Heads up. If you click on “Buy on Amazon” next to any book title, it will open a new page for that book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—think of it as a productivity tip jar. Your support is highly optional but always appreciated.
Feel Free to Share This Image
Introduction 4000 Thousand Weeks
This book review covers Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. Buy on Amazon.
It sounds like a typical book on productivity, but it is far from it. While Burkeman sprinkles time management tips throughout the work, the work’s central theme leans more toward philosophy than productivity. Continue reading for an overview of the book’s positives and negatives, along with who would benefit from reading it.
The Good and the Bad 4000 Weeks
Burkeman in Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals challenges you to revisit basic questions, such as: Why are you doing what you are doing? Are you working on the right things?
These questions are all worth considering. Conversely, if you’re looking for concrete advice, you’ll be disappointed. The few times Burkeman discusses tactics, it’s clear he knows his subject. This fact lends credibility to his philosophy. However, using this book for practical application is like reading a book with an introduction and a conclusion, but nothing in between.
The Good of 4000 Weeks
Few writers on efficiency spend as much time on philosophy as Burkeman. He fills this gap by focusing on the why behind productivity. Though not his primary focus, when he does cover tactical tips, you can tell he knows how to work effectively.
Well-Written with Wit
Burkeman’s grasp of writing and his English wit make reading enjoyable. Additionally, his willingness to address contradictions in his concepts and life is refreshing.
Overly optimistic self-help gurus often dominate the field. They are like children blowing bubbles, which provide beautiful-looking advice until a strong wind pops them. Burkeman counters these self-help fairies with equal parts realism, pessimism, and honesty.
Deep Insights
Four Thousand Weeks goes much deeper than most productivity books—focusing on the why rather than the how. He recognizes the merry-go-round we are on when we try to be faster at things without thinking about whether they are worth doing.
Burkeman suggests letting go of perfection and living the life you have by accepting the finite amount of time we have on this planet, approximately 4,000 weeks. He explores a life philosophy based on the meaningful use of your limited time.
Live in the Moment
Another central theme of the book is to live in the present and to stop delaying gratification. He addresses the holes in conventional time management, which he calls the efficiency trap.
The efficiency trap espouses that speed and productivity are addictive and lead to adverse outcomes like road rage or, worse yet, not taking the time to listen to your loved ones. Moreover, not every moment should be optimized—holding your baby, walking your dog, enjoying a meal.
You can and should slow down and live in the moment. My favorite example Burkeman gives is that we should act on generous thoughts immediately.
Patience
Burkeman preaches patience by letting things take the time they take, e.g., traffic. To improve your mindset, he recommends that you accept having unaddressed problems versus pursuing the impossibility of solving everything. Second, he suggests approaching things incrementally by taking on only one big thing at a time and limiting your available hours for work and life tasks. Finally, he says, “Originality lies on the far side of unoriginality,” which means that to find something new in an area, whether marriage, mathematics, or literature, we must be willing to spend a long time working through the old or mundane.
Redefines Time
The author tells you to stop treating time like a physical good, where more is better and less is bad. He defines time as a “network good,” which means the more you coordinate your time with others, the better your outcomes.
Burkeman expands on this idea by suggesting we fall into the rhythm of our family and community. An example of this effect is how much more you enjoy time off when your friends and family are available versus being the only person not working.
Practical Strategies
He introduces several concepts that enhance any productivity program. First, Limit your work in process (WIP) to a handful of projects at a time. Second, he discusses how somewhat exciting ideas are the most dangerous to productivity because they distract you from the actions and projects you are most passionate about. The ability to say no to the interesting is the key to working on what you love the most. Finally, he tells you to pay yourself first, which means if you have something you care about, do it before anything else.
The Bad of 4000 Weeks
When a book has time management in its title, you expect a book full of practical advice. Wrong. We wouldn’t have had this discussion if he had named the book something like “Time Management Philosophy.” Yet, as it stands, the title is misleading.
Two secondary criticisms of Burkeman are that he’s too negative and a tad elitist. The vibe I get from much of his work is that the world is ending, and I’m the only one smart enough to realize it. He often speaks to his readers like Sherlock Holmes lectures Watson.
Difficult to Implement
Burkeman rolls with the gang of self-help authors pushing mindfulness—living in the present. While we can all spend more time in the present, Burkeman takes the concept to an unachievable level.
Nature wired human beings to think ahead. Living entirely in the present is akin to turning yourself into a dog—lovable but probably not the best human.
Depressing
While I appreciate Burkeman’s style in contrast to the pervasive efficiency cheerleader, his views can be depressing. The book’s focus on the shortness of life and the inevitability of death can be overwhelming for even an optimist. At several points reading his book, I thought, “This guy needs a hug.”
Just when you think it can’t get any gloomier, his entire last chapter is dedicated to the end of the world. At that point, what needed an ending wasn’t the world. It was his book.
Repetitive Themes
Be prepared for an onslaught of advice telling you to live in the present and that the world is ending. He expresses both concepts in his pet word, finitude. Burkeman doesn’t realize there is a finitude to how many finitudes one can hear.
