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Exhausted: An A–Z for the Weary
AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4 WOMAN'S HOUR * WHAT TO READ IN 2024 FINANCIAL TIMES PICK * A BEST NON-FICTION OF 2024 STYLIST PICK
'Antidotes to our exhausting modern life' Sunday Times
'Sensible wisdom for finding emotional support, combating stress and embracing rest - allowing you to find the energy and ability to handle your life and the world's bigger worries' Best non-fiction for 2024, Stylist
'Schaffner is insightful, charming and visionary, both in her description of ailment and her selection of cures. As ever, the answer to everything can be found in a book' - Susan Elderkin, author, The Novel Cure
Burnout is said to be the defining feeling of the post-pandemic world - but why are we all so exhausted? Some of us struggle with perfectionism, while others are simply overwhelmed by the demands of modern life. But whatever you're feeling, you are not alone - and this liberating, enlightening guide to exhaustion in all its forms will help you find the energy to beat burnout and weariness.
From confronting our inner critics to how our desire to be productive stops us from being free, Anna Katherina Schaffner, cultural historian and burnout coach, brings together science, medicine, literature and philosophy to explore the causes and history of exhaustion and burnout, revealing new ways to combat stress and negativity.
Inventive and freewheeling, full of comfort, solace and practical advice, Exhausted is an inspiring guide to getting control of your own exhaustion - and rediscovering happiness along the way.
'Antidotes to our exhausting modern life' Sunday Times
'Sensible wisdom for finding emotional support, combating stress and embracing rest - allowing you to find the energy and ability to handle your life and the world's bigger worries' Best non-fiction for 2024, Stylist
'Schaffner is insightful, charming and visionary, both in her description of ailment and her selection of cures. As ever, the answer to everything can be found in a book' - Susan Elderkin, author, The Novel Cure
Burnout is said to be the defining feeling of the post-pandemic world - but why are we all so exhausted? Some of us struggle with perfectionism, while others are simply overwhelmed by the demands of modern life. But whatever you're feeling, you are not alone - and this liberating, enlightening guide to exhaustion in all its forms will help you find the energy to beat burnout and weariness.
From confronting our inner critics to how our desire to be productive stops us from being free, Anna Katherina Schaffner, cultural historian and burnout coach, brings together science, medicine, literature and philosophy to explore the causes and history of exhaustion and burnout, revealing new ways to combat stress and negativity.
Inventive and freewheeling, full of comfort, solace and practical advice, Exhausted is an inspiring guide to getting control of your own exhaustion - and rediscovering happiness along the way.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published January 18, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
February 19, 2024
I was delighted when @profile.books got in touch to offer me a proof copy of Exhausted by Anna Katharina Schaffner because I, like so many people I know, have been utterly exhausted since about 2018. It seems like every conversation I have these days involves trading stories of how tired everyone is. This is something Schaffner agrees with, noting that burnout is a defining feature of our current world. Exhausted is her A-Z of thoughts on exhaustion, drawing on research and possible solutions from across the centuries.
📚
Despite being enthusiastic to read Schaffner's thoughts, on receiving the book I quickly realised that I was, of course, too tired to read it. Thankfully, it's not a heavy academic text - the book is split into twenty six short essays, making it perfect for reading a few pages at a time. Given the number of topics covered, it's impossible to do the book justice within Instagram's permitted caption length, but suffice to say that it's a veritable treasure trove of easily digestible information that you can take or leave depending on your own circumstances.
📚
As you might expect from a book focusing on burnout, work and technology feature heavily, and Schaffner's reflections are often justifiably critical of capitalism and the value we place on productivity. That's not to say that exhaustion is a phenomenon confined to our current times though - Exhausted illustrates similar concerns from a number of different periods in time, looking both at how exhaustion has been understood and the different solutions that have been posited, with a view to determining what lessons can be learnt.
