In Praise of Slowness

Challenging the Cult of Speed

By: Carl Honoré

Narrated by: Carl Honoré

Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

We live in the age of speed. We strain to be more efficient, to cram more into each minute, each hour, each day. Since the Industrial Revolution shifted the world into high gear, the cult of speed has pushed us to a breaking point. Consider these facts: Americans on average spend 72 minutes of every day behind the wheel of a car, a typical business executive now loses 68 hours a year to being put on hold, and American adults currently devote on average a mere half hour per week to making love.

Living on the edge of exhaustion, we are constantly reminded by our bodies and minds that the pace of life is spinning out of control. In Praise of Slowness traces the history of our increasingly breathless relationship with time and tackles the consequences of living in this accelerated culture of our own creation. Why are we always in such a rush? What is the cure for time sickness? Is it possible or even desirable to slow down? Realizing the price we pay for unrelenting speed, people all over the world are reclaiming their time and slowing down the pace - and living happier, healthier, and more productive lives as a result. A Slow revolution is taking place.

Here you will find no Luddite calls to overthrow technology and seek a preindustrial utopia. This is a modern revolution championed by cell-phone using, emailing lovers of sanity. The Slow philosophy can be summed up in a single word: balance. People are discovering energy and efficiency where they may have been least expected - in slowing down.

In this engaging and entertaining exploration, award-winning journalist and rehabilitated speedaholic Carl Honoré details our perennial love affair with efficiency and speed in a perfect blend of anecdotal reportage, history, and intellectual inquiry. In Praise of Slowness is the first comprehensive look at the worldwide Slow movements making their way into the mainstream - in offices, factories, neighborhoods, kitchens, hospitals, concert halls, bedrooms, gyms, and schools. Defining a movement that is here to stay, this spirited manifesto will make you completely rethink your relationship with time.

©2004 Carl Honoré (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

A must read

If you are struggling to slow and find yourself constantly overwhelmed by today’s demands, this book will transform your views on the power of slowing down

Important subject-matter, but misses the mark

Any additional comments?

Carl Honoré's "In Praise of Slowness" is a well-researched and thorough argument for the far-reaching benefits of slowing down, with plenty of examples of how the trend is taking hold worldwide and in many different arenas of life.

I am passionate about this important topic and appreciate the care with which the author treats it. But I also found the presentation of the material to be oddly disjoint from its theme -- to me, the book itself feels more self-help and less persuasion, and is somewhat combative: full of facts and arguments, with the extensive use of words and phrases like "cult of speed," "crusade," and "movement". In other words, the impression the book leaves me with is more "fast" than I find comfortable, given the subject-matter and intent. Perhaps the intense narration somewhat reinforces this impression, especially knowing that the narrator is also the author.

In contrast, the exceptionally beautiful and deeply medatative "World Enough & Time" by Christian McEwen, exudes slowness -- and by virtue of deeply fulfilling its intent is far more persuastive and attractive in comparison.

Nevertheless, I do appreciate what Mr. Honoré has done and applaud him for taking on this deeply-ingrained cultural issue, even if it's done in a way I do not entirely resonate with.

Important advice in this spastic world

Everyone should read this book. Good advice and well written. Let’s all take a deep breath and learn when to slow down.

Good book to make you evaluate your situation

I loved this book! I am always running around and trying to plan adventure trips etc... etc... I just started yoga teacher training school about 3 weeks ago. I work full time and found myself exhausted and unable to complete my homework and reading for yoga. I decided to download this book and spent the last 2 weeks alone, no friends, no adventure, just work, my yoga school and this book. It's been an amazing time for self discovery. I highly recommend the read. It felt simple to me, and I could relate to a lot of the things he was going over. The food section was a little boring and over done for me, but I loved all the other chapters!

In Praise of Slowness

Loved listening to the audiobook, but needed to slow it down to 85% of original speed. There's a joke in there somewhere! :)

Excellent Book and Perfect Timing!

I was dealing with SOO much stress in my life with the seamless calls, E-Mails, Instant Messages, from both my professional and personal life. It seems as though I’d have to be “On” as soon as I woke up and it was non-stop until I went to bed.

I saw mention of this book in a YouTube video that crossed my viewing path and decided to give it a go during a recent trip where I had just enough time to listen to the whole book in one go.

Instantly I was able to take the tips and ideas that he presented and apply them to my daily routine and like magic my stress levels reduced and the quality of my work, and more importantly, my relationship got better! At the same time I found myself with more time on my hands to get done things that I had been putting off for years!!

I will continue to explore the topics he introduced and incorporate them more into my everyday life. This book is a game changer!!

Great message, distracting pronunciations

I enjoyed this book. It was entertaining, enthusiastically read, and has a good message. The author’s mispronunciations of everyday words is pretty distracting. At this point, he’s made up his own language. It doesn’t take away from the message, but you’ll notice it. Still gave it 5* all around.

Thought provoking

I very much enjoyed this book. It made me stop and think about many aspects of my life and how I could slow down and enjoy more.
He was easy to understand and I liked the pace of the book.
Looking forward to his other books!!

Good concept a bit drawn out

I love the concept of slowing down and appreciate the examples he gives on ways we can slow down in our lives to improve our enjoyment, fulfillment, and relationships. He provides facts and studies that support his theory of slowness. some of the examples (for example knitting) are a bit long and drawn out. I think his point would have easily been understood and relayed without a few pages of each chapter.

Judgy

There were some good concepts and ideas in this book. On the other hand, the author/narrator tended to come across as preachy and judgmental a lot of the time. I quit listening because of that.

It’s too bad. The message got lost in the delivery, and I spent a credit on a book that I couldn’t finish.