We say that our schedules are too packed to relax. That work is just too crazy right now. That we simply don’t have the time. But more often than not, what really prevents us from taking it easy is our own belief that we have to stay productive. So to help give yourself permission to relax, we recommend kicking back with the five remarkable reads below.
The Good-Enough Life
By Avram Alpert
A Princeton University lecturer shows how our obsession with greatness results in stress and anxiety, damage to our relationships, widespread political and economic inequality, and destruction of the natural world. He describes how to move beyond greatness to create a society in which everyone flourishes. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Avram Alpert, in the Next Big Idea App
I Didn’t Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt
By Madeleine Dore
An inspiring call to take productivity off its pedestal; by dismantling our comparison to others, aspirational routines, and the unrealistic notions of what can be done in a day, we can finally embrace the joyful messiness and unpredictability of life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Madeleine Dore, in the Next Big Idea App
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
By Mark Manson
A much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-you-in-the-eye moment of real-talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives. Listen to our professionally-read Book Bite summary in the Next Big Idea App
The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again
By Catherine Price
If you’re not having fun, you’re not fully living. The author of How to Break Up with Your Phone makes the case that, far from being frivolous, fun is actually critical to our well-being—and shows us how to have more of it. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Catherine Price, in the Next Big Idea App
Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most
By Greg McKeown
We’ve been conditioned to believe that if we want to overachieve, we have to overexert, overthink, and overdo. That if we aren’t perpetually exhausted, we’re not doing enough. But Effortless proposes a better, healthier way forward, one in which it’s easier than ever to do the things that really matter. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Greg McKeown, in the Next Big Idea App
To enjoy Book Bites from anywhere, download the Next Big Idea app today:
When you buy through our Amazon links, the Next Big Idea Club may earn an affiliate commission.
