This book is fit for those who want a fresh new way to "break" from the "productivity" culture or at least if you want to realize what could inherently be wrong in such a culture and what we could do to make ourselves happier/more peaceful in our lives by changing our view for such since we can't exactly overthrow singlehandedly the current global culture of improving technology, and productivity as fast as possible. 

 

I can tell you now with great certainty this is not your typical self-help time management book. And I read a lot that almost makes me sick of such genres whenever I pick one new to read. This book is one of those exceptions when I didn't get sick of it. This book is never preachy because the author is so self-deprecating and honest. 


Longer review: 
This is a book that both celebrates and criticizes the productivity culture and by doing so actually makes us think about our lives better and actually makes us "produce" a more meaningful, realistic way of life for ourselves which is far better than all our fantasies of being a person who "creates a dent in the universe" or is in complete control his life and never anxious of what the universe will throw at him (Spoiler alert: We would all always be anxious because life will always be filled with uncertainties and our "perfect" productivity system won't remove all of that but that not necessarily a problem.) 

I realize the reason why people in your life (Especially the ones close to you: Friends, family, Spouse.) have unrealistic expectations towards you is they have such expectations towards themselves all because (like almost everyone in this world, including the author of this book) haven't yet full accepted the finitude of our life. We expect ourselves and the rest of the world, to do infinitely numerous tasks to be completed in a day that will lead to the achievement of our future financial, relationship, and career goals, which would finally make us fulfilled.  It is only now I realize how silly this expectation is and how I am not only relieved but also more forgiving of others for having such expectations of me. I always wondered why people in my life our so anxious to maximize time and money. Now I realize it is all because of our globalization of cultures and a way to seek to improve productivity. 

 

A book that would help you realize being more productive doesn't necessarily mean you will be happier/at peace with yourself which is often a misconception that current global society tells you: That, finally, peace and the feeling of complete control over your life can happen at the end of a long journey of "mastering" our time daily. Spoiler alert: You can't master your time because no human being ever has done so before and no one will ever master it in the future. 

 

Accepting that fact is necessary not solely because it is true but rather because it is empowering (especially on a personal level) to do so.  

 

 

The human disease he refers to is our struggle with the finitude of time. We feel a constant pressure to achieve everything and live a life of significance, but the reality is that our lifespan is limited. This mismatch between our desires and limitations is what Burkeman calls the human disease. 

 

The antidote to this disease, according to Burkeman, is accepting our finitude. By embracing the fact that we can't do everything, we can focus on what truly matters to us and live a more meaningful life. 

 

Our actions towards the world are the plants that blossomed from the seeds of our perceptions. Better actions/decisions towards the world is the result of having better perceptions. 

 

With all the great no self-help books or books about time management these days, I thought this would be just another almost similar carbon copy of the other self-help books but I am surprisingly delighted to be proven wrong as I read it. I honestly thought it would be the same recycled life hacky advice that I read almost countless of times in previous selfhelp books that I read (which is the reason why I postponed in reading this several times despite seeing the good reviews and positive social media noise it created during its publication), but glad it took a different path because finally somebody(the author) realize and actually called out what could possibly inherently wrong with our economy that demands a culture to be utmost "productive" or "work till you burn out" in order to justify your  existence as an individual in it. 

 

And it is entirely more delightful to know that this realization and writing against such beliefs is from a subspecies that the authors calls himself the "productivity guru"(This are his words not mine. He literally called himself a subspecies of human called the productivity guru which makes reading the book more human and self-depreciating funny which in turn makes me want to read him more because he is being honest with himself and doing real talk.) 

 

It is a sub species you would naturally expect to celebrate and worship our "productivity/hustle" economy and culture. I am happy to realize that I am not the only one who feels something is wrong with our " hustle culture. Happier even that a guru like him realize this. I do see now why this book has such honest good reviews because a lot of people feel the same way secretly with their productivity routine but only the author is manage to voice it out and their to challenge our way of thinking of such. 

 

Note that he doesn't want to burn the whole productivity gig all to the ground but in the book he mentions the points where we could be wrong(Since the author tried almost all the productivity/time management techniques, he doesnt exactly feel at peace or happier at the end of the day because of those special "techniques"so he did realize one day sitting a park bench that is impossible to be at peace doing "only" these techniques) 

 

And he advice us to adopt certain views and attitudes to counter that so that we could feel better in spending our terribly short life on earth. (80 years/4,000 weeks average life span of a human being. Realizing 80 year is only 4,000 weeks does give a more urgent feeling to spend  your time better, rather seeing your time left on earth in years. The title of 4,000 weeks for the book is more eye catching and effective than I thought.) 

 

Note I read this around March 3, 2024 

and I have 2,400 weeks left out of 3,700 weeks (I put the expected average life of a Human being 80years/4,000 weeks to 3,700 because the latest life expectance of a Filipino stat is around 72years/3,700 weeks.) 

 

A self help book that looks like it is about productivty but it isnt. It is more profound and more about real talk. Rather asking you to maximize your productivty but to help you chose a more happier life