I’ve previously read two books by Oliver Burkeman: The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking (an anti-self-help treatise) and Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals (which urges us to maintain perspective on what’s important in our short lives). Both are just great! Like the previous two books, Meditations for Mortals helps us to pay attention to what’s important in our lives and, in particular, to embrace imperfection as a way of living fully, living one’s best life. And the book is very much about developing a meaningful practice in whatever sphere or activity or creativity calls you.

The title of the current volume says a lot. These are meditations for mortals — that is, for people who have finite lives and limited time, who will never accomplish everything they want, or become the superstars of their fantasies. Oh, I guess that includes just about every one of us.

The book is divided into four sections titled Being Finite, Taking Action, Letting Go, and Showing Up. Showing up is the most important step to getting anything done. These comprise 28 short chapters, or meditations, one for each of 28 days, if you care to read it that way. It’s probably a good idea to read one meditation a day and let it sink in. Or even to spread them out over a longer span, taking time to actually meditate on the subject and think deeply about how it relates to one’s own attitudes, behaviors, and life. I admit that I read it through, at least for a first read, much more quickly, but with many notes and bookmarks to chapters of special interest to me.

While Burkeman’s ideas were familiar to me, I picked up several good strategies that I intend to focus on in my own life. For instance, in the first section, I love the idea of a “Done List,” instead of a “To Do List.” Think of how much better it will make you feel to check off what you’ve done, instead of obsessing over the impossibly long list of all you want to do. In section two, I was especially drawn to the importance of finishing things — but with a realistic conception of when something is finished. That is, break large tasks down into smaller, discrete steps that can be more easily finished than an entire multi-stage project. I also love the idea of a “dailyish” routine, rather than a daily one. This way, you get all the benefits of a regular practice but don’t have to beat yourself up for missing a day or two each week.

And I love the idea of pursuing quantity over quality. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. This is the most valuable takeaway for me. I’m resolved to go directly to my study and paint 10 paintings — quickly, freely, badly if need be — instead of laboring over one. Laboring just results in something that looks labored. Just paint, or write or document ideas for your business plan or cook — but first, fire your inner quality controller. Often, writes Burkeman, “the way to have the best ideas, and to produce the best work, is to develop an ability to forget about trying to control the quality of your output. And the easiest way to do that is to focus on quantity instead.” Quantity overpowers perfectionism. Whatever it is that you want to do well, first do it badly. Just do it and be sure to have a blast while you’re at it.

I’ve seen this book characterized as “Religion & Spirituality” (I don’t get that) and/or “Self-Help.” But oh, it is so much more. This book is a compact course in philosophy — a philosophy of life that any mortal can relate to and benefit from. A wonderful book to read and reread. Keep it on your nightstand.

I’m grateful to the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and to NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book. The book will be released on October 8, 2024.

“Meditations for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman is the kind of talking-to many of us (well, I) need. No, you can’t do it all/be it all/have it all — get over yourself. Life is finite, so instead of being busy for the sake of busyness, slow down and think about what you actually want and need. Perhaps let go of some old goals, do less, and stop trying to be perfect. The book is laid out in an essay-a-day format, and each offers practical tools and ways to think about productivity, decision-making, and embracing our limitations, all on the way to living the life we really want.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I am really enjoying working my way through this book. Useful insights, new angles from which to view our minds. A great addition to the mindfulness bookshelf

In four thousand weeks, Oliver Burkeman told us that life is finite and that since we’re all going to die at some point, we should stop trying so hard to be productive. Yeah he’s optimistic like that. Meditation for mortals is the perfect companion to that book. Here Oliver expends on the idea that in the grand scheme of things, stuff that we think is so incredibly important is probably not in reality.

I love the format of this book (and I really want a physical copy now, so that I can keep it on my bedside table), there’s a chapter for every day and it’s like a course that lasts a month. A course that will teach you to do less, which is not something we see that often.

That book was obviously written for me and all the people pleaser perfectionists of the world (spoiler : trying to do it all won’t make us happier) and while I don’t see how to make my brain believe it’s a good idea, there are a few things that I really want to start doing : treat your to do list as a menu, treat your to read list as a river not a bucket, work on caring less about others (people you know and what people are doing around the world), learn to let distraction happens and stop trying to plan every single minute of your day (this one hits hard).

Also the author mentions Studio 60 (the tv show) to illustrate a point which makes it a fantastic book : everyone should watch that show.