On Monday 5th September 2022 PropelHer’s Book Club discussed Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman.

 

In this summary of Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman I’ll be briefly summarising the book to help you to make a decision about whether you should buy a copy of the book for yourself.

 

Four Thousand Weeks has an Introduction, Part I: Choosing to Choose, Part II: Beyond Control, Afterword and Appendix.

 

In the introduction Oliver states that the purpose of the book is to ‘attempt to redress the balance”. He discussed how as a society we’ve become obsessed with becoming ‘more productive’, but rather than that solving our problems it ‘just seems to cause the belt to speed up’. He states the ’productivity is a trap’ ‘and that he wants to help you escape from this trap.

 

In Part I: Choosing to Choose Oliver is brutally honest about the fact ‘you definitely won’t have time for everything you want to do’. For him this isn’t a bad realisation, but actually something that can set you free. He encourages the reader to realise they are currently trying to achieve an ideal that is impossible. He explores the efficiency trap and the need to feel ‘on top of things’, which again isn’t possible. Instead, his believe is to be honest about our limitations and what we can achieve, to procrastinate in a positive way and actually make decisions that will burn bridges. 

 

Part II: Beyond Control starts by exploring planning and sheds a different light on what your attitude to planning should be. Then it focuses on being present and instead of focusing on the future realising and enjoy living in the now. Rest is also discussed in this part of the book with Oliver exploring how our approach to rest has changed over the centuries and that there is more to leisure time than using it productively. This part of the book also explores ideas around the importance of having time off at the same time as others. Finally the part ends with 5 important questions to ask yourself. 

 

The book closes with an afterword and then an appendix which shares ten tools for embracing your finitude. 

 

That’s it! You now have an idea about what you can expect to find inside of Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman.

Like the sound of Four Thousand Weeks? Why not buy a copy of the book and read it yourself?

 

Buy your copy of Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman at the Bookshop (and support local bookshops) or Amazon.

 

Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman was read as part of PropelHer’s Book Club. PropelHer’s Book Club is an online non-fiction book club for ambitious women that meet monthly. Every month PropelHer’s Book Club reads a different book to help ambitious women concentrate on their personal development and professional success. You can see what else we have read so far here. If you would like to join PropelHer’s Book Club you can find full details here.

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