Oliver Burkeman

ALIVENESS is the bold successor to Four Thousand Weeks, which offers its reader, once again, a radically fresh way of engaging with life. This book is Oliver Burkeman’s bracing answer to a widely shared, if only half-articulated, discontent: the feeling that in these alarming and uncertain times, something vital has drained out of our everyday lives. ALIVENESS is the name of that missing quality: a feeling of vibrancy, clarity, connection and immediacy that’s essential for living an accomplished and creative life – and a life that makes a difference in this deeply unsettling era. Aliveness is what makes life worth living. It isn’t the same as happiness, because you can feel alive in the midst of challenge or sadness. It’s a quality AI and the robots will never have; it’s what they can’t fake. And our current sense of overwhelm, perma-crisis and threat definitely erodes it. And so, in an age of doomerism and algorithmic predictability, Oliver Burkeman shows us that the problem isn’t our lack of control but, rather, our desperate clinging to it. His invitation is to ‘unclench’, physically and psychologically, so as to step out of the defensive crouch in which we usually meet the world. He explains how – by learning to relax into reality, embracing spontaneity and imperfect agency, and trusting our own idiosyncratic interests and desires – we can find our way back to feeling more fully and exhilaratingly alive.

A National Bestseller Addressing the fundamental questions about how to live, Meditations for Mortals offers a powerful new way to take action on what counts: a guiding philosophy of life Oliver Burkeman calls "imperfectionism." It helps us tackle challenges as they crop up in our daily lives: our finite time, the lure of distraction, the impossibility of doing anything perfectly, the feeling that the world is spinning out of control. How can we embrace our nonnegotiable limitations? Or make good decisions when there's always too much to do? How do we shed the illusion that life will really begin as soon as we can "get on top of everything"? Reflecting on quotations drawn from philosophy, religion, literature, psychology, and self-help, Burkeman explores a combination of practical tools and daily shifts in perspective. The result is a life-enhancing and surprising challenge to much familiar advice--and a profound yet entertaining crash course in living more fully. To be either read as a four-week "retreat of the mind" or devoured in one or two sittings, Meditations for Mortals will be a source of solace and inspiration, and an aid to a saner, freer, and more enchantment-filled life. In anxiety-inducing times, it is rich in truths we have never needed more.

**AS SEEN ON ITV’S THIS MORNING** Stop trying to sort your life out. Start living.‘Full of wisdom and comfort' CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN‘A practical path toward personal transformation… A must-read' CAL NEWPORTOur lives can feel defined by the struggle with overwhelm, endless decisions and striving to be productive. Wouldn’t it be good to stop doing all that? What if we could find freedom – and get more of the important things done – by embracing our limitations, and by letting things happen instead of forcing them? Meditations for Mortals begins with the reality in which we actually find ourselves, not with fantasies of an ideal existence. Reflecting on ideas from philosophy, religion, psychology and self-help, it offers us a powerful and practical new way to do what counts: a guiding outlook Oliver Burkeman calls ‘imperfectionism’. This book is a profound and liberating crash course in living more fully. It overturns much familiar advice and opens a gateway to a saner, freer and more enchantment-filled life.'If there are two people who have changed my life...then one of them is Oliver Burkeman' PANDORA SYKES'Oliver Burkeman has a way of giving you the most unexpected productivity advice exactly when you need it’ MARK MANSONREADERS LOVE MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS: ‘If you were only to read one book in your life, let it be this one’‘Simultaneously simple and deeply profound’‘Reading Oliver Burkeman has actually changed my life’‘At once mind-bending and worldview-shattering’‘The rare kind of self-help book that I think everyone would benefit from’

A National Bestseller Addressing the fundamental questions about how to live, Meditations for Mortals offers a powerful new way to take action on what counts: a guiding philosophy of life Oliver Burkeman calls "imperfectionism." It helps us tackle challenges as they crop up in our daily lives: our finite time, the lure of distraction, the impossibility of doing anything perfectly, the feeling that the world is spinning out of control. How can we embrace our nonnegotiable limitations? Or make good decisions when there's always too much to do? How do we shed the illusion that life will really begin as soon as we can "get on top of everything"? Reflecting on quotations drawn from philosophy, religion, literature, psychology, and self-help, Burkeman explores a combination of practical tools and daily shifts in perspective. The result is a life-enhancing and surprising challenge to much familiar advice--and a profound yet entertaining crash course in living more fully. To be either read as a four-week "retreat of the mind" or devoured in one or two sittings, Meditations for Mortals will be a source of solace and inspiration, and an aid to a saner, freer, and more enchantment-filled life. In anxiety-inducing times, it is rich in truths we have never needed more.

