Rest

Why You Get More Done When You Work Less

By: Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

Narrated by: Adam Sims

Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

"Rest is such a valuable book. If work is our national religion, Pang is the philosopher reintegrating our bifurcated selves." (Arianna Huffington, New York Times Book Review)

Overwork is the new normal. Rest is something to do when the important things are done - but they are never done. Looking at different forms of rest, from sleep to vacation, Silicon Valley futurist and business consultant Alex Soojung-Kim Pang dispels the myth that the harder we work the better the outcome. He combines rigorous scientific research with a rich array of examples of writers, painters, and thinkers - from Darwin to Stephen King - to challenge our tendency to see work and relaxation as antithetical. "Deliberate rest," as Pang calls it, is the true key to productivity, and will give us more energy, sharper ideas, and a better life. Rest offers a roadmap to rediscovering the importance of rest in our lives, and a convincing argument that we need to relax more if we actually want to get more done.

©2016 Alex Soojung-Kim Pang (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"In his important new book, Pang calmly and meticulously shows us how the best, most creative work, and the most meaningful and joyful lives, are built on the skills, not of mindless busyness, but of deliberate rest, deep play, and taking time to think. A game-changing book for the weary modern world." (Brigid Schulte, award-winning journalist and author of the New York Times best-selling Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time)

"[Pang] argues convincingly that the focus on work, often measured in long hours spent at the workplace, is a modern construct." (Nilanjana Roy, Financial Times)

A good overview about why we should rest more

It was a good book(audiobook) to know more about rest and how it can enhance our work, there are plenty of examples and maybe too plenty to be honest. Some of the stories or examples are redundant for me.

Better then expected!

I never write reviews and thought this book was going to be repetitive to make sure you get enough sleep but turned out to be one of my favorite reads in awhile. Really goes into detail into how many different forms of "rest" are beneficial to your body and mind. Highly recommended.

Fascinating

Very well written, interesting chapters (each section had a new angle) - quality research, high-level thinking. I wish all employers and policymakers had a copy of this book. We could transform our whole society into a more sustainable and happier place. It's not about rest, per se, it's about how non-work activities matter just as much as work.

There's chapters on play, athletics, night sleep, day napping, vacations, sabbaticals, walking, etc. which show how all these "leisure" activities make us better at work and happier overall. He also promotes a shorter work day and workweek which I wish everyone could have.

Non-fiction at its best. Very motivating and liberating!

Solid Science

I really enjoyed the science based approach to this topic taken by the author. Unlike many self-help type books on the subject, this book takes a practical and concrete approach to the subject.

Important

This is one of the most important books that I have listened to. It presents the need for an inner cultural shift that I didn’t know I needed. Something has been in the ‘water’ I was swimming in urging my generation to push push push and I didn’t even realize it. Now I know that REST not more work can be integral to success.

Go take a nap

I needed this book at this moment in my life. I live a healthy lifestyle, diet, exercise, meaningful connections... but I've always been shit at resting. I'm just a driven type-A personality. I'll sleep when I'm dead, amirite?
Apparently not. I've been aware that rest is the next frontier in my personal development and this book was just what I needed to put some wind in those sails. highly recommend if you want to really understand the value of rest, not just to our bodies, but to our minds and productivity.

Best productive advice

This is a very interesting in counterintuitive book. It is some of the best advice I have ever read regarding active rest and its affect on productivity. I would highly recommend it to almost every one.

informative, maybe not practical

this was a very interesting book to hear information regarding rest using both scientific data and exemplars of famous individuals. Some of the information may be applicable to Everyday Life, but most would take a serious change for implementation.

Get some Rest

Very interesting read on how different people throughout history have incorporated rest into their lives and were still very successful.

Deliberate rest

I enjoyed the perspectives this author Brought to the topic and the examples to back up his insights.