• Autopilot

  • The Art & Science of Doing Nothing
  • By: Andrew Smart
  • Narrated by: Kevin Free
  • Length: 3 hrs and 51 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (568 ratings)

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Autopilot  By  cover art

Autopilot

By: Andrew Smart
Narrated by: Kevin Free
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Editorial reviews

For Andrew Smart, idle is ideal. In a society that stresses overachievement, multitasking, and constant stimulus, Smart uses neuroscientific evidence to argue that the human brain needs rest to function properly. So while we may be preoccupied with being busy, it is actually crucial to embrace our inner sloth in order to increase mental health and well-being. Smart's reasonings are compelling, but it's the ingratiating performance of Kevin Free that makes idleness seem like a credible life choice. Free manages an imploring style that is remarkably gentle, and convinces the listener that laziness can be a virtue.

Publisher's summary

Andrew Smart wants you to sit and do nothing much more often - and he has the science to explain why.

At every turn we’re pushed to do more, faster, and more efficiently: That drumbeat resounds throughout our wage-slave society. Multitasking is not only a virtue, it’s a necessity. Books such as Getting Things Done, The One Minute Manager, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People regularly top the best seller lists, and have spawned a considerable industry.

But Andrew Smart argues that slackers may have the last laugh. The latest neuroscience shows that the “culture of effectiveness” is not only ineffective, it can be harmful to your well-being. He makes a compelling case - backed by science - that filling life with activity at work and at home actually hurts your brain.

A survivor of corporate-mandated “Six Sigma” training to improve efficiency, Smart has channeled a self-described “loathing” of the time-management industry into a witty, informative, and wide-ranging audiobook that draws on the most recent research into brain power. Use it to explain to bosses, family, and friends why you need to relax - right now.

©2013 Andrew Smart (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not worth it.

Although this is an interesting book giving you a fair amount of scientific data about how the brain thrives on being at rest, the conclusions drawn seem quite week.

The author suggests that idleness, or not working so much, is needed in order to get into the brain states needed for creativity and mental renewal. This is very interesting, and the science is fascinating about how the brain works.

However, the overall argument—that because our brains need down-time, then we should not work so hard, be more idle, etc.—is taken too far. His "solution" to the "problem" seems weak, unsupported and underdeveloped. There is no practical advice given (though it could be as easy as taking more rest, reflecting more, meditating, not being in front of digital devices constantly), rather, the author offers more of just criticisms of working too much and living in a work-driven society.

Overall, not worth it. Though interesting overall.

What to take away: your brain thrives when you are at rest, idle, and chilled out. So don't think it's a bad thing to chill out—it's good for your brain and helps your creativity. That's all you need to know from this book, basically. The rest is jargon, scientific examples, and other filler.

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56 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

More Brain Science, Less Socialism Please

Any additional comments?

I was excited to read this book because its premise was one that I intuitively feel is true. I got the validation I wanted in the many examples of scientific findings the author provides on how the brain works optimally when allowed some "white space" from thinking and doing. But, the last couple of chapters the focus was on how awful capitalism is, blaming modern society's focus on productivity and profit for the detriment of humankind's creativity. I wish that the author had offset some of his socialistic idealism with practical examples of how we could apply his findings in our everyday life. It was a missed opportunity.

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55 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best books this year

What made the experience of listening to Autopilot the most enjoyable?

I buy quite many audiobooks in the genre of productivity, business, self-improvement and so on. This book is one of those rare few, that really made me listen. It will (already has) changed the way I see, and wanna live, my life.

In it, the author goes into detail about the neuroscience of ADHD, and introduces some quite novel concepts that were new to me. I've never encountered "stochastic resonance" before. Now I have.

It's a well-written book, super well narrated, and a book I can't wait to listen to again, from the beginning. It's like the focused version of Goleman's recent book Focus, which is a mishmash of anecdotes. Meanwhile, this book is clearly written by an individual who really thinks (!) about the stuff he writes about. No fluffy Gladwell / Heath brothers crap here.

In addition, I think the book points out some major problems of our modern society. Everyone should read this book.

What other book might you compare Autopilot to and why?

Your Brain at Work, which is another really great book that deserves more attention than most other books in the productivity genre.

