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This week I listened to the audio book of 'Rest,' by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang (thanks to Libby the library app) I listened to the whole thing, which is surely some kind of positive sign, although I mostly listened while walking, so that I would have less temptation to get distracted or fall asleep.
(The one sentence book summary: Rest and recovery are integral components of successful work and a fulfilling and creative life, illustrated by some scientific studies and many stories about famous people in a variety of fields.)
A lot of the content was interesting, but I found myself repeatedly outraged at the lack of acknowledgement of the supporting people who were always in the background of the story (mostly women). (Perhaps never so egregiously as the story of the guy who "spent a week all alone [in deep contemplation, or whatever], with only a cook and a caretaker." Not even "alone EXCEPT for," just "alone, with." Like they didn't even count!)
ANYWAY.
Still a lot of enjoyable content, particularly the discussion about the '10,000 hours to master a skill' study. (Essentially, that 10,000 hours of focused work is only as good as the surrounding hours of rest and recovery.) But the book is mainly: here's the hypothesis; here's seven hours of supporting arguments. Which was good! But I already agreed, and did not need seven hours of convincing!
What would really be something is the book about non-rich people without cooks and caretakers and wives who do all the work of maintaining their home and family are actually finding ways to reach that balance today, without getting fired.
(The one sentence book summary: Rest and recovery are integral components of successful work and a fulfilling and creative life, illustrated by some scientific studies and many stories about famous people in a variety of fields.)
A lot of the content was interesting, but I found myself repeatedly outraged at the lack of acknowledgement of the supporting people who were always in the background of the story (mostly women). (Perhaps never so egregiously as the story of the guy who "spent a week all alone [in deep contemplation, or whatever], with only a cook and a caretaker." Not even "alone EXCEPT for," just "alone, with." Like they didn't even count!)
ANYWAY.
Still a lot of enjoyable content, particularly the discussion about the '10,000 hours to master a skill' study. (Essentially, that 10,000 hours of focused work is only as good as the surrounding hours of rest and recovery.) But the book is mainly: here's the hypothesis; here's seven hours of supporting arguments. Which was good! But I already agreed, and did not need seven hours of convincing!
What would really be something is the book about non-rich people without cooks and caretakers and wives who do all the work of maintaining their home and family are actually finding ways to reach that balance today, without getting fired.
