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Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance
A beloved productivity expert’s mind-opening and schedule-expanding guide to making the most of every hour.
Many of us have an adversarial relationship with time. We’re always trying to beat the clock—behavior rooted in a fear that time is scarce and must be obsessed over, hoarded, and ultra-optimized.
But time management expert Laura Vanderkam argues that even busy people can come to feel that time is abundant. Drawing on original research about how hundreds of real people spend their time, and her own experience of tracking her time for a decade, Vanderkam offers simple tactics for how to manage a complex life, stick with long-term projects by breaking big goals into tiny steps, and make the most of leisure time many people don’t even notice.
By turns surprising, thought-provoking, and encouraging, Big Time shows readers that the daily experience of time can be quite spacious—and that, managed well, each day’s hours can be a source of happiness and satisfaction.
Many of us have an adversarial relationship with time. We’re always trying to beat the clock—behavior rooted in a fear that time is scarce and must be obsessed over, hoarded, and ultra-optimized.
But time management expert Laura Vanderkam argues that even busy people can come to feel that time is abundant. Drawing on original research about how hundreds of real people spend their time, and her own experience of tracking her time for a decade, Vanderkam offers simple tactics for how to manage a complex life, stick with long-term projects by breaking big goals into tiny steps, and make the most of leisure time many people don’t even notice.
By turns surprising, thought-provoking, and encouraging, Big Time shows readers that the daily experience of time can be quite spacious—and that, managed well, each day’s hours can be a source of happiness and satisfaction.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published May 5, 2026
About the author
Laura Vanderkam
24 books1,196 followersLaura Vanderkam is the author of several time management and productivity books, including:
The New Corner Office
Off the Clock
I Know How She Does It
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast
168 Hours
Laura is also the author of a time management fable, Juliet’s School of Possibilities and another novel, The Cortlandt Boys, which is available as an ebook.
Her 2016 TED talk, "How to Gain Control of Your Free Time," has been viewed more than 5 million times.
She regularly appears in publications including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Fortune.
She is the host of two weekly podcasts, Before Breakfast and The New Corner Office and she is the co-host, with Sarah Hart-Unger, of the weekly podcast Best of Both Worlds.
She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and five children, and blogs at LauraVanderkam.com.
The New Corner Office
Off the Clock
I Know How She Does It
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast
168 Hours
Laura is also the author of a time management fable, Juliet’s School of Possibilities and another novel, The Cortlandt Boys, which is available as an ebook.
Her 2016 TED talk, "How to Gain Control of Your Free Time," has been viewed more than 5 million times.
She regularly appears in publications including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Fortune.
She is the host of two weekly podcasts, Before Breakfast and The New Corner Office and she is the co-host, with Sarah Hart-Unger, of the weekly podcast Best of Both Worlds.
She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and five children, and blogs at LauraVanderkam.com.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 28, 2026
I received an ARC from W.W. Norton. Review for Verily Magazine coming in May!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In this time-management manifesto, the author argues for a more expansive approach to time. By looking not at the 24 hours in a day or the 168 hours in a week (yes, those 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think) but at the 8760 hours in a year, she says, we can find space for serious work, creative leisure, family and friends, and projects of all varieties.
Vanderkam begins by acknowledging that busy readers are investing a couple of hours of their time in the book on making the most of that time. In return, she promises Big Time will be "practical", "new", and "entertaining. She keeps these promises to a significant, but variable, degree.
The book's strong point is its entertainment value. The text is a mix of the author's ideas, supporting research (some of which she conducted herself), case studies, and personal anecdotes. The writing is engaging, and the book is a quick and interesting read.
Less obvious is the book's practicality. One of Vanderkam's favorite bits of advice is to track one's time, but this seems designed more to scare off the casual reader than to actually help. Other ideas are more solution-oriented, including discussions of how to plan a complicated life to keep from losing sight of any important areas; breaking down big projects into small steps; and improving one's workdays and weekday evenings by focusing on manageable but meaningful activities.
Big Time's weak point is newness. Most of the major ideas are repeated from Vanderkam's earlier books, with some updated details or supporting information. While it can be useful to read the information synthesized differently, with a different emphasis, loyal readers will not find any unforeseen revelations.
Despite the fact that I don't find all of its advice revelatory or useful, I enjoyed reading Big Time and found its perspective on time and life-management helpful.
[I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions are my own.]
Vanderkam begins by acknowledging that busy readers are investing a couple of hours of their time in the book on making the most of that time. In return, she promises Big Time will be "practical", "new", and "entertaining. She keeps these promises to a significant, but variable, degree.
