How to Do Nothing

Resisting the Attention Economy

De: Jenny Odell

Narrado por: Rebecca Gibel

A galvanizing critique of the forces vying for our attention - and our personal information - that redefines what we think of as productivity, reconnects us with the environment, and reveals all that we've been too distracted to see about ourselves and our world

Nothing is harder to do these days than nothing. But in a world where our value is determined by our 24/7 data productivity . . . doing nothing may be our most important form of resistance.

So argues artist and critic Jenny Odell in this field guide to doing nothing (at least as capitalism defines it). Odell sees our attention as the most precious - and overdrawn - resource we have. Once we can start paying a new kind of attention, she writes, we can undertake bolder forms of political action, reimagine humankind's role in the environment, and arrive at more meaningful understandings of happiness and progress.

Far from the simple anti-technology screed, or the back-to-nature meditation we hear so often, How to Do Nothing is an action plan for thinking outside of capitalist narratives of efficiency and techno-determinism. Provocative, timely, and utterly persuasive, this book is a four-course meal in the age of Soylent.

©2019 Jenny Odell (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

But the print copy

The message of this book could have been so powerful if the narrator was better. Buy a print copy of this book and you will get a lot more out of it. This topic is very very relevant right now though, so worth the read. Reminds us of how precious our minds, environment and culture is and how phones, apps and capitalism are changing the face of the way we live.

A great guide for how to return to the good life

This book is about more than 'doing nothing,' which is indeed not what we should be doing to counter the damage that we've done in our anthropocene, but focuses more on how to make better use of our precious time here on earth. To counter the capitalist machine and tap into the inherent joy that is living and loving as a human being in a complex world, we must live with intention. This book captures the essence of the beautiful struggle to find happiness in an age of digital obsession and instant gratification with a lens pointed to nature; it guides us to an alternative way to find meaning in life.

Interesting

Pay attention, learn, read, be skeptical and engage with your community. Create balance in your life.

Early chapters fascinating

This was a meandering listen. I got quite a lot of insight (and some bonus art education) from the early chapters but less as the book went on. The narrator sounded like she was upset throughout, which was distracting.

Can't get past narrators robot voice

I know the book is fabulous. Started reading it. However, her computerized narration is so distracting I can't focus on the content.

Much needed reminder to log off —

But not tune out — the social and political struggles of our time. Find your people and seek real connection.

Is this a joke ? Alexa is the narrator?

I was like is this someone’s idea of irony? The anti tech book narrated by a robot ? Barely listenable. The cadence is so non human.

Interesting but sometimes repetitive and grandstanding

I enjoyed reading the book but I struggle to get to the finish line, the ideas are useful but could be condensed.

Listen to part of it first

I was surprised at how angry the tone of this book is. That it really is an activist book disguised in self help language. I believe there is some ideas of merit in here but it is bitter, angry, moralizing, politicized. Not for me. Maybe for you. Give it a try.

Narrator takes away from content

This book did not teach me how to do nothing but it had a lot of interesting stories about Oakland California and birds.

Proud of this young lady for being so educated, informed and engaged.

The reader is terribly robotic. It’s sound like Siri is reading the book. Very difficult to engage with because of that.

I am not likely to recommend this title to anyone but I’m glad to have listened to it.