Description

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy.

How to Do Nothing: Reclaim Your Attention and Rethink the Modern World

A New York Times Bestseller

Named one of the best books of the year by Time, The New Yorker, NPR, GQ, Elle, Vulture, Fortune, Boing Boing, The Irish Times, The New York Public Library, and The Brooklyn Public Library.

In a world where technology constantly competes for our attention and our worth is increasingly measured by productivity, data, and online engagement, it can feel impossible to slow down. In How to Do Nothing, artist and critic Jenny Odell offers a powerful guide to stepping away from the demands of the attention economy and reconnecting with what truly matters.

Rather than simply rejecting technology or encouraging escape from modern life, Odell presents a thoughtful exploration of how we can reclaim control over our attention—the resource that shapes our experiences, choices, and understanding of the world.

She argues that attention is one of our most valuable resources, and that we must make intentional decisions about where we invest it. By learning to notice, observe, and engage differently, we can move beyond society’s narrow definitions of success and productivity. This shift can inspire new ways of thinking about creativity, politics, environmental responsibility, community, and personal fulfillment.

Blending cultural criticism, philosophy, environmental awareness, and personal reflection, How to Do Nothing challenges the assumptions behind constant productivity and technological dependence. It offers a fresh perspective on how to create a more meaningful relationship with ourselves, our surroundings, and the world around us.

Thought-provoking, timely, and deeply insightful, this book is an invitation to pause, pay attention, and discover new possibilities for living in an increasingly distracted age.