**AS SEEN ON ITV’S THIS MORNING**‘Full of wisdom and comfort … a really important book' CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN, author of Ultra-Processed PeopleHow can we embrace our non-negotiable limitations? Or make good decisions when there’s always too much to do? What if purposeful productivity were often about letting things happen, not making them happen? Reflecting on ideas drawn from philosophy, religion, literature, psychology, and self-help, Burkeman explores practical tools and shifts in perspective. The result is a bracing challenge to much familiar advice, and a profound yet entertaining crash course in living more fully. Meditations for Mortals takes us on a liberating journey towards a more meaningful life – one that begins not with fantasies of the ideal existence, but with the reality in which we actually find ourselves. Addressing the fundamental questions about how to live, it offers a powerful new way to take action on what counts: a guiding philosophy of life Oliver Burkeman calls ‘imperfectionism’. To be read either as a four-week ‘retreat of the mind’ or devoured in one or two sittings, Meditations for Mortals will be a source of solace and inspiration, and an aid to a saner, freer, and more enchantment-filled life in 2025. In anxiety-inducing times, it is rich in truths we have never needed more.'Thoughtful, level-headed, and useful ... a book to meditate upon' THE TIMES'Oliver Burkeman has a way of giving you the most unexpected productivity advice exactly when you need it’ MARK MANSON, author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck** A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2024 **

Your happier, freer and more fulfilling life starts today! Meditations for Mortals takes us on a liberating journey towards a more meaningful life - one that begins not with fantasies of the ideal existence, but with the reality in which we actually find ourselves. Designed as a four-week 'retreat of the mind', it offers daily wisdom, solace and inspiration to aid a saner, freer, and more enchantment-filled way of living. Addressing fundamental questions about how to live, Oliver Burkeman proposes a powerful new guiding philosophy of 'imperfectionism'. How can we embrace our limitations? Or make good decisions when there's always too much to do? What if being truly productive means letting things happen, not making them happen? Reflecting on philosophy, literature, psychology, religion and self-help, Burkeman explores practical tools and shifts in perspective. The result is a bracing challenge to much familiar advice, and a profound yet entertaining crash course in living more fully. 'Full of wisdom and comfort ... a really important book about embracing truth and reality which will help a lot of people leave their fantasies and dive into real life' CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN, author of Ultra-Processed People 'Oliver Burkeman has a way of giving you the most unexpected productivity advice exactly when you need it' MARK MANSON, author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck 'Meditations for Mortals offers a practical path toward personal transformation ... A must-read' CAL NEWPORT, author of Slow Productivity

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*Includes an interview with James Hollis* "Provocative and appealing . . . Well worth your extremely limited time." --Barbara Spindel, The Wall Street JournalThere's a good reason why everyone has been talking about Oliver Burkeman's New York Times bestseller, Four Thousand Weeks. Nobody needs to be told there isn't enough time. Whether we're starting our own business, or trying to write a novel during our lunch break, or staring down a pile of deadlines as we're planning a vacation, we're obsessed with our lengthening to-do lists, overfilled inboxes, work-life balance, and ceaseless struggle against distraction. We're deluged with advice on becoming more productive and efficient and life hacks to optimize our days. But such techniques often end up making things worse. The sense of anxious hurry grows more intense, and yet the most meaningful parts of life seem to lie just beyond the horizon. Still, we rarely make the connection between our daily struggles with time and the ultimate time management problem: the challenge of how best to use our four thousand weeks, the average length of a human life. Drawing on the insights of both ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, Oliver Burkeman delivers an entertaining, humorous, practical, and ultimately profound guide to time and time management. Rejecting the futile modern obsession with "getting everything done," Four Thousand Weeks introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing finitude, showing that many of the unhelpful ways we've come to think about time aren't inescapable, unchanging truths, but choices we've made as individuals and as a society--and that we can do things differently.

Tiden vi mennesker tilbringer på jorda, er egentlig absurd kort: Lever du til du blir 80, har du omtrent 4000 uker til rådighet. Så er vi da også besatt av hvordan vi utnytter vår tilmålte tid. Vi lager lange gjøremålslister, strever med balansen mellom arbeid og privatliv og fører en endeløs kamp mot distraksjoner. Men teknikkene vi bruker, ender ofte med å gjøre ting verre. 4000 uker er en praktisk og filosofisk guide som avkler overflatiske og ineffektive råd om hvordan du bør planlegge og styre tiden din. Det er ikke en konvensjonell selvhjelpsbok, men en oppløftende, oppslukende og anvendelig utforskning av hvordan vi kan forholde oss til våre livs endelighet. Oliver Burkeman tar utgangspunkt i innsikt fra blant annet filosofer, psykologer og åndelige veiledere. Med deres hjelp vil han forandre hvordan vi tenker om tiden, og hjelpe oss å skape meningsfulle liv.

