Saving Time

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of How to Do Nothing comes a “paradigm-destroying new book . . . about the various problems that swirl out from dominant conceptions of ‘time’” (The New York Times Editors’ Choice). “Saving Time’s real triumph lies in her road map for experiencing time outside the capitalist clock. . . . Expect to feel changed by this radical way of seeing.”—Esquire. In her first book, Jenny Odell emphasized the importance of disconnecting from the “attention economy” for quiet contemplation. But what if time is a luxury we can't afford? Odell explores how our societal structure has shaped our relationship with time, revealing that the clock we follow prioritizes profit over people. This commodification of time permeates our lives, even in leisure, and is tied to social inequities, the climate crisis, existential dread, and fatalism. This subversive and hopeful work offers alternative ways to experience time, drawing inspiration from pre-industrial cultures and natural rhythms. Odell encourages us to embrace the diverse tempos of life—waiting, desire, memory, healing—reminding us that time can be more than standardized units. By imagining a life beyond work and profit, we can reclaim time as a source of meaning and possibility, ultimately finding ways to “save” time that may lead to our salvation.