The Art of Doing Nothing: Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself [Hardcover]

Veronique Vienne (Author), Erica Lennard (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 25, 1998

The Art of Doing Nothing
Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself

A culture of overachievers, we make things happen--and happen fast. While rushing along, though, the days seem to get shorter and shorter. If only time would hold still, just a little bit, to let us savor life's simplest moments. . . .
The Art of Doing Nothing will help to ease these beat-the-clock jitters. The stress-reducing techniques described here require no time, no skill, no commitment. A practical guide to rest and relaxation, it ushers us into a world where "being" is more compelling than "doing."

Beautifully illustrated with Erica Lennard's photographs, The Art of Doing Nothing gives us permission to celebrate idleness in all its mesmerizing forms. Véronique Vienne's delightfully informative essays on the art of breathing, meditating, bathing, listening, waiting, and more offer useful tips on such skills as how to whistle, stay in the moment, take a nap, cure a cold, or watch the sun set over the horizon. Without further ado--and without feeling guilty--we learn to unwind, exhale, and, yes, stop and smell the roses.

Like Ira Gershwin, you will be delighted to discover that you've got plenty of nothin', and that nothin's plenty for you.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Much more than merely a book about nothing, this is a concentrated guide to cultivating a sense of serenity. Simple living expert Sarah Ban Breathnach calls it a "charming prescription for harried hearts and overwrought minds" that's "filled with persuasive reminders that we do too much and live too little." From its bits of well-taken wisdom ("Learn to say, 'I don't know,'"), to tranquil seaside photos, to little lessons on how to meditate, procrastinate, even turn a bath or wine tasting into intensely spiritual experiences, The Art of Doing Nothing is bound to help even the most high-strung, PalmPilot-toting folks remember exactly how it feels to fully relax. --Erica Jorgensen

From the Inside Flap

The Art of Doing Nothing
Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself

A culture of overachievers, we make things happen--and happen fast. While rushing along, though, the days seem to get shorter and shorter. If only time would hold still, just a little bit, to let us savor life's simplest moments. . . .
The Art of Doing Nothing will help to ease these beat-the-clock jitters. The stress-reducing techniques described here require no time, no skill, no commitment. A practical guide to rest and relaxation, it ushers us into a world where "being" is more compelling than "doing."

Beautifully illustrated with Erica Lennard's photographs, The Art of Doing Nothing gives us permission to celebrate idleness in all its mesmerizing forms. Véronique Vienne's delightfully informative essays on the art of breathing, meditating, bathing, listening, waiting, and more offer useful tips on such skills as how to whistle, stay in the moment, take a nap, cure a cold, or watch the sun set over the horizon. Without further ado--and without feeling guilty--we learn to unwind, exhale, and, yes, stop and smell the roses.

Like Ira Gershwin, you will be delighted to discover that you've got plenty of nothin', and that nothin's plenty for you.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Potter Style; 1 edition (August 25, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609600745
• ISBN-13: 978-0609600740
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.5 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 67 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Delightful Rewards of Languour for Strivers October 22, 2000

By Donald Mitchell HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

The title of this book is misleading. It sounds like an exhortation solely for La Dolce Vita. It is that all right, but it is much more as well.

"This book is designed to help you cultivate the seeds of serenity." From serenity, Ms. Vienne suggests that you will discover many great ideas, better focus on what is important, and enjoy life more. In essence, doing nothing is designed here as a path to internal and external progress -- worthy of consideration by any striver.

Strivers have a problem. They strive too much. "Whenever frinds or loved ones suggest we relax -- take a deep breath or unwind for a few days -- we almost always protest."

This is a problem because "you can only make time for yourself by uncluttering your mind." With this uncluttered mind and time, you can accomplish more and be more balanced. That's a wonderful exhortation, and the book provides many valuable guides to getting there.

The book is divided into ten chapters, each on the "art of" something. These arts are procrastination, breathing, meditating, lounging, yawning, napping, bathing, tasting, listening, and waiting. Although we all have lots of experience in these 10 areas, if you are like me, you don't yet know how to make the best of each one.

Each chapter is lovingly illustrated with black and white photographs in soft brownish tones by Erica Lennard. The photographs add an elegance and a beauty to the book that help put you in the right mood to absorb the message here. Many are images of nature, and many include artful representations of a beautiful woman in fairly transparent clothing (especially noteworthy for those of you who enjoy such views).

Let me focus on a few chapters to help you savor the full flavor of the book. Procrastination to a striver sounds like something to be avoided. Ms. Vienne likens procrastination instead to moving water where "the path of least resistance is a successions of languid curves." Basically, the most natural path is a circuitous one. Such paths allow us time to digest what we are experiencing and to notice more.

This chapter includes descriptions of Thoreau's life in the woods, and the importance of his observing nature. You also get lessons on whistling 101 to help you refocus away from whatever you are working too hard on. There is an exercise to stay next to your unopened mail and ignore it. You are encouraged to "give yourself permission to abandon any activity midway." That last is particularly good advice, because many things simply aren't worth finishing. Why sit through a book or movie that doesn't suit your needs or your mood? That's just time you could better spend in more pleasant ways.

Lounging conjured up images for me of people in togas ordering a slave to peel them a grape. Instead, Ms. Vienne encourages you to "wear down your restlessness." She points out that lounging is the state in which many scientific geniuses had their biggest insights. So lounging can be a purposeless way of being more purposeful by letting your unconscious mind come out. The chapter on meditation also reinforced this point. She describes how emptying your mind can be the pathway to enlightenment.

Yawning turns out to be a way of creating a more relaxed physical state. You learn how to make your feet more comfortable wherever you are (the poor person's reflexology) to make life more pleasant, as well.

The napping section was wonderful. She sees napping like Edison did . . . a quick ten minutes to calm down, relax, and get refocused. "If you've got too much to do, take a nap -- just a ten-minute nap." This nap "lets you resurface minutes later with a fresh outlook on life."

After you have finished reading this book, the next time you are lounging or bathing I suggest you linguidly turn your attention to what should be removed from your daily routine. That will help you have more time for reflection.

I would write more, but I'm going take a nap instead.

Enjoy your life . . . more peacefully . . . and slowly.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A reminder to stop and smell the roses November 7, 1999

By Debbie Hrbek ([e-mail])

Format:Hardcover

My husband and I were given this beautiful book as a gift when we left New York to embark on our new life in the Caribbean. Much of its wisdom has stayed with me during the many months since I first read it. We tend to get so busy that we often miss the whole point of the beautiful gift of life. Veronique reminds us to stop and smell the roses, and teaches us how to feel more connected with the world around us. I'm sending a copy to all my friends for the holidays!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a peaceful book of words............................... August 18, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I was babysitting one night and found this book on the lady's coffee table that I babysit for. I just had to read it. It's made me think about life in a different prospective for each moment that I live. It's a very neat and different way to look at the things we take advantage of, and to relax a lot more, even though we have things on our minds that need to be done. Read it, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!