Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving: Headlee, Celeste: 9781984824738: Amazon.com: Books

“A welcome antidote to our toxic hustle culture of burnout.”—Arianna Huffington
“This book is so important and could truly save lives.”—Elizabeth Gilbert
“A clarion call to work smarter [and] accomplish more by doing less.”—Adam Grant

We work feverishly to make ourselves happy. So why are we so miserable?

Despite our constant search for new ways to optimize our bodies and minds for peak performance, human beings are working more instead of less, living harder not smarter, and becoming more lonely and anxious. We strive for the absolute best in every aspect of our lives, ignoring what we do well naturally and reaching for a bar that keeps rising higher and higher. Why do we measure our time in terms of efficiency instead of meaning? Why can’t we just take a break?

In Do Nothing, award-winning journalist Celeste Headlee illuminates a new path ahead, seeking to institute a global shift in our thinking so we can stop sabotaging our well-being, put work aside, and start living instead of doing. As it turns out, we’re searching for external solutions to an internal problem. We won’t find what we’re searching for in punishing diets, productivity apps, or the latest self-improvement schemes. Yet all is not lost—we just need to learn how to take time for ourselves, without agenda or profit, and redefine what is truly worthwhile.

Pulling together threads from history, neuroscience, social science, and even paleontology, Headlee examines long-held assumptions about time use, idleness, hard work, and even our ultimate goals. Her research reveals that the habits we cling to are doing us harm; they developed recently in human history, which means they are habits that can, and must, be broken. It’s time to reverse the trend that’s making us all sadder, sicker, and less productive, and return to a way of life that allows us to thrive.

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Customers find the book interesting and insightful. They appreciate the well-researched content and historical lessons that help them reevaluate their lives. Readers appreciate the clear, conversational tone and approachable vocabulary.

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20 customers mention "Readability"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and well-researched. They say it's a refreshing read for anyone who wants to live intentionally and with their values. The book is thought-provoking and amazing how much insight Celeste shared in so few pages.

"...Relax folks. Can't go wrong there. This is actually a very interesting book with important points for everyone. Glad I bought it." Read more

"A good read for those who are caught up in trying to do everything at once...." Read more

"Absolutely enjoyed reading this book. So I can underhand how I can reduce my stress and create more space for joy and happiness in my life" Read more

"...this book is stuff I knew or suspected but seeing it backed by research was really validating...." Read more

14 customers mention "History"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's history interesting and thought-provoking. They say it helps them be more mindful of their time and consider the bigger picture. The book includes fascinating stories and challenges to the status quo. Readers appreciate the historical evidence and research synthesized in the book.

"...This is actually a very interesting book with important points for everyone. Glad I bought it." Read more

"...So I can underhand how I can reduce my stress and create more space for joy and happiness in my life" Read more

"Ms Headlee’s work is potentially life and culture changing! I am busy considering how I can apply these principles in my own life...." Read more

"A very tightly organized book that argued for more leisure in a world obsessed with work...." Read more

3 customers mention "Language clarity"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the clear language and conversational tone. They find the vocabulary approachable and well-articulated.

"Amazing how much insight Celeste shared in so few pages! Clear, conversational tone, approachable vocabulary...." Read more

"I was not overwhelmingly wowed by the writing. It is clear and well-articulated but not particularly vivid...." Read more

"conversational style but supported by research..." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

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Doug Norwood
Story of my life
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
I have found that when you do nothing, you never know exactly when you're done. Relax folks. Can't go wrong there. This is actually a very interesting book with important points for everyone. Glad I bought it.

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3 people found this helpful

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Mikel Zaitzeff
It is time to Do Nothing
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2020
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A good read for those who are caught up in trying to do everything at once. Many people in the United States focus on doing so many things that sometimes they do not feel like they have time for things they want to be doing. Time is something you won't get back so remember to use it to do the things you really want to do.

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23 people found this helpful

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Elena Leonova
amazing book that resets how one should think about life and work
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2024
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Absolutely enjoyed reading this book. So I can underhand how I can reduce my stress and create more space for joy and happiness in my life

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2 people found this helpful

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Magnus
beautiful thought provoking book on work
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024
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A very tightly organized book that argued for more leisure in a world obsessed with work. It is a must read to those who looked for an alternative to the 9-9 lifestyle

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K. Arndt
The book was to be a gift but arrived with a damaged cover.
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024
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I have ordered more than one and one was a 5 and ready to gift, the other one looked used and I don't believe I can send it as a business gift.

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Sonia Sorabella
Amazing book
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2024
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Amazing book. I want to buy it for every one of my friends. So much of what’s in this book is stuff I knew or suspected but seeing it backed by research was really validating. The fact that we’re all being poi sorry by the rat race we created is mind-blowing to me. Thanks for this gem!!

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3 people found this helpful

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Turtle's Reads
Do Nothing
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2022
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Loved this woman's TedTalk so of course I had to read her books. This one in particular appealed to me as in the past I've considered myself a workaholic.

It flips the notion that "the more you work you do, the more productive/valuable you are as an employee" on it's head. Celeste argues that the opposite/version of the opposite may in fact be true.

Definitely some nuggets I'll be trying on my end- especially with my own employees. Excited to have the chance to see her at the #natbookfest next weekend.

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Turtle's Reads

Do Nothing
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2022
Loved this woman's TedTalk so of course I had to read her books. This one in particular appealed to me as in the past I've considered myself a workaholic.

It flips the notion that "the more you work you do, the more productive/valuable you are as an employee" on it's head. Celeste argues that the opposite/version of the opposite may in fact be true.

Definitely some nuggets I'll be trying on my end- especially with my own employees. Excited to have the chance to see her at the #natbookfest next weekend.

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10 people found this helpful

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erin
This is a must read
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2024
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I absolutely love this book. It really helped me pause. Look at how I'm spending my time and refocus on the things that are truly enriching in life.

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2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Quants guy
Worth reading
Reviewed in Canada on February 13, 2023
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Worth reading

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Gabriela
The illusion of productivity
Reviewed in Mexico on August 28, 2021
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Great book, a book to question and shows that work, efficiency and leisure have a different dimension and purposes of what it is expected. We are humans one of the most perfect machines, so unique that we should be compared or treated like the rest of the human inventions.

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Kiersten Brown
Interesting read
Reviewed in Spain on December 27, 2023
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The books had a lot of good examples and offered different perspectives.

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Ps
A must read!!
Reviewed in India on September 11, 2022
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I have completed only about 27% of the book yet, but couldn't wait to review. This is complete theory, normally I would have been bored. But not this one. Every page is a reminder and a revelation. I wish everybody would read this and implement this to start leading a better life and ultimately have a better society.

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Emma
Question Capitalism and Consumerism and who it benefits.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2022
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Fascinating analysis of the history of our current culture of busyness and overwork.

In a nutshell: Capitalism and consumerism is the problem and it is not there to benefit you.

Her main suggested antidotes are:

Work fewer hours

Don’t compare yourself to celebrities or the social media curated versions of anyone’s lives

Plan in leisure time

See people face-to-face much more often. Face-to-face is superior to a phone call and a phone call is superior to text or email.

Commit random acts of kindness

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Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving Hardcover – March 10, 2020

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