📚
My favourite reflection concerned Bartleby, a character in a Herman Melville story whose oppressive living conditions resulted in him preferring not to do most things including, eventually, living. That, I think, seems to be the danger with exhaustion - that we lose all joy and eventually start to turn our backs on life itself. I was also particularly intrigued by the discussion of energy vampires and narcissists as a source of exhaustion (personally I don't believe it's a coincidence that I started feeling exhausted around the time I decided to divorce someone who then spent several years trying to make my life as difficult as humanly possible).
📚
I think the lessons that people take away from this book will vary greatly depending on what resonates with them. I liked the ideas of looking at the life cost of the decisions I'm making, identifying what I would prefer to do, having realisitc expectations of people, limiting the number of energy vampires in my life, and having a positive vision of who I want to be going forward. There was also some discussion about hanging out in graveyards while contemplating the inevitability of death but, as you should all know by now, that's a hobby I've long since perfected.
📚
If you're looking to solve your own exhaustion, I'd definitely recommend giving Exhausted a read.
📚
📚
Despite being enthusiastic to read Schaffner's thoughts, on receiving the book I quickly realised that I was, of course, too tired to read it. Thankfully, it's not a heavy academic text - the book is split into twenty six short essays, making it perfect for reading a few pages at a time. Given the number of topics covered, it's impossible to do the book justice within Instagram's permitted caption length, but suffice to say that it's a veritable treasure trove of easily digestible information that you can take or leave depending on your own circumstances.
📚
As you might expect from a book focusing on burnout, work and technology feature heavily, and Schaffner's reflections are often justifiably critical of capitalism and the value we place on productivity. That's not to say that exhaustion is a phenomenon confined to our current times though - Exhausted illustrates similar concerns from a number of different periods in time, looking both at how exhaustion has been understood and the different solutions that have been posited, with a view to determining what lessons can be learnt.
📚
My favourite reflection concerned Bartleby, a character in a Herman Melville story whose oppressive living conditions resulted in him preferring not to do most things including, eventually, living. That, I think, seems to be the danger with exhaustion - that we lose all joy and eventually start to turn our backs on life itself. I was also particularly intrigued by the discussion of energy vampires and narcissists as a source of exhaustion (personally I don't believe it's a coincidence that I started feeling exhausted around the time I decided to divorce someone who then spent several years trying to make my life as difficult as humanly possible).
📚
I think the lessons that people take away from this book will vary greatly depending on what resonates with them. I liked the ideas of looking at the life cost of the decisions I'm making, identifying what I would prefer to do, having realisitc expectations of people, limiting the number of energy vampires in my life, and having a positive vision of who I want to be going forward. There was also some discussion about hanging out in graveyards while contemplating the inevitability of death but, as you should all know by now, that's a hobby I've long since perfected.
📚
If you're looking to solve your own exhaustion, I'd definitely recommend giving Exhausted a read.
📚
February 7, 2024
Exhausted: An A-Z for the Weary, by Anna Katharina Schaffner
Rating: 5/5
Published: Now
As a sufferer of chronic burnout, I am still trying to figure out why I can’t break the cycle. For this reason, I could not wait to get my hands on #Exhausted, and I was right to be excited. I’ve read plenty of books about burnout, because I am desperate to understand why working yourself to the point of exhaustion and sickness is the norm in today’s society. Schaffner’s, Exhausted is definitely up there with the best. She looks at the cultural shifts that have taken place around us, and examines why we’re all so fatigued. I love how she structures this book as an A-Z, and how she uses literature, philosophy, and psychology to reveal new and better ways to combat the cycle. She speaks about social media’s ability to make us feel more alienated and isolated than ever before (and all in the name of so-called accessibility!) and how we’ve conditioned our identities to revolve around our work lives. We ask - who are we without working ourselves to death? But we should be asking – who could we be if we rest and show up more fully to things that truly matter? This is a must-read, and one that I will recommend to all my friends,
Rating: 5/5
Published: Now
As a sufferer of chronic burnout, I am still trying to figure out why I can’t break the cycle. For this reason, I could not wait to get my hands on #Exhausted, and I was right to be excited. I’ve read plenty of books about burnout, because I am desperate to understand why working yourself to the point of exhaustion and sickness is the norm in today’s society. Schaffner’s, Exhausted is definitely up there with the best. She looks at the cultural shifts that have taken place around us, and examines why we’re all so fatigued. I love how she structures this book as an A-Z, and how she uses literature, philosophy, and psychology to reveal new and better ways to combat the cycle. She speaks about social media’s ability to make us feel more alienated and isolated than ever before (and all in the name of so-called accessibility!) and how we’ve conditioned our identities to revolve around our work lives. We ask - who are we without working ourselves to death? But we should be asking – who could we be if we rest and show up more fully to things that truly matter? This is a must-read, and one that I will recommend to all my friends,
May 1, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I liked this! I always think if you find yourself telling others about bits in your book it’s a good sign and I did this a couple of times!