'What a lovely, friendly book. Made me feel cheerful, buoyant, less alone and keen to get on with my writing. Highly recommended.' Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of Write It All Down'If you want to go from "writing" to "written", then you need this book.' Graham Allcott, author of How to be a Productivity Ninja**With a Foreword by OLIVER BURKEMAN, author of the Sunday Times bestseller Four Thousand Weeks**Do you ever wish you could find more time to write? Do you ever feel frustrated that other things get in the way? Perhaps you're stuck at the start, mired in the middle or just can't get back into the writing groove? Writing is important to many of us - for our careers, studies, businesses or creative fulfilment - but sitting down and doing it can feel impossible. We often struggle to give it the attention it deserves. We can't find time. Our focus is torn. Distractions are everywhere. Our inner critic keeps telling us we're no good. But what if you could find a highly effective writing habit that was perfect for you? Bec Evans and Chris Smith have helped thousands of people stop procrastinating, overcome their blocks and reach their writing goals. Now, they've turned their successful approach into this life-changing book that anyone can use to write more productively and with less stress. Packed full of tried and tested advice, stories you can relate to and the latest research from psychology and neuroscience, Written gives you the tools you need to start writing, keep going - and finish.

Keskmine inimelu on absurdselt ja vihaleajavalt lühike. Kui eeldada, et elad kaheksakümneseks, on sul veidi üle nelja tuhande elunädala. Kõik teavad, et aega on liiga vähe. Meie kinnismõtteks on üha rohkem ära teha, oma töö- ja eraelu paremini tasakaalu saada, keskenduda kõige olulisemale; meile antakse pidevalt nõu, kuidas saada produktiivsemaks ja efektiivsemaks. Kuid sellised tehnikad sageli vaid halvendavad olukorda, pannes meid veel ärevamalt kiirustama, ja alati tundub, et nii paljud tähtsad asjad elus on ikka saavutamata. Harva märkame, et meie ajahädade taga on suurim ajakasutusprobleem üleüldse: kuidas kõige paremini kasutada seda nelja tuhandet nädalat, mis meile on antud. Toetudes nii muistsete kui nüüdisaegsete filosoofide, psühholoogide ja vaimsete õpetajate tarkustele, on Oliver Burkeman valmis saanud huvitava, humoorika, praktilise ja väga sügavmõttelise raamatu aja ja selle kasutamise kohta. Eitades meie ajastu asjatut püüdlust "kõik tehtud saada", tutvustab see raamat lugejatele vahendeid, mille abil luua tähenduslik elu, tunnistades samas meile antud aja lõplikkust. Saab selgeks, et paljud viisid, kuidas me seni oleme ajast mõelnud, pole vältimatud ja üldkehtivad tõed, vaid pigem kahjulikud valikud, mida oleme indiviidi ja ühiskonna tasandil teinud. Ent leidub muid ja paremaidki võimalusi.

Hvad ville der ske, hvis du holdt op med at prøve at nå det hele, så det endelig kunne lykkes dig at nå de ting, der virkelig betyder noget? Det moderne menneske er som besat af vores uendelige to do-lister og overfyldte indbakker, og vi kæmper en evindelig kamp mod distraktionerne og vores svindende koncentrations- evne. Alligevel formår vi sjældent at se sammenhængen mellem de daglige kampe mod tiden og det ultimative time management-problem: spørgsmålet om, hvordan vi bedst muligt skal spendere vores absurd korte tid på planeten – en tid, som i gennemsnit beløber sig til omkring fire tusind uger. Fire tusind uger er en opløft ende, fængslende og dybt realistisk udforskning af netop denne problemstilling. Den afviser vores nyttesløse besættelse af at nå det hele og introducerer os i stedet til red- skaber, der kan bruges til at konstruere et meningsfuldt liv ved at omfavne snarere end benægte dets begrænsninger. Den viser os, at den måde, vi forholder os til tiden på, ikke er uundgåelig og uforanderlig, men resultatet af et valg vi har truffet, både som individer og som samfund. Og at alle disse åbenbaringer kan forandre vores verdenssyn. Med afsæt i lærdom fra gamle og nye filosoffer, psykologer og åndelige vejledere sætter Oliver Burkeman sig med Fire tusind uger for at omstrukturere vores forhold til tid – og for at frigøre os fra dens tyranni.

A life-changing gift of a book: What if you tried to stop doing everything, so you could finally get round to what counts?**The instant Sunday Times bestseller**Rejecting the futile modern obsession with 'getting everything done,' Four Thousand Weeks introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing rather than denying their limitations. Drawing on the insights of both ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, Oliver Burkeman sets out to realign our relationship with time - and in doing so, to liberate us from its tyranny. Embrace your limits. Change your life. Discover how to make your four thousand weeks count in 2025.'Life is finite. You don't have to fit everything in... Read this book and wake up to a new way of thinking and living' Emma Gannon'Every sentence is riven with gold' Chris Evans'Comforting, fascinating, engaging, inspiring and useful' Marian Keyes