Oliver Burkeman’s book came to me at a time when I really needed to read it. I had lost the proverbial forest for the trees, and stood to benefit from taking a step back and remembering why I am doing what I’m doing. Four Thousand Weeks really delivered. 


Oliver writes,

“the real problem isn’t our limited time. The real problem is that we’ve unwittingly inherited, and feel pressured to live by, a troublesome set of ideas about how to use our limited time, all of which are pretty much guaranteed to make things worse.”

The first half of the book focuses on embracing our own limitations. He illustrates the brevity of our time here on earth and the insidious nature of our desire to achieve great things, and how that can often prevent us from getting started. He argues, by letting go of our ambition to do everything, we can roll up our sleeves and get down to the business of doing something.

Rather than focus on our (often unexamined) quest for efficiency and productivity, he argues, let’s take a step back and realize that we have precious little time here, and that being more intentional about what we choose to spend it on is a worthwhile endeavor.  Thanks to the internet and smartphones, our attention can effortlessly be given to, well…just about anything. He asks us to pause and consider what is truly worth our attention. 

The second half of the book articulates beautifully a nagging sensation I’ve been having for a long time now, which is this: there doesn’t seem to be any goal I can achieve, any destination I can reach, any recognition I can earn, that will leave me in a state of lasting satisfaction.  The moment I reach the next rung of the ladder, I realize it wasn’t the one I was aiming for after all.

Perhaps the next rung will be the one? But “the one” never arrives. 

His writing reminds me of this quote (unknown source)

“it is a tragedy to have won at a game you should never have played in the first place.”  

How often do we hear stories of those that spent their lives striving for something, achieving it, and still being unhappy?

What can be done to avoid this fate?

This book gets at the question in a way that has left a mark. It has tinted the color of my lenses, and I’m seeing the world in a new light. It has left me feeling both lighter and more empowered to go out and use my time in the way that means the most to me.

Get Four Thousand Weeks

from my Bookshop.org store

Are you a fan of my work? Donating is a great way to show it. You can throw a few bucks in the digital tip jar or become a patron and support me on a monthly basis, starting at the price of a cup of coffee or lunch. Thank you for your support!

Enjoyed this? Click here to Get The Something of Meaning Newsletter in your inbox every Thursday.