The book's strong point is its entertainment value. The text is a mix of the author's ideas, supporting research (some of which she conducted herself), case studies, and personal anecdotes. The writing is engaging, and the book is a quick and interesting read.
Less obvious is the book's practicality. One of Vanderkam's favorite bits of advice is to track one's time, but this seems designed more to scare off the casual reader than to actually help. Other ideas are more solution-oriented, including discussions of how to plan a complicated life to keep from losing sight of any important areas; breaking down big projects into small steps; and improving one's workdays and weekday evenings by focusing on manageable but meaningful activities.
Big Time's weak point is newness. Most of the major ideas are repeated from Vanderkam's earlier books, with some updated details or supporting information. While it can be useful to read the information synthesized differently, with a different emphasis, loyal readers will not find any unforeseen revelations.
Despite the fact that I don't find all of its advice revelatory or useful, I enjoyed reading Big Time and found its perspective on time and life-management helpful.
[I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions are my own.]
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Big Time by Laura Vanderkam releases on May 5th!
Laura Vanderkam is one of my favorite experts on productivity, time tracking, and general life "hacks."
If you are always trying to beat the clock, cramming in as much as you can in a day, or trying some new trick to really be able to finally do it all, this book is for youuu!!!
Big Time is Laura Vanderkam flipping the notion of doing it all and focusing instead on TIME ABUNDANCE! Sounds amazing, right?
Do you know someone (or are you someone?!) who is always complaining about how busy you are, how overwhelmed you feel, how underwater your life is? It you tracked your every hour tor a week, do you think you'd realize that you have more time than you think?
I can tell you from first-hand experience that tracking my time years ago was an eye-opening experience. You have 8,760 hours in the year. A person who works a 40-hour week has 72 WAKING, nonworking hours each week to do other things. Read that again.
Laura Vanderkam's work to me is just so, so refreshing, so attainable and so digestible. She had me tabbing and highlighting this book and nodding my head along with her.
I have loved her other works for years, specifically Tranquility by Tuesday, What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think. I also get her emails Vanderhacks, and her weekly emails, and I always look forward to those landing in my inbox (she just posted a fantastic one about screenshots - which I did, in fact, screenshot).
This was such a refreshing read that makes me want to spend more time embracing a less rushed life, perfect for Spring!
Thank you Laura for writing this masterpiece! Thank you to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Laura Vanderkam is one of my favorite experts on productivity, time tracking, and general life "hacks."
If you are always trying to beat the clock, cramming in as much as you can in a day, or trying some new trick to really be able to finally do it all, this book is for youuu!!!
Big Time is Laura Vanderkam flipping the notion of doing it all and focusing instead on TIME ABUNDANCE! Sounds amazing, right?
Do you know someone (or are you someone?!) who is always complaining about how busy you are, how overwhelmed you feel, how underwater your life is? It you tracked your every hour tor a week, do you think you'd realize that you have more time than you think?
I can tell you from first-hand experience that tracking my time years ago was an eye-opening experience. You have 8,760 hours in the year. A person who works a 40-hour week has 72 WAKING, nonworking hours each week to do other things. Read that again.
Laura Vanderkam's work to me is just so, so refreshing, so attainable and so digestible. She had me tabbing and highlighting this book and nodding my head along with her.
I have loved her other works for years, specifically Tranquility by Tuesday, What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think. I also get her emails Vanderhacks, and her weekly emails, and I always look forward to those landing in my inbox (she just posted a fantastic one about screenshots - which I did, in fact, screenshot).
This was such a refreshing read that makes me want to spend more time embracing a less rushed life, perfect for Spring!
Thank you Laura for writing this masterpiece! Thank you to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2026
Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance is a reflective and practical exploration of how people experience time, and how that experience can be reshaped through intention rather than pressure. Laura Vanderkam draws on extensive research and long-term personal time tracking to challenge the common belief that time is always scarce and uncontrollable.
At the heart of the book is a simple but powerful reframing: time is not something to be constantly fought against, but something that can feel expansive when structured with clarity and purpose. Vanderkam supports this idea with real-world behavioral insights, showing how small, consistent decisions can create a sense of spaciousness even in busy lives.
The book’s strength lies in its grounded approach. Instead of abstract productivity theory, it focuses on practical shifts such as breaking down long-term goals into manageable actions and becoming more aware of how everyday time is actually spent. This makes the ideas both accessible and immediately applicable.
There is also a strong emphasis on recognizing overlooked leisure and undervalued moments, encouraging readers to re-evaluate what “making the most of time” actually means. The tone remains encouraging throughout, aiming to reduce anxiety around productivity rather than intensify it.
