at your desk – it’s about finding the best time to work, getting enough rest and nurturing your creativity.
Rest Review
Rest (2016) explores the importance of leisure and deliberate rest in our fast-paced world. Here's why this book is worth picking up:
- It provides a compelling argument for the value of rest, showing how it enhances creativity, productivity, and overall well-being.
- Backed by scientific research and real-life examples, the book offers practical strategies for incorporating rest into our lives.
- With its engaging storytelling, Rest challenges the prevailing notion that busyness equals success, ultimately reshaping our understanding of work and leisure.
Who should read Rest?
- Anyone working at a startup
- Creatives
- Workaholics
Categories with Rest
Book summaries like Rest
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Rest FAQs
What is the main message of Rest?
The main message of Rest is that taking time for rest and leisure is crucial for creativity and productivity.
How long does it take to read Rest?
The reading time for Rest varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Rest a good book? Is it worth reading?
Rest is worth reading because it provides insights on the importance of rest in our lives and how it can improve our productivity and well-being.
Who is the author of Rest?
The author of Rest is Alex Soojung-Kim Pang.
What to read after Rest?
If you're wondering what to read next after Rest, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Pause by Rachael O’Meara
- The Art of Rest by Claudia Hammond
- The First 2 Hours by Donna McGeorge
- How to Speed Read People by Patrick King
- How the Mighty Fall by Jim Collins
- Getting It Done When You're Depressed by Julie A. Fast
- Overworked and Overwhelmed by Scott Eblin
- The Power of Writing It Down by Allison Fallon
- Gentle by Courtney Carver
- 5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life by Bill Eddy