Meditations for Mortals

Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts

By: Oliver Burkeman

Narrated by: Oliver Burkeman

Long-listed, Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year, 2024

Long-listed, Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 2024

Long-listed, Audible.com Best of the Year, 2024

"The philosophical tone of his delivery is perfect."—AudioFile on Four Thousand Weeks

This program is read by the author.

A map for a liberating journey toward a more meaningful life—a journey that begins where we actually find ourselves, not with a fantasy of where we’d like to be—from the New York Times bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks

Addressing the fundamental questions about how to live, Meditations for Mortals offers a powerful new way to take action on what counts: a guiding philosophy of life Oliver Burkeman calls “imperfectionism.” It helps us tackle challenges as they crop up in our daily lives: our finite time, the lure of distraction, the impossibility of doing anything perfectly.

How can we embrace our non-negotiable limitations? Or make good decisions when there’s always too much to do? How do we shed the illusion that life will really begin as soon as we can “get on top of everything”? Reflecting on quotations drawn from philosophy, religion, literature, psychology, and self-help, Burkeman explores a combination of practical tools and daily shifts in perspective. The result is a life-enhancing and surprising challenge to much familiar advice—and a profound yet entertaining crash course in living more fully.

To be listened to either as a four-week “retreat of the mind” or devoured in one or two sittings, Meditations for Mortals will be a source of solace and inspiration, and an aid to a saner, freer, and more enchantment-filled life. In anxiety-inducing times, it is rich in truths we have never needed more.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

©2024 Oliver Burkeman (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Meditations for Mortals offers a bracing and refreshing antidote for what ails high achievers. With crackling wit and counterintuitive wisdom, Burkeman shows that it’s okay—and often smarter—to do less, let some goals slide, and embrace our imperfections. This book is both a comfort and a challenge—exactly what our trying times demand.”—Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret

“More than a book of ideas, Meditation for Mortals offers a practical path toward personal transformation—one that helps you sidestep the shallow allure of frenetic busyness and find a liberating joy in the limits and imperfections of life. A must-read.”—Cal Newport, New York Times bestselling author of Slow Productivity and Deep Work

“I follow Oliver Burkeman's personal, literary, and journalistic adventures into wisdom with admiration and exhilaration. Now he brings us a ‘retreat of the mind’ in a very special book. We should all read this, preferably in the company of others—for the sake of our aching world as well as the state of our souls.”—Krista Tippett, host of On Being

Great!

A very nice listen, It puts your feet back on the ground, while you effortlessly absorb the messages it gives you through interesting stories

solid advice

I liked the narration and the message the author conveys about living a productive life.

Thoughtful

A compassionate self-practice, a set of possibilities for daily consideration, motivation, based on a wide worldview.

Enter the stream

A humorous, yet practical, step-wise approach to making peace with your to-do lists and finding satisfaction within the chaos. Far from an ode-to-minimalism, this author promotes seeing your task list as a river you jump into every morning.

Excellent Book

I found it to be fun and helpful. Listened to the entire book in one sitting. Now to do a chapter a day for the next 4 weeks.

Stuck? Stressed? Read This

Oliver Burkeman offers wisdom and kindness in this gentle, sensible guide to living an imperfect but meaningful life. There were points when I felt like he was seeing inside my mind. I finished reading it the other day and immediately restarted it. Comforting and smart. Burkeman narrates himself— his voice is just as calm and reassuring as his message. Read it if you feel stuck, or overworked, or like you’re carrying too much.

One of the most worthwhile "self-help" books out there!

I loved its candor, its simple honesty. I'm going to recommend it far and wide and carry its message near to my heart as I venture into a trying season.

Takes the Pressure Off

Easy read. It's okay to inch along and be good enough. It's nice to know that and get that affirmed.

Loved 4000 weeks as well!

Fresh perspective!

A game changer for me. A rarely talked about perspective for perfectionists in a world filled with “productivity hacks”, and chasing our “full potential”. Also such a fun listen!

A lot here to ponder

Fully enjoyed this book for its wit, good advice and no nonsense stance of who we are as humans on this planet. Motivating to get going on what I want to do to change the world in very small ways.