The Art of Manliness #602: The Case for Being Unproductive
11 snips
Apr 15, 2020 
Celeste Headlee, author of *Do Nothing*, explores our obsession with productivity in today's fast-paced world. She argues that we've fallen into a 'cult of efficiency,' leaving us busier than ever. The conversation highlights the historical shift from task-based to hour-based work, resulting in increased stress and diminished leisure activities. Celeste emphasizes the necessity of embracing downtime and joy-driven activities to reclaim our well-being and foster deeper human connections, especially amidst the isolating effects of modern technology.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Personal Journey to Do Nothing
- Celeste Headlee discusses her personal experience of increased financial stability leading to more work and less leisure time.
- This ultimately resulted in health issues and prompted her to investigate the cult of efficiency.
Work Before the Cult of Efficiency
- Pre-industrialization, people, even serfs, worked less than half a year and observed periods of rest and celebration.
- Work was task-based, not hour-based.
The Shift to Hour-Based Work
- Industrialization shifted work from task-based to hour-based, changing our perception of time and value.
- Employers began associating time with money, leading to practices like manipulating clocks to increase work hours.
