The Art of Stopping Time audiobook cover - Practical Mindfulness for Busy People

The Art of Stopping Time

Practical Mindfulness for Busy People

Pedram Shojai

4.4 / 5(1086 ratings)
Start ListeningDownloadQR code that opens AudiobookHub on the App StoreTry free on iPhoneScan to start in 5 seconds

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

Listen to The Art of Stopping Time — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from The Art of Stopping Time

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from The Art of Stopping Time

Mind Map

The Art of Stopping Time
The Value of Time+
The Life Garden+
Time ROI (Return on Investment)+
Reclaiming Agency+
Defeating Tech Distractions+
Mindfulness & Slowing Time+
Prioritizing 'Me Time'+
Actionable Practice+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10
According to the author, what three factors determine what you get out of your time?
  • A. Wealth, health, and social status.
  • B. How you spend it, your energy levels, and your mindfulness.
  • C. Your daily schedule, your career, and your family.
  • D. Technology usage, commute length, and sleep quality.
Question 2 of 10
In the author's 'life garden' metaphor, what does the 'water' represent?
  • A. Financial resources and investments.
  • B. The physical health and stamina needed to work.
  • C. Your time, energy, and attention.
  • D. The relationships and networking connections you build.
Question 3 of 10
How does the concept of Return on Investment (ROI) apply to time management in the book?
  • A. You should only spend time on activities that generate a financial profit.
  • B. You must track every minute of your day in a spreadsheet to avoid wasting time.
  • C. You should invest time primarily into business ventures rather than leisure activities.
  • D. You should weigh how you spend your time against the outcomes it produces, like health or happiness.
Question 4 of 10
What is the author's perspective on the many obligations and commitments that pack our schedules?
  • A. We must fulfill all of them to maintain our professional and social standing.
  • B. Many of them are voluntary choices we maintain out of a misplaced sense of politeness.
  • C. Most of them are unavoidable realities of modern adult life.
  • D. They should be entirely replaced by periods of uninterrupted meditation.
Question 5 of 10
How does the author suggest handling unavoidable tasks like a daily work commute?
  • A. Change how you experience the task by listening to audiobooks, practicing posture, or doing exercises.
  • B. Find a new job that allows you to work from home immediately.
  • C. Accept that this is 'dead time' and try to sleep or zone out.
  • D. Use the time exclusively to mentally plan your retirement and financial goals.
Question 6 of 10
What does the author identify as the primary reason our free time often feels like 'dead time'?
  • A. We do not sleep enough, leaving us too exhausted to enjoy free time.
  • B. We fill empty moments with technological distractions like smartphones.
  • C. We are constantly worried about our financial and career goals.
  • D. We spend too much time socializing with people we don't actually like.
Question 7 of 10
What specific mental exercise does the author recommend to instantly shift your perspective and become more mindful of your surroundings?
  • A. Try to memorize five distinct objects in your immediate environment.
  • B. Close your eyes and count backward from one hundred.
  • C. Tell yourself, 'This could be the last time I'm ever here.'
  • D. Imagine how a famous historical figure would view the location.
Question 8 of 10
According to the text, how can mindfulness effectively 'slow down' or 'stop' the experience of time?
  • A. By lowering your heart rate to a state of near-sleep.
  • B. By fully engaging with and paying close attention to the present moment.
  • C. By eliminating all external stimuli and sitting in absolute silence.
  • D. By strictly scheduling every activity in 15-minute increments.
Question 9 of 10
The author suggests that taking long, hot showers every day is often a symptom of what underlying issue?
  • A. A subconscious desire to avoid starting the workday.
  • B. An over-reliance on modern plumbing and comforts.
  • C. Poor physical circulation that requires heat to fix.
  • D. A deficit of dedicated 'me time' and a need for privacy.
Question 10 of 10
What is a '100-day gong' as described in the book's actionable advice?
  • A. A musical instrument used to signal the beginning and end of a meditation session.
  • B. A commitment to practice a specific time-stopping technique daily for a designated period.
  • C. A financial strategy to save 100 dollars over the course of a month.
  • D. A strict scheduling method where tasks are broken into 100-minute blocks.

The Art of Stopping Time — Full Chapter Overview

The Art of Stopping Time Summary & Overview

The Art of Stopping Time (2017) answers the questions on many of our minds these days: Where does all our time go? And how can we get it back? Fusing practical time-management principles with the philosophical ideas of mindfulness, author Pedram Shojai shows us how we can make the most of our limited time on Earth.

Who Should Listen to The Art of Stopping Time?

  • Busy people wishing they had more time
  • Meditation fans looking for more practical applications of mindfulness
  • Anyone who wants to make the most of their time

About the Author: Pedram Shojai

Pedram Shojai is an ordained priest of the Yellow Dragon Monastery in China, a Qigong master, and a Doctor of Oriental Medicine. His previous books include The Urban Monk, a New York Times best seller. He also hosts a podcast by the same name.

🎧
Listen in the AppOffline playback & background play
Get App