Take Back Your Time: Fighting Overwork and Time Poverty in America

by John De Graaf (Editor)

Forget oil or gold time is the most precious commodity in America today. Americans have less free time than anyone else in the industrialized world. In fact, modern Americans work longer hours than medieval peasants Here, well known experts and writers explore the effects of overwork, over-scheduling, time pressure and stress on our health, relationships, children, the environment, and more. These renowned authors come together to support a national movement to Take Back Your Time, and they propose personal corporate, and legislative solutions.

Take Back Your Time is the official handbook of the national movement behind Take Back Your Time Day. Ultimately, lake Back Your Time Day organizers plan to institute public policies that put work in its rightful place and allow us all to live richer, fuller, more well-rounded lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology, Business, Self Help

250 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Leonardo]

Citado en el artículo de M. Vansteenkiste, R. M. Ryan, y E. L. Deci de Capabilities and Happiness.

[Monika Wiśniewska]

Another book I loved from the author. Read it, you won't regret it.

[Brianna Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good insights that have helped me re-evaluate the use of my time!

[Gibran]

good summary of the importance of time and time scarcity . But the solutions are too conservative.

[Deah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Take Back Your Time at the same time as reading Living Large: From Double Ds to SUVs. Quite a few of the same studies and statistics are used in both books, mainly to ask us why we are working so hard, and spending so much of our hard earned money, on so many things. It made me really look at how much I spend on groupons, for one thing. How many of those things do I really need? And a closer look at my closet, full of clothes I never wear, but a huge time suck in terms of the time-cost it takes me to go look for and purchase those. I also looked more closely at my bike, and ways to use the bike more for close errands, to try to get outside and enjoy the weather and community a bit more, rather than always being inside the car, hurrying hurrying to the next errand. For anyone interested in slowing down, enjoying life a little more, maybe looking for an alternative work arrangement such as flex time, job share, or part time work, this is a good book to read. Each chapter is written by a different author, so lots of the bits kind of overlap, so don't think you have to read the whole book cover to cover to get it. Just pick the section in the table of contents that applies to you and read that section.

[Unwisely · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a depressing book on so many levels. Apart from the depressing fact that Americans work more hours than they did in the 70s (and all the associated detrimental effects to family, mental state, and health), it is a time capsule of people who thought their vision would spread like Earth Day. As I've never heard of Take Back Your Time Day, I think they weren't very successful.

The book makes a powerful argument for more leisure times, and shows we were on track, until we went astray. Things from the book have stuck with me - today I was thinking how good it would be for the domestic tourism industry if Americans had more than long weekends. (I had my first six-day non-family/non-wedding trip of my working career this year.)

Overall, there are a lot of interesting points, but some of the essays get repetitive. Worthwhile, though.

[suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Average Americans have added 200 hours of work per year compared to the late 1970s - that's roughly 5 more weeks of work a year. Few Americans understand the implications of this finding. The amount of work required, often just to get by, is hurting our families (and children), our health, and our communities. When we take people and our social institutions to task for failing we need to calculate in the damages that come about from too little time spent on just about everything but work.

Raise the minimum wage and millions of workers would not have to work 2 or three part time jobs and would have more time for raising healthy families, contributing to their communities and becoming better informed about the real issues facing Americans.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main assertion made is simple: Americans work more than needed and much more than most of the rest of the world does. In return, we tend to live more stressful, less happy lives. This book explores ways that business men and women can fight off the cultural norm of overworking, and what that additional time can be used for when many people derive significant meaning and value from what they do.

[Reuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pub. 2003, possibly to mark the first "Take Back Your Time" Day, held annually on October 24th. October 24th is 8 weeks before the end of the calendar year--the number of weeks each year that Americans work longer than Europeans. This collection of essays is a good reminder of all the reasons we need to work less, of all the aspects of our lives that are impoverished when we work too much.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a health/recreation class in college. I thought it would be silly. I was wrong. It was one of the best required readings ever. And so true. We really don't have enough leisure time in our lives, or take time to really enjoy the things we do. As much as I agree with it, I still find it very hard to use my leisure time for pleasure instead of just being tired.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already know I work too much, and that everyone else works too much, but this book of essays gives some clear ideas of why (backed up by statistics, too!). By the end it does seem to drag on a bit, but I am glad I stuck it out and read the whole thing. It's a good reminder that I need to *do* something about my time-crunched schedule instead of just being frustrated about it.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again just skimmed most of this one as a part of a class. A bunch of essays on how we're overscheduled and overcommitted, really hurting our kids, families, and ourselves. Enough to shake up my thinking to make me realize I really need to reprioritize what's happening in my life.

[Surina Suhaimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, this one lost me halfway. Perhaps I was not into the way of writing but what I finally did was to speedread through it to get the gist. Yes there are some good recommendations on how not to get lost in the working world. So yeah read it but don't fall asleep halfway.

[Jen Gunderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting for a book like this! Completely agreed with all the contributors as this is usually my biggest problem in life -- lack of time for everything I want/need to do.

[Doreva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overkill. This book could have made its point in a short essay. I wound up returning it to the library.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and well-researched book on the negative social, economic and environmental impacts of the long work week.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

America has a LONG way to go to catch up with its European counterparts! If America ever does catch up. We have a lot to learn when it comes to European work ethics!

[S]

650.1 J

[Seeing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Working Adult who is nominally literate should read this book!