In Praise of Slowness

Challenging the Cult of Speed

De: Carl Honore

Narrado por: Carl Honore

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 seventy-two minutes of every day behind the wheel of a car, a typical business executive now loses sixty-eight 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, e-mailing 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.

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

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! :)

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.