In this engaging conversation, Jenny Odell, an author and artist renowned for her book 'Saving Time', challenges conventional views of time. She explores the contrast between mechanical Kronos time and qualitative Kairos time, urging listeners to embrace nature's interruptions. Odell discusses the significance of seasonal changes, connecting them to climate justice and personal well-being. Through her insights, she invites us to redefine our relationship with time, highlighting the beauty of living in sync with the natural world and the possibilities that arise from a more mindful existence.
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insights INSIGHT
Language's Impact on Time Perception
Language shapes our perception of time, exemplified by the phrase "time is money".
Reframing language can untangle us from this limiting view and reveal new possibilities.
question_answer ANECDOTE
John Cage Performance
Jenny Odell describes attending a John Cage performance and experiencing the city anew afterward.
This illustrates the power of shifting perspectives to perceive familiar things differently.
insights INSIGHT
Clock Time vs. Natural Time
Terms like "o'clock" reinforce clock time's dominance over natural rhythms.
This contributes to our disconnect from nature, promoting an abstract grid over diverse landscapes.
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Josef Pieper's "Leisure: The Basis of Culture" is a profound exploration of the nature of leisure and its importance for human flourishing. Pieper argues that leisure, understood as a state of freedom from necessity, is essential for contemplation and the development of culture. He contrasts leisure with mere idleness or entertainment, emphasizing its role in fostering creativity, intellectual growth, and spiritual development. "Leisure" has had a significant impact on philosophical and theological thought. Pieper's work challenges readers to reconsider the value of contemplation and the importance of creating a society that fosters leisure. The book is a classic of philosophical and theological reflection.
Saving Time
Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock
Jenny Odell
Jenny Odell's "Saving Time" delves into the societal pressures surrounding productivity and our perception of time. It explores the historical context of our relationship with time, tracing it back to industrial practices and their impact on our daily lives. The book offers alternative perspectives on time, suggesting ways to break free from the constraints of linear thinking and embrace a more holistic approach. Odell encourages readers to find freedom and wonder by shifting their focus from individual efficiency to the interconnectedness of time and relationships. Ultimately, the book aims to help readers find a more fulfilling and meaningful experience of time.
BRAIDING SWEETGRASS
David Muñoz Mateos
Robin Wall Kimmerer
From the archive, this week’s episode is a conversation with author and artist Jenny Odell. Speaking about her book Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock, she challenges the social and cultural ideas that underpin standardized, mechanized time, and imagines how we might instead attune to the rhythms of the Earth and embrace interruptions that allow us to glimpse the inherent unpredictability and creativity of every moment. What choices, what futures, might become possible, she asks, if we stepped out of chronos time and towards a kairos time?
Emergence Magazine Podcast 
