Self-Growth · Editor Review

Four Thousand Weeks

By Oliver Burkeman Narrated by Oliver Burkeman ⏱ 6 hrs 13 mins 📅 2021 ★★★★½4.7 · 6,505 ratings

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Narrated by Oliver Burkeman, Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman has a runtime of 6 hrs 13 mins on Audible.

Publisher’s Summary

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

This program is read by the author.

“Burkeman and his irresistible British accent shifted my paradigm a couple centimeters . . . ‘The day will never arrive when you have everything under control,’ he calmly whispered in my ear, and I think I believed him.” – Vulture

The philosophical tone of his delivery is perfect for [Burkeman’s] thoughtful message: We can enjoy life more if we appreciate the present moment, stay in touch with our deeper selves, and nurture our connections with people and the natural world.” – AudioFile Magazine

“Provocative and appealing . . . well worth your extremely limited time.” —Barbara Spindel, The Wall Street Journal

The average human lifespan is absurdly, insultingly brief. Assuming you live to be eighty, you have just over four thousand weeks.

Nobody needs telling there isn’t enough time. We’re obsessed with our lengthening to-do lists, our overfilled inboxes, work-life balance, and the ceaseless battle against distraction; and we’re deluged with advice on becoming more productive and efficient, and “life hacks” to optimize our days. But such techniques often end up making things worse. The sense of anxious hurry grows more intense, and still the most meaningful parts of life seem to lie just beyond the horizon. Still, we rarely make the connection between our daily struggles with time and the ultimate time management problem: the challenge of how best to use our four thousand weeks.

Drawing on the insights of both ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, Oliver Burkeman delivers an entertaining, humorous, practical, and ultimately profound guide to time and time management. Rejecting the futile modern fixation on “getting everything done,” Four Thousand Weeks introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing finitude, showing how many of the unhelpful ways we’ve come to think about time aren’t inescapable, unchanging truths, but choices we’ve made as individuals and as a society—and that we could do things differently.
A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Audiobook Details

  • Narrated by: Oliver Burkeman
  • Length: 6 hrs 13 mins
  • Publisher: Macmillan Audio
  • Release year: 2021
  • Audible category: Politics & Social Sciences / Philosophy / Relationships, Parenting & Personal Development

Listener Ratings

Four Thousand Weeks holds an average listener rating of 4.7/5 from 6505 Audible ratings.

On Audible, ratings for this title break down into narration performance and story separately:

  • Performance (narration): 4.8/5
  • Story: 4.7/5
  • 5-star ratings: 79% of all ratings

What Audible Listeners Are Saying

5/5 stars — “The productivity book you and your boss needs to read!”
This book is science, philosophy, poetry, art, and mental health. It is both heartbreaking and inspiring.

— Gian Pierotti, Audible listener

5/5 stars — “A compelling book about how to truly live”
Absolutely superb book. I would say 70% of what is in this book I have heard before yet this is written so beautifully that it makes it truly compelling. This book spoke to me in ways few books have. I found myself rewinding so many times because something would resonate deeply. It explores our addiction to speed and constant action, our need for control and reassurance, and our difficulties with living aithentically. It also offers real advice on how to start your journey towards change. It is in some ways a difficult book because it presents the unvarnished truth of the human condition and life. The book is narrated by the author and I think that adds a whole layer of enjoyment- he has a perfect voice as well as passion.

— Vio, Audible listener

5/5 stars — “A must read “
This is going to be a book I re-listen to multiple times. It’s to the point, but beautifully written. Oliver is a realist in the best of ways, this book will remind you how precious this life is and inspire you to start living in accordance. Can’t recommend enough, especially if you’ve been caught in the productivity trap before or are afraid of commitment. 10/10

— Bailey Benton, Audible listener

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