How to Do Nothing

Resisting the Attention Economy

de Jenny Odell

paperback, 256 pages

Publié 11 août 2020 par Melville House.

ISBN :: 978-1-61219-855-2
Numéro OCLC :: 1222804219

(5 critiques)

Nothing is harder to do these days than nothing. But in a world where our value is determined by our 24/7 data productivity . . . doing nothing may be our most important form of resistance.

So argues artist and critic Jenny Odell in this field guide to doing nothing (at least as capitalism defines it). Odell sees our attention as the most precious—and overdrawn—resource we have. Once we can start paying a new kind of attention, she writes, we can undertake bolder forms of political action, reimagine humankind’s role in the environment, and arrive at more meaningful understandings of happiness and progress.

Far from the simple anti-technology screed, or the back-to-nature meditation we read so often, How to do Nothing is an action plan for thinking outside of capitalist narratives of efficiency and techno-determinism. Provocative, timely, and utterly persuasive, this book is a four-course meal in the age of …

Nothing is harder to do these days than nothing. But in a world where our value is determined by our 24/7 data productivity . . . doing nothing may be our most important form of resistance.

8 éditions

laundry0099@bookwyrm.social a publié une critique de How to Do Nothing par Jenny Odell

Review of 'How to Do Nothing' on 'Storygraph'

3 étoiles

Imagine Braiding Sweetgrass was written by an annoying Californian yuppie and that’s this book. I’m glad I read it. It has a lot of good ideas and it challenged me to think about how social media and my internet use affect my life, which is what made me pick up the book in the first place.

However, it would have been a lot more effective if she had trimmed a few hundred pages of fat and just gotten to the point. Overall, though, still a good read.

knizer@bookwyrm.social a publié une critique de How to Do Nothing par Jenny Odell

This is as good as people say it is

5 étoiles

This text dovetails beautifully with multiple interest areas - attention economy led capitalism, information overload, zen/mindfulness, local activism, tuning in/dropping out, bird noticing, being hyper aware of your local. This book is well lauded and rightly so. I’m likely to gift copies, and reread. Accessible, érudite, not preachy.

Jiří Eischmann a publié une critique de How to Do Nothing par Jenny Odell

Review of 'How to Do Nothing' on 'Goodreads'

2 étoiles

My rating is definitely influenced by the fact that the book delivered something else than I was expecting. That wouldn't be necessarily bad, but I didn't find the actual content that interesting.

Dave Slusher - Books a publié une critique de How to Do Nothing par Jenny Odell

Break the Chains of Internalized Capitalism

4 étoiles

This is a good book that helps to reframe my thinking around what I owe the world for productivity. Combined with Chokepoint Capitalism these books are helping give me a worldview with less obligation to churn out, to colonize, to produce, to give attention to the things of modern life. Choosing to live my boring life at whatever speed I desire regardless of how much ROI that generates is a fine goal in itself.

It is a bit slow going, which should shock absolutely no one. I did enjoy it and found it quite valuable and relaxing. Unlike the aforementioned book, this one did not leave my blood boiling so in a way it can be considered a spiritual antidote.

Jag Talon a publié une critique de How to Do Nothing par Jenny Odell

Eye-opening book

5 étoiles

This book made me realize how much of my value was predicated on my productivity. I had no idea how much of my thinking was appropriated by capitalism. While reading this book, I’ve started to notice the birds that live around me and the kinds of trees that grow in the park. It made me aware of things that have always been there.

It inspired me to put my attention on things that truly matter.