Doing Valuable Time: The Present, the Future, and Meaningful Living

by Cheshire Calhoun

Doing Valuable Time explores the human concern with expending our life's time well. We pursue what we take to be valuable, strive to live meaningfully, judge whether our present circumstances are good enough, and have standards for what we are willing to take an interest in. Doing valuable time, however, is not an easy task. Expending time on big, important life-projects often entails lots of little time expenditures on the seemingly meaningless, and our ability to take an interest in our own futures is fragile. our present circumstances often leaves us with endless opportunities for discontent-too much spare time, too much of the same thing all of the time, or too much time stuck in stalled projects. Doing Valuable Time is a book about the difficulties we face in achieving valuable time and the interest--and disinterest--we take in our own present and future. Professor Cheshire Calhoun explores the implications of using time well in order to achieve the unachievable: living a meaningful life. Through seven chapters of rigorous philosophical inquiry and compelling practical insights, Calhoun explains the motivating interest we take in our future, and how hope sustains activities that are likely to fail. Doing Valuable Time shows the value of committing ourselves to having a particular future, and the possibilities for finding contentment with the imperfect present.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

200 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2018

About the author

Cheshire Calhoun is Professor of Philosophy at Arizona State University and research professor at the Center for the Philosophy of Freedom at the University of Arizona. She is best known for her work in feminist philosophy as well as writing on gay and lesbian philosophy and the morality of same-sex marriage.

Calhoun argues for same-sex marriage—and against the United States' Defense of Marriage Act—on the basis that equal access to the institution of marriage for homosexual and heterosexual people is the only way to guarantee equal citizenship and societal worth for lesbian and gay people.

In 2014, she was elected as the board chair of the American Philosophical Association where she has previously served on the executive committee for the APA's Eastern Division as well as the APA's committee for LGBT philosophers.

Reviews

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeeeeeeeeeeah, was good.

I think the best and worst thing about this book is that it's very light footed. It's very readable and Calhoun is very good at staking out a respectable position without getting her boots too dirty, but I think my main problem with it is that I'd like to have gotten a bit more bogged down in the details.

I should say it was quite nice for me to read because I write on similar topics and I'm very sympathetic to some of her views.

Another really commendable aspect of the book is that the subject matter I think is really important, and to my knowledge no one has really given it this kind of clear and concise treatment that she has.

The highlight of the book I would say is the discussion of meaninglessness, in which she carefully distinguishes a number of ways that life can loose its charm for us. At the same time though, this is exactly the sort of place where I would want a bit more detail - I was a little uncomfortable with the equating of meaninglessness with depression for example. Overall her discussion of the meaning of 'meaning' is pretty light, and I think this kind of allows her to equate it with other notions quite easily simply because it's quite broadly defined.

Probably the other biggest downfall of the book is that there isn't really much of a cohesive structure to it. There's very definitely a theme, but the end kind of jumps out at you from nowhere, and the conclusion really just goes back through the book chapter by chapter. The last two chapters in particular, although interesting in their own right, don't really contribute much to any kind of overall picture.

But anyway, as always it's much easier to be critical then complimentary, there's a lot of good stuff in this book, a lot of nice little distinctions and observations, and it's particularly nice that it's about things that effect all of us, and effect us frequently, and in very important ways.

[Laura Flavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doing Valuable Time: The Present, the Future, and Meaningful Living is a profound and intellectually engaging examination of one of life's most enduring questions: what does it mean to spend our time well? Cheshire Calhoun approaches this question with philosophical depth while remaining closely connected to the realities of everyday life, offering readers a fresh perspective on meaning, purpose, and the choices that shape our future.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its ability to illuminate the tension between our aspirations and the ordinary moments that fill our days. Calhoun thoughtfully explores how meaningful lives are often built through countless small actions that may seem insignificant on their own, reminding readers that purpose is rarely found in isolated achievements but in sustained commitment over time. Her reflections on hope, future planning, and contentment are both intellectually rigorous and deeply human.

The writing is elegant, insightful, and remarkably accessible for a work of philosophy. Rather than remaining abstract, each chapter connects philosophical inquiry with experiences that readers readily recognize uncertainty, stalled ambitions, dissatisfaction, and the desire to make life count. This balance between theory and practical reflection makes the book rewarding for both seasoned philosophy readers and those approaching the subject for the first time.

Doing Valuable Time is an important contribution to contemporary philosophy, offering wisdom that extends well beyond academic discussion. It encourages readers to reconsider not only how they spend their time but also how they define a life of purpose, fulfillment, and lasting significance.

[September Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Review for *Doing Valuable Time: The Present, the Future, and Meaningful Living***

*Doing Valuable Time* is a profound and intellectually rewarding exploration of one of life's most universal questions: what does it mean to spend our time well? Cheshire Calhoun approaches this question with remarkable philosophical depth while remaining grounded in experiences that resonate with everyday life. Rather than offering simplistic formulas for happiness or productivity, she invites readers to examine how our choices, commitments, hopes, and frustrations shape the meaning we find in the passage of time.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its thoughtful examination of the tension between our present lives and the futures we strive to create. Calhoun acknowledges that meaningful lives are often built through ordinary, repetitive, and sometimes seemingly insignificant tasks. She argues persuasively that these small investments of time are not distractions from a meaningful life but are often the very foundation upon which it is built.

The discussion of hope, commitment, and our willingness to invest in uncertain futures is especially compelling. The book encourages readers to reflect on why we persist through setbacks, how we remain motivated when success is uncertain, and how contentment can coexist with unfinished goals and imperfect circumstances.

Thoughtful, elegant, and deeply insightful, *Doing Valuable Time* is an outstanding contribution to contemporary philosophy. It is a valuable read for anyone interested in ethics, personal meaning, psychology, or simply understanding how to live with greater intention and purpose. This is a book that continues to provoke reflection long after the final page.

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little book. Some fascinating explorations of the issues, some very good chapters. It’s nice to see someone tackling these general life topics in analytic philosophy. But there were also some less interesting chapters, and some shallow arguments. And the writing was a bit plain.