I especially liked the bit about hobbies and explaining properly what a hobby is. Really made me think.
I liked this! I always think if you find yourself telling others about bits in your book it’s a good sign and I did this a couple of times!
I especially liked the bit about hobbies and explaining properly what a hobby is. Really made me think.
August 27, 2026
I had some issues with the book. I liked the structure of it being a collection of standalone essays that you can flip open at any page. However, this may have also caused quite some repetition of points made in multiple essays. The author goes on a lot of tangents on climate change, Trump, etc., but I felt like these kind of strayed from the point of the book. Also, there were many anecdotes and summations that were sometimes tiring. I also felt like some of the essays had to be kind of twisted at the end to make them relate back to the actual subject at hand. Conclusions were also often quite similarly “neutral”/middle-of-the-road instead of truly convincing.
I also thought the book was sometimes hypocritical. For example, in J is for Joy, the writer argues that hobbies should actually be really meaningless/have no worth (e.g. building ships in bottles, or trainspotting). That they should really, at their core, be completely useless and only for pure joy. And at first, this really got me thinking, because I always try to kind of min-max my hobbies to make them useful. But then, in the second part of the chapter, the writer lists her hobbies, which are running, playing classical piano music, and Thai kickboxing. In my opinion, these are all inherently “useful” hobbies, and I didn’t like that the author spent so much time trying to argue why her hobbies were purely for “enjoyment” after just giving a bunch of examples of actually pointless hobbies.
I did like the combination of historical literature, scientific papers, theology, and other media, though I did feel like some theological approaches were not taken as seriously.
I also make some dog ears in the book at pages I thought were interesting, including:
* J is for Joy: I did actually like the idea of having a hobby that is completely useless before the author started flexing about her long-distance running.
* P is for Perfectionism: The concept of perfectionistic striving vs. perfectionistic concerns as defined by Stoeber and Damian.
* Q is for Qi: The concept of the “disenchantment of the world” (Entzauberung) as defined by Weber and its connection to traditional Chinese medicine.
* S is for Stoicism: I would like to read Aurelius’ Meditations in the future.
* A is for Acceptance: Huainanzi, Chapter 18 – the farmer.
I also thought the book was sometimes hypocritical. For example, in J is for Joy, the writer argues that hobbies should actually be really meaningless/have no worth (e.g. building ships in bottles, or trainspotting). That they should really, at their core, be completely useless and only for pure joy. And at first, this really got me thinking, because I always try to kind of min-max my hobbies to make them useful. But then, in the second part of the chapter, the writer lists her hobbies, which are running, playing classical piano music, and Thai kickboxing. In my opinion, these are all inherently “useful” hobbies, and I didn’t like that the author spent so much time trying to argue why her hobbies were purely for “enjoyment” after just giving a bunch of examples of actually pointless hobbies.
I did like the combination of historical literature, scientific papers, theology, and other media, though I did feel like some theological approaches were not taken as seriously.
I also make some dog ears in the book at pages I thought were interesting, including:
* J is for Joy: I did actually like the idea of having a hobby that is completely useless before the author started flexing about her long-distance running.
* P is for Perfectionism: The concept of perfectionistic striving vs. perfectionistic concerns as defined by Stoeber and Damian.
* Q is for Qi: The concept of the “disenchantment of the world” (Entzauberung) as defined by Weber and its connection to traditional Chinese medicine.