Overall, Big Time is a thoughtful and reassuring guide for anyone seeking a healthier, more balanced relationship with time. It is especially relevant for readers who feel overwhelmed by schedules yet still want to pursue meaningful long-term goals without burnout.
At the heart of the book is a simple but powerful reframing: time is not something to be constantly fought against, but something that can feel expansive when structured with clarity and purpose. Vanderkam supports this idea with real-world behavioral insights, showing how small, consistent decisions can create a sense of spaciousness even in busy lives.
The book’s strength lies in its grounded approach. Instead of abstract productivity theory, it focuses on practical shifts such as breaking down long-term goals into manageable actions and becoming more aware of how everyday time is actually spent. This makes the ideas both accessible and immediately applicable.
There is also a strong emphasis on recognizing overlooked leisure and undervalued moments, encouraging readers to re-evaluate what “making the most of time” actually means. The tone remains encouraging throughout, aiming to reduce anxiety around productivity rather than intensify it.
Overall, Big Time is a thoughtful and reassuring guide for anyone seeking a healthier, more balanced relationship with time. It is especially relevant for readers who feel overwhelmed by schedules yet still want to pursue meaningful long-term goals without burnout.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I've read all of Laura Vanderkam's books on time management since she wrote 168 Hours in 2010 so I'm very familiar with her. She doesn't have much new to say in this new book. She repackages a few concepts but it is basically the same content as her other books: time tracking, weekly planning, make better use of your evening hours, plan yearly projects. The one new concept is a chapter on being happier at work. Her suggestions are to 1. spend more time on projects your like, 2. deepen work friendships, and 3. take intentional breaks. Not exactly earth shattering suggestions.
The book was pleasant to read and she presents some interesting anecdotes as examples of her principles. I particularly enjoyed the interview she had with a circus performer. Her research in done with surveys and challenges she did with volunteers she recruited on her blog. Not very scientific. For someone who is not familiar with her work, I would recommend this as a good introduction to her concepts. For those who have read her other books or follow her blog, there is not much new material.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader ebook.
The book was pleasant to read and she presents some interesting anecdotes as examples of her principles. I particularly enjoyed the interview she had with a circus performer. Her research in done with surveys and challenges she did with volunteers she recruited on her blog. Not very scientific. For someone who is not familiar with her work, I would recommend this as a good introduction to her concepts. For those who have read her other books or follow her blog, there is not much new material.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader ebook.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.0 Stars
I have been a long time fan of Laura Vanderkam's productivity books along with her Best of Both Worlds blog. I have bought most of her books on audio and reread them multiple times of year. With that background, I was very excited to learn that she had a new book coming out.
Unfortunately, I feel like my experience suffered because I am so familiar with the author's previous works. This book felt like a summary or revisit of her previous themes and recommendations. I found several of the sections repeated ideas from her last several books.
I understand that it's difficult to always have something new to say on this niche topic so I don't want to be overly critical. I still enjoy reading these discussions and will likely still buy the audiobook at some point because it often feels like an extended podcast which can still be comforting to revisit as I consider the work life balance of my own family.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
I have been a long time fan of Laura Vanderkam's productivity books along with her Best of Both Worlds blog. I have bought most of her books on audio and reread them multiple times of year. With that background, I was very excited to learn that she had a new book coming out.
Unfortunately, I feel like my experience suffered because I am so familiar with the author's previous works. This book felt like a summary or revisit of her previous themes and recommendations. I found several of the sections repeated ideas from her last several books.
I understand that it's difficult to always have something new to say on this niche topic so I don't want to be overly critical. I still enjoy reading these discussions and will likely still buy the audiobook at some point because it often feels like an extended podcast which can still be comforting to revisit as I consider the work life balance of my own family.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
May 12, 2026
I always love a new book by Laura Vanderkam because she has a way of reminding me to be more mindful and conscious of my 168 hours each week. Big Time is another great reminder that time is something we are always choosing how to use, whether we realize it or not.
This book made me think about how easy it is to waste endless time doom scrolling. Vanderkam reminds readers that even with sleep, work, family, and responsibilities, there are still many hours left in the week to work toward goals, build better habits, and use time more constructively.
I liked the practical reminders in this book. Make lists. Break long term goals into bite sized pieces. Use small pockets of time well. Take breaks with a purpose so they actually feel like breaks. As a teacher, I cannot always plan my own breaks during the day, but this book reminded me that I can still use the free time I do have at work in a more meaningful way.
One of my favorite reminders from the book was: “Expectations are infinite. Time is finite. You are always choosing. Choose well.”
