Rest

Read this book if you long for your times of work to be more productive - and who doesn’t? I imagine we all have experienced those sweet spots - some call it “flow” - single days when we accomplished more good work than in previous weeks. Alex Soojung-Kim Pang researches productivity. In his book, Rest, he gives numerous historical, real-life examples of people who have developed habits that serve them well.

None of the ideas in the book were new to me, but I appreciated the reminder and the nudges, and the solid data behind them. For example - many, many creative people throughout the centuries (and by creative, Pang doesn’t mean just “traditionally” creative people like artists, but also scientists and business leaders) have found that they work best in four-hour increments, many of them four hours a day of dedicated intense work. Then the rest of the day can be devoted to long walks, naps, and the pursuit of hobbies.

Is this ideal day a description of a life of privilege? Certainly some of his examples are of people who did not need to think about things like grocery shopping, laundry, or caregiving. But could most of us use our free time in ways that feel more fulfilling and life-giving? Pang’s book is a source of encouragement.