* S is for Stoicism: I would like to read Aurelius’ Meditations in the future.
* A is for Acceptance: Huainanzi, Chapter 18 – the farmer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2025
Very helpful during my burnout.
September 19, 2024
This book resonated with me so much just now. The endless drama of work, the attention economy and my own personality traits which weave to leave me feeling tired at all times...well, these have been on my mind a lot recently...especially work!
As I take time off for a 2 week holiday, finishing this book feels like a good way to begin and reflect on my mental health and well-being.
Definitely recommended if you are interested in this topic. Although, the audiobook narrator drove me crazy with her 'entengles, benking, enger' and every other word she didn't pronounce the a in. For that, I had to take it down to a 4.
As I take time off for a 2 week holiday, finishing this book feels like a good way to begin and reflect on my mental health and well-being.
Definitely recommended if you are interested in this topic. Although, the audiobook narrator drove me crazy with her 'entengles, benking, enger' and every other word she didn't pronounce the a in. For that, I had to take it down to a 4.
September 15, 2024
Was too exhausted to properly take this in
November 7, 2024
Nothing you haven’t heard before but I guess is good to be reminded.
June 22, 2025
This was a deep and often intense read – the kind of book that doesn’t shy away from confronting uncomfortable truths about burnout, fatigue, and the modern condition. I found Exhausted to be a thoughtful blend of history, psychology, and cultural critique. Schaffner traces how exhaustion has been understood and expressed over centuries and links that to the way we live and work today.
Some chapters really hit the mark – almost uncomfortably so – with insights that felt bang on. It explores everything from capitalism and perfectionism to restlessness and the struggle to find meaning. It’s not a “quick fix” kind of book, more a mirror and a meditation.
If you’ve ever felt worn out by life, work, or just… everything, this book might not fix it – but it might help you understand it a little better.
Some chapters really hit the mark – almost uncomfortably so – with insights that felt bang on. It explores everything from capitalism and perfectionism to restlessness and the struggle to find meaning. It’s not a “quick fix” kind of book, more a mirror and a meditation.
If you’ve ever felt worn out by life, work, or just… everything, this book might not fix it – but it might help you understand it a little better.
January 8, 2025
The book is split into 26 sections: a for acceptance, b for burnout, and so on.
For me, this made the book really accessible, I was able to dip in and out easily. This also meant I could take the time to think about what each chapter was trying to say. The author often left questions throughout the text, so I could question my own view of failure, perfectionism, rest, or whatever the chapter is about.
I especially enjoyed how the author offered many different conceptions of energy - some I really resonated with, some I didn’t, and some I skipped completely. Overall it was comforting, and my main takeaway is to take the time to rest properly.
For me, this made the book really accessible, I was able to dip in and out easily. This also meant I could take the time to think about what each chapter was trying to say. The author often left questions throughout the text, so I could question my own view of failure, perfectionism, rest, or whatever the chapter is about.
I especially enjoyed how the author offered many different conceptions of energy - some I really resonated with, some I didn’t, and some I skipped completely. Overall it was comforting, and my main takeaway is to take the time to rest properly.
May 13, 2025
A good insight
March 21, 2025
The cover of this book caught my eye when it was first announced, but its subtitle—’an A-Z for the weary’—didn’t appeal. I imagined it to be a slightly patronising self-help book, and I didn’t buy it when it was published in January. This brief review in the TLS changed my mind, and I thought I’d give it a go.
The book is a literal A to Z, from ‘A is for Acceptance’ through to ‘Z is for Zeitgeist’. Each chapter is only a few pages long, but provides some genuine insight into burnout, and the relationship between modern work and exhaustion. Schaffner is a ‘burnout coach’, which is not the sort of title that fills me with confidence, but she is a great writer and clearly brings a wealth of experience and insight.
This isn’t a self-help book in as much as it isn’t directive: there are no instructions here for overcoming burnout. It’s a book designed to provide insight. Many of the chapters were about things that were already familiar—Bartleby the Scrivener, for example, or the Stoic philosophers—but I did find value in having Schaffner’s reflections on how these examples related to modern-day burnout.
