What will I learn about: how the concept of time shifted from following natural rhythms to becoming an artificial tool of industrial and colonial control used to maximize productivity?

Discover how the concept of time shifted from following natural rhythms to becoming an artificial tool of industrial and colonial control used to maximize productivity.

What will I learn about: why the glorification of busyness and a lack of control over your daily schedule directly fuel the modern burnout epidemic?

Understand why the glorification of busyness and a lack of control over your daily schedule directly fuel the modern burnout epidemic.

What will I learn about: Recognize how our relentless pursuit of instant gratification and constant productivity not only deepens societal inequalities but also accelerates the climate change crisis?

Recognize how our relentless pursuit of instant gratification and constant productivity not only deepens societal inequalities but also accelerates the climate change crisis.

What will I learn about: Uncover the paradox of the 'experience economy' on social media, where influencers artificially package and sell the illusion of a slow, leisurely lifestyle back to exhausted workers?

Uncover the paradox of the 'experience economy' on social media, where influencers artificially package and sell the illusion of a slow, leisurely lifestyle back to exhausted workers.

What will I learn about: reclaim your personal well-being by setting strict boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and completely redefining success outside of the endless daily grind?

Learn how to reclaim your personal well-being by setting strict boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and completely redefining success outside of the endless daily grind.

Saving Time

Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock

Jenny Odell

★ 4.0 / 5(407 ratings)

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Categories:

Philosophy Science Society & Culture Motivation & Inspiration History

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Did you know that our modern obsession with “saving” time was actually designed for profit rather than people—and that there are much richer ways to experience your life?
💡Have you ever wondered why we feel more rushed than ever despite all our time-saving technology, and what the secret is to finally reclaiming your sense of the present?
💡What if you could stop viewing time as a scarce commodity and instead learn to see it through a lens that offers a more hopeful and meaningful way to live?

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Key Takeaways from Saving Time

✓Discover how the concept of time shifted from following natural rhythms to becoming an artificial tool of industrial and colonial control used to maximize productivity.
✓Understand why the glorification of busyness and a lack of control over your daily schedule directly fuel the modern burnout epidemic.
✓Recognize how our relentless pursuit of instant gratification and constant productivity not only deepens societal inequalities but also accelerates the climate change crisis.
✓Uncover the paradox of the 'experience economy' on social media, where influencers artificially package and sell the illusion of a slow, leisurely lifestyle back to exhausted workers.
✓Learn how to reclaim your personal well-being by setting strict boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and completely redefining success outside of the endless daily grind.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Saving Time

Mind Map

Saving Time

History & Standardization+

Commodification of Time+

Inequality of Time+

Shifting Perceptions+

How to Truly Save Time+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8

According to Jenny Odell, where do the true solutions for avoiding burnout and 'saving time' lie?

A. In adopting modern time-management strategies to increase daily productivity
B. In understanding the history and philosophical theories surrounding time
C. In utilizing advanced self-reporting tools to track our daily habits
D. In learning how to multitask effectively to squeeze more into each hour

Question 2 of 8

What historical development initially sparked the process of breaking time down into specific, linear units?

A. The invention of the marine chronometer in eighteenth-century Britain
B. The standardization of railway schedules in the US and Canada
C. The creation of Christian canonical hours to specify prayer times for monks
D. The establishment of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in the 1850s

Question 3 of 8

What does Allen C. Bluedorn's concept of 'fungible time' suggest about the nature of time?

A. Time behaves like a currency where every second has an equal and interchangeable value
B. Time is an overlapping duration rather than a measurable sequence
C. Time is experienced differently depending on a person's socioeconomic status
D. Time cannot be tracked or managed effectively by employers

Question 4 of 8

Why does philosophy professor Robert E. Goodin refer to the idea that 'everyone has the same 24 hours in a day' as a 'cruel joke'?

A. Because mechanical clocks are inherently inaccurate and vary by time zone
B. Because people's control over their time is heavily dictated by unequal power structures and socioeconomic factors
C. Because the 24-hour time zone system was originally designed to exclusively benefit colonial powers
D. Because human perception of time naturally accelerates as people age

Question 5 of 8

How did French philosopher Henri Bergson conceptualize time in his 1907 book 'Creative Evolution'?

A. As a series of concrete moments happening side by side in space
B. As a rigid, measurable currency that can be saved or spent
C. As overlapping successions and intensities, similar to flowing lava
D. As a linear progression strictly dictated by planetary movements

Question 6 of 8

How does Odell suggest the 'post-apocalyptic' perspective of Indigenous peoples can help ease modern anxieties about the future?

A. By showing that historical events are entirely cyclical and predictable
B. By proving that climate change is a natural phenomenon that cannot be stopped
C. By reminding us that many worlds have ended and been born anew, showing resilience in the face of annihilation
D. By encouraging isolation and self-sufficiency in the face of an uncertain future

Question 7 of 8

According to author Oliver Burkeman, what is the ironic result of paying close attention to time-management strategies?

A. It causes us to lose track of our daily schedules and become less productive
B. It heightens our awareness of how little time we have, making it seem to slip away faster
C. It forces us to spend more money on wellness products to extend our lives
D. It makes us overly dependent on technology to track our productivity

Question 8 of 8

In ancient Greek, the words 'chronos' and 'kairos' were used to describe time. Why does Odell suggest we should focus on living in 'kairos'?

A. It emphasizes the steady march of linear events, providing a sense of stability
B. It allows us to perfectly measure our daily productivity and avoid distractions
C. It encourages us to seize the moment and embrace new possibilities despite an uncertain future
D. It helps us extend our lifespan by focusing on long-term health and wellness goals

Saving Time — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
2How did the concept of timekeeping come about?
3What is our time really worth?
4Is time shared equally?
5How has our perception of time shifted?
6How can we grant ourselves more time?

Saving Time Summary & Overview

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.

Who Should Listen to Saving Time?

Anyone curious about the concept of time
People suffering from a lack of time or burnout
Fans of history, science, and philosophy

About the Author: Jenny Odell

Jenny Odell is an author, artist, and educator. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, New York magazine, the Paris Review, McSweeney’s, and Sierra. Odell’s previous book, How to Do Nothing, is a New York Times best seller.

Saving Time

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to Saving Time — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from Saving Time

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Saving Time — Full Chapter Overview

Saving Time Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to Saving Time?

About the Author: Jenny Odell

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