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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Wintering summary
Katherine May
The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
20 mins
Brief summary
Wintering by Katherine May is a memoir that explores the restorative power of rest during life's difficult times. It encourages shifting our mindset from constant productivity to healing and renewal.
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Wintering
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Key idea 1 of 8
Like winter, challenging periods of life are natural and inevitable.
A week before her 40th birthday, the author, Katherine May, was gathered with friends on a beach in Folkestone, when her husband complained of feeling ill. At first, they were both inclined to dismiss it as a minor ailment, but over the course of the day he grew steadily worse.
By the evening he was admitted to the emergency ward with what he suspected was appendicitis. Treatment was deferred until the following morning, and in the night his appendix burst. For a week his life hung in the balance. His recovery was equally slow and painful.
For the author, this was just the beginning of a fraught and challenging season in her life.
The key message is: Like winter, challenging periods of life are natural and inevitable.
At the time her husband fell ill, May’s life was already in flux. She’d just given notice at her academic job and was hoping to find fulfillment outside the nine-to-five. Shortly after her husband’s illness, she began to notice signs of ill health in herself. After months of increasingly debilitating symptoms and grueling tests, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disorder. No longer a productive employee, she suddenly found herself unemployed and unable to do the creative work she’d envisioned.
The author’s son was also in distress. Just six, he already felt pressure to meet academic targets at school and was traumatized by the bullying of his peers. So the author made the difficult decision to embark on homeschooling.
Illness, upheaval, and anguish forced May out of her routine. She rested. She slowed down. She allowed herself to feel sad. She paid more attention to the world around her. She even began to find pleasure in this new way of living.
She’d always been interested in the natural world and its rhythms. And so, in a period of her life that felt as bleak and harsh as winter, she began to look to that season for lessons. She noticed that, unlike humans, plants and animals don’t try to resist winter. They know that winter is very different from summer. So they adapt or hibernate. They gather their resources, rest, and regenerate. When the season has passed, they emerge, transformed.
She began to think that wintering might be as essential to humans as it is to plants and other animals.
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What is Wintering about?
Wintering (2020) is the compelling account of how author Katherine May learned to embrace a bleak, harsh season in her own life by turning to the lessons of winter. From saunas to cold-winter swimming, wolves to winter solstice, May looks to how animals, plants, and cultures throughout history have survived, and even flourished, in the darkest time of the year.
Wintering Review
Wintering (2020) by Katherine May is a captivating exploration of the hidden magic of the winter season, and why it is worth embracing. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- In its engaging and relatable storytelling, the author takes us on a journey of resilience and self-discovery during difficult times.
- With its intimate reflections on nature, mental health, and the human experience, the book offers a unique perspective on finding strength in vulnerability.
- Through warmth and empathy, the author reminds us of the importance of slowing down, taking care of ourselves, and embracing the transformative power of winter's embrace.
Who should read Wintering?
- Anyone embarking on, or going through, one of life’s fallow periods
- Sun lovers who feel gloom at the thought of winter
- People who crave a deeper connection with the natural world
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Wintering FAQs
What is the main message of Wintering?
The main message of Wintering is that there is value in embracing and learning from the natural rhythms of rest and renewal.
How long does it take to read Wintering?
The reading time for Wintering varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Wintering a good book? Is it worth reading?
Wintering is worth reading for its insightful exploration of the importance of self-care, resilience, and finding solace in difficult times.
Who is the author of Wintering?
The author of Wintering is Katherine May.
What to read after Wintering?
If you're wondering what to read next after Wintering, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Enchantment by Katherine May
- The Art of Rest by Claudia Hammond
- The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary by Catherine Gray
- Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
- Time Smart by Ashley Whillans
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
- How to Eat to Change How You Drink by Brooke Scheller
- Confidence From the Inside Out by The Blinkist Team
- The Conscious Mind by David J. Chalmers
- Bedtime Biography: Edison by Edmund Morris