So, I enjoyed this more than I expected.
The book is a literal A to Z, from ‘A is for Acceptance’ through to ‘Z is for Zeitgeist’. Each chapter is only a few pages long, but provides some genuine insight into burnout, and the relationship between modern work and exhaustion. Schaffner is a ‘burnout coach’, which is not the sort of title that fills me with confidence, but she is a great writer and clearly brings a wealth of experience and insight.
This isn’t a self-help book in as much as it isn’t directive: there are no instructions here for overcoming burnout. It’s a book designed to provide insight. Many of the chapters were about things that were already familiar—Bartleby the Scrivener, for example, or the Stoic philosophers—but I did find value in having Schaffner’s reflections on how these examples related to modern-day burnout.
So, I enjoyed this more than I expected.
July 4, 2025
The book opens with depth and clarity, especially in how it contextualizes modern burnout historically and philosophically. However, the alphabetical structure—though unique—felt increasingly forced, which made it harder to stay engaged toward the end.
December 21, 2025
This is probably one of the best self-help books I’ve ever read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The collection of essays is both highly informative and beautifully written.
August 26, 2026
Exhausted: An A–Z for the Weary is an insightful and compassionate exploration of one of the defining experiences of modern life: the feeling of being completely worn down by expectations, responsibilities, productivity, and the relentless pace of everyday existence.
Anna Katharina Schaffner approaches exhaustion from a refreshingly broad perspective, bringing together science, medicine, literature, philosophy, and cultural history to examine why weariness and burnout have become so pervasive. Rather than treating exhaustion as a personal failure, the book encourages readers to understand its deeper causes and recognize the pressures that continually drain our energy.
The A–Z structure makes the subject approachable while allowing Schaffner to explore everything from perfectionism and inner criticism to our complicated relationship with productivity and the difficulty many people have in embracing genuine rest.
What makes the book particularly appealing is its balance of intellectual insight and practical encouragement. It offers readers both an opportunity to understand exhaustion and a reassuring reminder that rest, emotional support, and stepping away from constant productivity are not weaknesses.
For readers interested in psychology, burnout, self-help, personal development, wellness, work-life balance, and the cultural forces shaping modern wellbeing, Exhausted provides an engaging and thoughtful guide to understanding weariness and finding a more sustainable way forward.
Anna Katharina Schaffner approaches exhaustion from a refreshingly broad perspective, bringing together science, medicine, literature, philosophy, and cultural history to examine why weariness and burnout have become so pervasive. Rather than treating exhaustion as a personal failure, the book encourages readers to understand its deeper causes and recognize the pressures that continually drain our energy.
The A–Z structure makes the subject approachable while allowing Schaffner to explore everything from perfectionism and inner criticism to our complicated relationship with productivity and the difficulty many people have in embracing genuine rest.
What makes the book particularly appealing is its balance of intellectual insight and practical encouragement. It offers readers both an opportunity to understand exhaustion and a reassuring reminder that rest, emotional support, and stepping away from constant productivity are not weaknesses.
For readers interested in psychology, burnout, self-help, personal development, wellness, work-life balance, and the cultural forces shaping modern wellbeing, Exhausted provides an engaging and thoughtful guide to understanding weariness and finding a more sustainable way forward.
June 5, 2026
,,Mindig vagy majdnem mindig fáradt vagy, lemerültek a tartalékaid? Azért élsz, hogy dolgozz, és nem azért dolgozol, hogy élj? Mérhetetlenül nyomaszt, rettegéssel tölt el a to-do listád és a sokféle lehetőség? Közömbösnek és motiválatlannak érzed magad? Egyszer csak észreveszed, hogy állandóan megkérdőjelezed a teljesítményedet és a képességeidet: belső zajt pakolsz a stresszkeltő külső ingerekre? Ha igen, akkor ez a könyv neked szól.”