This book made me think about how easy it is to waste endless time doom scrolling. Vanderkam reminds readers that even with sleep, work, family, and responsibilities, there are still many hours left in the week to work toward goals, build better habits, and use time more constructively.
I liked the practical reminders in this book. Make lists. Break long term goals into bite sized pieces. Use small pockets of time well. Take breaks with a purpose so they actually feel like breaks. As a teacher, I cannot always plan my own breaks during the day, but this book reminded me that I can still use the free time I do have at work in a more meaningful way.
One of my favorite reminders from the book was: “Expectations are infinite. Time is finite. You are always choosing. Choose well.”
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
One of our Berlin-Peck patron’s Carol received an ARC of “Big Time” from the publisher through a library event. She provided a rating of 4.5 stars and the following review:
I have always been a big fan of self-help books and I found this one to be very inspiring. It was presented in a clean and straightforward manner, including excellent strategies such as tracking time, analyzing results, and weekly planning. I liked the idea of changing your mindset to seeing time as your friend, as well as prioritizing things you find pleasure in. Although the book speaks more to very busy, working individuals, the strategies can prove useful to anyone. Becoming more intentional with your time can bring about a feeling of overall satisfaction with your life. I thoroughly recommend this book.
I have always been a big fan of self-help books and I found this one to be very inspiring. It was presented in a clean and straightforward manner, including excellent strategies such as tracking time, analyzing results, and weekly planning. I liked the idea of changing your mindset to seeing time as your friend, as well as prioritizing things you find pleasure in. Although the book speaks more to very busy, working individuals, the strategies can prove useful to anyone. Becoming more intentional with your time can bring about a feeling of overall satisfaction with your life. I thoroughly recommend this book.
May 11, 2026
I'm always going to be a bit biased when I read Laura's books because I find everything she writes so... calming. She makes me feel better about my use of time while simultaneously making me also want to make a series of subtle tweaks to squeeze more pleasure out of life.
Big Time is a great book, and a natural companion to her other work, especially Off the Clock and Tranquility by Tuesday.
As with every time-management book, not everything is going to be relevant to every reader. Every situation is unique and so Laura's books offer a variety of suggestions, not a mandatory rule book.
I'll definitely re-read this in the future when I need a pep talk and to get inspired to make some fun additions to my schedule.
Big Time is a great book, and a natural companion to her other work, especially Off the Clock and Tranquility by Tuesday.
As with every time-management book, not everything is going to be relevant to every reader. Every situation is unique and so Laura's books offer a variety of suggestions, not a mandatory rule book.
I'll definitely re-read this in the future when I need a pep talk and to get inspired to make some fun additions to my schedule.
May 5, 2026
DNF: The author is either willfully obtuse and/or incredibly privileged.
Regardless, an individual seeking information on maximizing increments of time should neither be met with skeptical reproach over the validity of their situation nor be told that the number of working hours has decreased when myriad stats, in fact, indicate the contrary; more importantly, certainly not within the first few pages.
Thus, my recommendation to readers already pressed for hours in a day is as obvious and pedant as the prose, don't waste your time. Savor those precious moments for a better publication instead.
Regardless, an individual seeking information on maximizing increments of time should neither be met with skeptical reproach over the validity of their situation nor be told that the number of working hours has decreased when myriad stats, in fact, indicate the contrary; more importantly, certainly not within the first few pages.
Thus, my recommendation to readers already pressed for hours in a day is as obvious and pedant as the prose, don't waste your time. Savor those precious moments for a better publication instead.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 12, 2026As a fan of Laura’s podcasts and previous books, her voice certainly shone through. There were certainly a few new points/wordings in this book that made me think of time a little bit differently. I think my favorite part of reading time management books is that they always make me realize that I have more time than I think.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I think this is a great continuation of Tranquility by Tuesday, with lots of great ideas and case studies for how to manage the golden hours and zoom out to see time as more expansive than it feels on a day to day basis.
I’ve got lots of ideas for what to do with time and a lot of the themes from previous books are repeated which if you’re a regular reader is quite repetitive but for a new reader, it may be a new concept.
Overall, a great read!
I’ve got lots of ideas for what to do with time and a lot of the themes from previous books are repeated which if you’re a regular reader is quite repetitive but for a new reader, it may be a new concept.
Overall, a great read!
May 14, 2026
Superb work showing how we often misconstrue our time. Taking the big picture view opens up a new world of possibilities. Practical steps are given to show you how to reclaim and repurpose your time to do what you most want to do.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 26, 2026Anecdotes and practical suggestions
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May 9, 2026WSJ
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