In “How to Do Nothing,” artist and writer Jenny Odell provides a timely antidote to our highly digitized, screen-based lives. Offering insurgent strategies for resisting the attention economy, Odell shows us how we can step back from our gadgets and reclaim time for contemplation, creativity, unplugged play, and reflection—the activities that produce meaning in our lives. “How to Do Nothing” is an insightful exploration of how making space for stillness can help fuel resistance movements against ecological destruction, political disempowerment, capitalist greed – and ultimately allow us to thrive amid spiraling chaos.
For who is this book for ?
“How to Do Nothing” is for anyone feeling overwhelmed and powerless in the face of today’s accelerating crises, and seeking a path back to agency. Drawn from Odell’s own practice as an artist, writer, and thinker uninterested in easy answers or techno-utopianism, this book shows how each of us can reconsider what it means to be productive in an age where automation renders many jobs obsolete while climate change threatens our very existence.
Pros :
- The book provides readers with a timely perspective on the importance of slowing down in an age dominated by screens and digital devices.
- It offers insightful strategies for resisting the attention economy, teaching us how to reclaim time for contemplation, creativity, and unplugged play.
- “How to Do Nothing” ultimately allows readers to thrive amid spiraling chaos by providing them with much-needed space for stillness.
Cons :
- 1) the book can be dense at times
- 2) it doesn’t offer a lot of solutions for those looking to unplug more easily 3) some readers may find its topics dry
Learn more about the author
Jenny Odell is an artist and writer who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She teaches at California College of the Arts and lectures internationally on art, culture, and ecology.
Reader Reviews
“Odell’s book is a must-read for anyone feeling overwhelmed and powerless in the face of today’s distractions and crises. It offers a refreshing perspective on how to nurture meaningful connections in our digitally driven age, and provides inspiring examples of creative resistance.”
“I read this book in two days – I could not put it down. Jenny Odell provides eye-opening insights on how to resist the 24/7 attention economy and reclaim our lives. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to create meaningful change in themselves and the world.”
“Odell’s passionate, well-researched manifesto urges us to take a needed step back from the speed and distractions of our digitally saturated lives… A persuasive call for Greater awareness of how technology shapes both our individual creativity and possibilities for societal change.”
“Like a gentle breeze on a hot day, How to Do Nothing is both refreshing and inspiring. In this book, Jenny Odell offers us all an important gift – the chance to step back from our gadgets and reclaim time for contemplation, creativity, unplugged play, and reflection.”