- Így kezdődik A kimerültség legyőzése és még ennél is ígyebben folytatódik, szépen akkurátusan végigvisz a kiégés lehetséges okain, komponensein. Irodalmi, filozófiai, orvosi-pszichológiai szempontból tárgyalja a következményeket és megelőzési lehetőségeket egyaránt. És ami a legfontosabb: mindezt elfogadó, nem pedig kritikus hangnemben, hiszen utóbbiból jó eséllyel éppen eleget kapunk belső kritikusunktól.
🔋 Gyakorlatias, érthető, és a szerzőhöz szakmailag illeszkedve főként a coaching eszköztárából merít. Tudományos-szakmai szívügyem a kiégés, és bátran mondhatom: ez a könyvecske üde színfolt a témában elérhető önsegítő könyvek piacán, egyértelműen felkerült a klienseimnek ajánlandók listájára is!
- Így kezdődik A kimerültség legyőzése és még ennél is ígyebben folytatódik, szépen akkurátusan végigvisz a kiégés lehetséges okain, komponensein. Irodalmi, filozófiai, orvosi-pszichológiai szempontból tárgyalja a következményeket és megelőzési lehetőségeket egyaránt. És ami a legfontosabb: mindezt elfogadó, nem pedig kritikus hangnemben, hiszen utóbbiból jó eséllyel éppen eleget kapunk belső kritikusunktól.
🔋 Gyakorlatias, érthető, és a szerzőhöz szakmailag illeszkedve főként a coaching eszköztárából merít. Tudományos-szakmai szívügyem a kiégés, és bátran mondhatom: ez a könyvecske üde színfolt a témában elérhető önsegítő könyvek piacán, egyértelműen felkerült a klienseimnek ajánlandók listájára is!
April 8, 2025
Absolutely LOVED this book. Highly recommend to everyone who is interested in the causes of burnout and methods of its prevention/healing.
It was really helpful reading this book during one of the most challenging and busy periods of my life. Made me feel like I am not alone♥️
And it was also special to me because, as the author, I am also a coach, so reading the book felt like talking to a colleague😊
It was really helpful reading this book during one of the most challenging and busy periods of my life. Made me feel like I am not alone♥️
And it was also special to me because, as the author, I am also a coach, so reading the book felt like talking to a colleague😊
December 31, 2024
A book that welcomes reflection and encourages the reader to participate in a personal 'energy audit': reviewing what drains and restores our energy. Combining philosophy, literature and science, this book offers gentle guidance on how to reprioritise and battle everyday exhaustion to make room for the things you want to do, and not just need to do.
June 27, 2025
I was hoping this would contain an exhaustion cure, but really there was very little practical advice in this book that I hadn't heard before.
I listened to the audibook and did enjoy the narrator, her voice was lovely and soothing.
I listened to the audibook and did enjoy the narrator, her voice was lovely and soothing.
July 17, 2025
Pretty good for some reminders about how it’s mostly society’s fault we’re all fucked up and anxious. And some pretty cool tips and tricks on how to better cope with the fast-paced forevermore optimising world we live in.
Dope, thanks.
Dope, thanks.
December 16, 2025
Exhausted: An A–Z isn’t perfect, but it offers plenty of genuinely helpful advice. While the last few letters felt a bit uninspiring, overall it’s a thoughtful and relatable read with practical insights that make it worthwhile.
January 23, 2026
An interesting book that I really enjoyed, the book contains each alphabet as a chapter and I definitely liked how there were facts backed up evidence :) You can randomly pick a chapter and think about it and reflect for a day
June 12, 2024
Easy read, good advice
August 16, 2024
good book to use as a resource or reminder
October 23, 2024
A must read- I heard this as an audio book a chapter at a time, perfect bite sized learnings.
December 26, 2024
Well-written and helpful collection of short essays. Schaffner deftly weaves together many strands of wisdom to address this important subject.
January 16, 2025
An intelligent, informative and inspiring collection of essays on exhaustion
October 26, 2025
One of those very few proper self help books.
January 29, 2026
Some interesting essays, but similar to a lot I've read before. If you were reading it for self help you'd probably be disappointed.
March 3, 2026
The book came to me at the right time. I like how the chapters are short and how methaphors were used. The book definitely helped me accepting the burnout I am in :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews