Book Review: On Time: Finding Your Pace In A World Addicted To Fast by Catherine Blyth

This comes from the author of the praised 2009 book The Art of Conversation.

“Our world is on fast-forward,” she declares, and who could disagree? “Whatever your goal, if you cease to feel like time’s slave then everything improves.”

This is part how-to guide and part philosophical rumination on “how time went crazy”. There is some excellent advice – I was taken by “notice where time leaks”, such as the “twists and turns in routines”, and also by the urging to clear up my “chaotic workstation”.

But there are so many lists and action points that it becomes a little wearying. Then there are wanderings off the point, such as to Gunther Grass’ war service, to Madonna’s exercise regime and to the bizarre assertion that mothers staying at home is “creepy”.

Nor does cramming in references to, inter alia, Dante, Philip Larkin, Tolstoy, Alexander the Great and Leonardo da Vinci necessarily signal erudition.

Above all, I was never quite sure whether the author wants us all to slow down or to use time more effectively, which are not the same thing by any means.

This is best read with a notebook to hand, in which to jot down the author’s better suggestions.