Plus, he mentions global warming and social injustice so often that it detracts from the primary topic of productivity. All are worthy topics on their own. Yet, cramming them together is like blending a ribeye, a tomato, and an apple pie.
Pretentious
While the author has a benevolent tone, you can escape the sense that he’s the expert explaining things to you, the child. Simply put, he’s a career journalist who acts like one.
Adding to this sense of superiority is his love of big words and inventing terms for existing concepts. Did he need the word finitude to explain that we can’t live forever?
Borrowing from a saying attributed to Mark Twain, “Don’t use a five-dollar word when a fifty-cent word will do.” Another example is he tells us to cultivate instantaneous generosity. Huh? I guess he’s too intelligent to say that when you feel generous, act on it.
Even more infuriating is when he explains empathy and mindfulness as if he had invented those concepts. If only we all had Cambridge degrees to make us that smart.
Summary of 4000 Weeks
Burkeman’s 4000 Weeks explores why we pursue productivity and why those reasons are often not sound. He takes the time to ask if you should be streamlining everything.
This shift in thought process benefits hard-core productivity geeks like yours truly. Because taken too far, you’ll be rushing through things you were meant to savor, such as a day at the beach, nature walks, or laughing.
I have mixed feelings about his writing style and attitude. On the one hand, he skips the “Ra Ra” fake positive attitude of many self-help writers and replaces it with a wry humor that does not shy from life’s ugliness. However, his preaching wears on you like your parents constantly telling you to get a haircut.
Who Should Read It?
Read this book if you’re efficiency-obsessed or find a lack of motivation, anxiety, or other mental obstacles affecting your work. Those seeking a work-life balance will also find value.
Who Should Skip It
Alternatively, move on if you seek actionable productivity tools or quick hacks. This book is more about mindset and philosophy than it is about how to get more done.
Conclusion
There’s always more to read on this topic. Explore our full guide on personal productivity. Or you can view more productivity book reviews.
I thrive on recommendations and feedback. Hit me up in the comments section or join me on Reddit at (opens new tab) r/Remove_Work_Advice. I would love to hear from you if you have read **Book Name** or if you have any thoughts to share.
For background on the who, what, and why of remoteworkadvice.com, check out our Home Page. Thank you for reading, and best of luck with your productivity journey!
Additional Information
Accessibility Note: All links beyond this point open to a new tab.
About Oliver Burkeman
Oliver Burkeman is a journalist and author who gained notoriety by writing a weekly self-help column for the Guardian. A prolific writer, he is versatile and well-published, with his work appearing in The Observer, The New Republic, Esquire, and GQ. Born in Liverpool in 1975, his dry, English humor brings a chuckle to the most serious discussions.
Oliver Burkeman’s Books
Heads up. If you click on “Buy on Amazon” next to any book title, it will open a new page for that book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—think of it as a productivity tip jar. Your support is highly optional but always appreciated.
- Burkeman, O. (2021). Four thousand weeks: Time management for mortals. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Buy on Amazon
- Burkeman, O. (2024). Meditations for mortals: Four weeks to embrace your limitations and make time for what counts. London: Bodley Head. Buy on Amazon
- Burkeman, O. (2012). The antidote: Happiness for people who can’t stand positive thinking. London: Faber & Faber. Buy on Amazon
- Burkeman, O. (2011). HELP!: How to become slightly happier and get a bit more done. London: Canongate Books. Buy on Amazon
Oliver Burkeman Online
Website (and newsletter): oliverburkeman.com
Facebook: Oliver Burkeman
Twitter: @oliverburkeman
Wikipedia: Oliver Burkeman
Other 4000 Weeks Reviews
- Williams, J. (2021, August 11). Life is short. What are you going to do about that? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/11/books/review-four-thousand-weeks-time-management-oliver-burkeman.html
- Adams, T. (2021, August 16). Four Thousand Weeks: Time and How to Use It by Oliver Burkeman – review. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/aug/16/four-thousand-weeks-time-and-how-to-use-it-by-oliver-burkeman-review
- Moran, J. (2021, September 1). Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman review – a brief treatise on time. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/sep/01/four-thousand-weeks-by-oliver-burkeman-review-a-brief-treatise-on-time
- Kelly, H. (2024, October 4). You are going to die. The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/11/meditations-for-mortals-four-thousand-weeks-review/679955/
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on 4000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
Burkeman points out that life is about 4,000 weeks long. Therefore, you’ll never have time for everything you might want to do.
When people realize the shortness of their lives, they respond by chasing efficiency. Yet, this approach does not work and leads to busyness, not satisfaction.
True fulfillment comes from accepting your limits and finding meaning in the moment. It’s about deciding what to ignore and to stop trying to “do it all.”
The efficiency trap is a loop where being more productive leads to more work. Even worse, the new tasks become more trivial over time. Rather than freeing up time, productivity increases expectations from yourself and others.
Burkeman responds to this trap with “strategic neglect”—defining specific areas you’ll allow yourself to ignore. Commit to a finite number of active projects (closed task list) and defer the rest.
Burkeman critiques busyness and embraces “patience as a superpower.” He encourages the following…
* Depth over breadth.
* Embrace leisure activities.
* Accept your limits.
* Living in the present.
His mindset was an early precursor to the modern mindfulness movement.