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44 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

The reason the book was in the dollar bin

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The first part of the book contained interesting research but later devolved into a defense of Karl Marx and the evils of capitalism (work and exploitation) and the virtues of socialism (doing nothing). His argument that capitalism stifles creativity and socialist utopianism is the way to go is undercut by my not being able to think of any great art or innovation coming from the worker's paradise nations.

Would you ever listen to anything by Andrew Smart again?

Maybe. Parts of the book were good but going from why inactivity is good to political discussions rarely make for great books. For this books the price was right and I can listen to it at high speed.

What about Kevin Free’s performance did you like?

It was good.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No, but this isn't the type of book that could be made into a movie.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Self-serving, unsubstantiated and superficial

Would you try another book from Andrew Smart and/or Kevin Free?

Not from this author; yes from the Narrator

Would you ever listen to anything by Andrew Smart again?

No

What about Kevin Free’s performance did you like?

He did well given the poor material he had to work with

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Self-serving, unsubstantiated, superficial and pandering piece of pseudo literature.

Any additional comments?

More of a guideline how to become, raise and promote mediocrity; author pretends to divert the attention of the reader by choking him with medical terms and technical lingo without once, validating his claims against research or proven scientific work.

Three hours of my life I would have rather spent doing nothing [sarcastic] and would have gotten more out of that than reading this horrifically boring, biased attempt of writing.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Just awful

Great idea for a topic. Awful execution. Make no mistake about it, this is a book that draws very dubious conclusions from scientific research in an attempt to support a political viewpoint that has nothing to do with the science. Skip it. You won't learn anything that 30 minutes spent with google couldn't teach you. There is a reason this is a short book; it lacks substance.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

anti capitalist nonsense

The author unsuccessfully tries to leverage his knowledge of stochastic resonance in human brains to anti capitalism. The saddest bit is his insight that Issac Newton has leisure time in a pre capitalist context that doesn't exist today. the lack of work allowed the dormant brain to function, cause it actually isn't dormant, and he was creative. never mind that Newton was a lord with tens or hundreds of people literally slaving away to make his leisure possible. He has some interesting insights but his anti capitalism...without any real basis other than conjecture...makes this a heaping pile.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Don't Waste Your Time

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

If the author had actually stayed on subject, been clear and concise instead of using grandiose and verbose turns of phrase to pad the subject matter.

What could Andrew Smart have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Sticking to the subject matter instead of veering off constantly. The entire book sounds like a smug know-it-all who says a lot without actually saying anything.

How could the performance have been better?

Performance was alright, the writing was just awful.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The premise is great, but the execution is terrible.

Any additional comments?

Watch a TED video on a similar topic. It'll be more engaging and informative.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Pure Drivel

Any additional comments?

I got this from Audible's daily deal, and my word... I want my $2 back. the book made me feel abysmal and greatly put off. The abject vacuity of his reasoning, the question begging, leaps of logic, the ludicrous and adolescent diatribe against capitalism, the Protestant work-ethic, business, etc... his childish praise of laziness--it was... it was all more than I could stomach (and sadly I was already feeling sick before starting the book).

If only the author followed his own advice and never under went the laborious and toilsome employment of writing this book and finding a publisher who would mass produce his drivel. Or better yet, If only he was acquainted with the profundity of his ideas earlier in life, and with idealistic fervor dropped out of school and immediately joined the cream of society; those with the healthiest and more vigorous brains, who sit doing nothing all day under the overpass. If it was during times of idleness, that the author's "creativity" and "insights" were sparked for this pathetic excuse for a book, then, my word.... we get to see the fruit of a slothful mind that has sunk a wee too deep into the mire of idiocy. Gee... this book is so ridiculous, bla... I wish I could give it minus 5 stars.

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Would have been better if ...

Would you try another book from Andrew Smart and/or Kevin Free?

Oh heck no.

What could Andrew Smart have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Stop mentioning global warming every 5 minutes.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The material was hard to get through, it might be better off read.

Any additional comments?

For some reason in a book on willpower the author kept wanting to bring up global warming as if it was proven science. It's just annoying. I appreciate not everyone thinks global warming is bogus like I do, but for heavens sakes the science at this point is pretty clear that the gloom and doom prediction of just a few years ago are wildly inaccurate.

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