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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Saving Time summary
Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock
17 mins
Brief summary
'Saving Time' by Jenny Odell is a thought-provoking book that explores the concept of productivity. Odell challenges society's obsession with constant busyness and offers insights on how to reclaim one's time and prioritize meaningful activities that enhance creativity and well-being.
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Saving Time
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How was the concept of keeping time created?
It’s no small irony that clocks are the modern symbol of time, because – for most of history – there was no need to keep time by them. While ancient civilizations did have devices for sensing the time of day, such as sundials and clepsydras, they had no reason to separate it into numerical parts.
In fact, the process of breaking down time into linear units didn’t begin until the sixth century, when the development of Christian canonical hours specified the eight moments of the day that monks should pray.
Five centuries later, Cistercian monks intensified this practice by using bell towers throughout their monasteries. This new technology would soon catch on and be developed into public and private clocks, spreading rapidly as European towns became centers of power and commerce.
While they were mainly still used for coordination, these mechanical turret clocks helped to conduct trade and signaled the end of a day’s worth of labor. Unlike the bell towers in monasteries, the new clocks were able to mark hours as equal and countable.
The history of time is also deeply entangled with colonialism and struggles for power. It’s no coincidence that marine chronometers were invented in eighteenth-century Britain, just as the colonial power was rising to international dominance.
Beginning in the 1850s, “master clocks” in Greenwich, England, began to send Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to “slave clocks” throughout the rest of the country via electrical pulses, which allowed all trains to run on the same schedule.
Meanwhile, railway systems in the US and Canada initially had no standardized time zones, which made coordinating them nearly impossible. While helping to design the Canadian railway network, engineer Sandford Fleming developed the idea of a “Cosmic Day.”
According to his strategy, everyone on the planet would use one of 24 time zones – reflecting the 24-hour clock, or what we now refer to as “military time.” In 1884, at the International Meridian Conference, these 24 time zones were officially recognized with Greenwich as the prime meridian: the point from which time would be measured throughout the world.
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What is 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.
Saving Time Review
Saving Time (2020) by Jenny Odell is a thought-provoking exploration of our relationship with time and the importance of slowing down in a fast-paced world. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers a refreshing perspective on productivity and challenges the notion that constantly being busy is the key to success.
- With its in-depth analysis of our obsession with productivity and technology, it sheds light on the hidden costs of our always-on culture.
- Odell's insightful observations and vivid examples make this book engaging and eye-opening, reminding us to embrace the present moment and savor the simple joys in life.
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
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Saving Time FAQs
What is the main message of Saving Time?
The main message of Saving Time is to reconsider our relationship with productivity and embrace unproductive time.
How long does it take to read Saving Time?
Reading time varies, but it typically takes hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just minutes.
Is Saving Time a good book? Is it worth reading?
Saving Time is worth reading because it challenges our obsession with productivity and offers a new perspective on time.
Who is the author of Saving Time?
The author of Saving Time is Jenny Odell.
What to read after Saving Time?
If you're wondering what to read next after Saving Time, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Greatness Mindset by Lewis Howes
- Built to Move by Kelly Starrett & Juliet Starrett
- Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Dr. Daniel G. Amen
- Impromptu by Reid Hoffman with GPT-4
- Your Brain Is Always Listening by Daniel G. Amen
- Young Forever by Mark Hyman
- Brain Food by Lisa Mosconi
- You Can Fix Your Brain by Tom O’Bryan
- Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki