How to Do Nothing offers an alternative to the modern world’s ideas of productivity and attention. Instead of focusing on growth and the next big thing, Odell suggests we find joy in maintenance work and rest. Instead of the context collapse of corporate social media, we should be more intentional with where we put our attention. I think this book is masterfully structured because she starts with describing some of the ills of capitalist productivity and the obvious desire to opt out by moving off to the woods somewhere, but she follows that up with examples of people attempting exactly that and failing. Communes, corporate detox retreats, and attempts at techno-utopia outside of the rules of general society haven’t worked. Instead she gives some ideas on how to direct our attention for good within the existing system. I liked this, but at times it was difficult to tell what point the author was making.
How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy
- Author: Jenny Odell
- ISBN:
- Format: audiobook
- Start: 2025-02-10
- Finish: 2025-02-23