In her thought-provoking book "Saving Time," Jenny Odell takes readers on a fascinating exploration of our relationship with time. Rather than offering quick fixes or productivity hacks, Odell delves deep into the history, philosophy, and societal constructs that shape our understanding of time. This summary will guide you through the key ideas presented in the book, offering a fresh perspective on how we can truly "save time" by changing the way we perceive and interact with it.
Introduction: Beyond Time Management
Imagine standing in a library, faced with two sections of books about time. One shelf is filled with time-management strategies and productivity tips, while the other contains works on the history and philosophy of time. Which would you choose?
While many of us might instinctively reach for the practical advice, Odell suggests that the real solutions to our time-related struggles lie in understanding the deeper concepts surrounding time itself. By exploring these ideas, we can gain valuable insights into how we experience time and potentially transform our relationship with it.
The Birth of Timekeeping: From Sundials to Standardized Time
To understand our current relationship with time, we must first look at how the concept of timekeeping came to be. Odell takes us on a journey through history, revealing how our modern obsession with measuring time is a relatively recent development in human civilization.
Ancient Timekeeping
In ancient times, people had little need for precise timekeeping. While civilizations did use devices like sundials and water clocks (clepsydras), these were mainly used to sense the general time of day rather than to divide it into specific units.
The Monastic Influence
The practice of breaking down time into linear units began in the sixth century with the development of Christian canonical hours. Monks needed to know when to pray throughout the day, which led to the creation of a more structured approach to timekeeping.
The Rise of Mechanical Clocks
Five centuries later, Cistercian monks took this a step further by using bell towers in their monasteries to signal prayer times. This technology soon evolved into public and private clocks, spreading rapidly as European towns grew into centers of commerce and power.
These mechanical turret clocks served multiple purposes:
- Coordinating daily activities
- Facilitating trade
- Signaling the end of the workday
Unlike the earlier bell towers, these new clocks could mark hours as equal and countable units, laying the groundwork for our modern understanding of time.
Colonialism and the Standardization of Time
The history of timekeeping is closely intertwined with colonialism and the struggle for power. As Britain rose to international dominance in the 18th century, marine chronometers were invented, allowing for more precise navigation and timekeeping at sea.
In the 1850s, the concept of standardized time began to take shape:
- "Master clocks" in Greenwich, England, sent Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to "slave clocks" throughout the country via electrical pulses.
- This allowed for synchronized train schedules across the nation.
Meanwhile, in North America, the lack of standardized time zones made coordinating railway systems a nightmare. Canadian engineer Sandford Fleming proposed the idea of a "Cosmic Day" with 24 global time zones, reflecting the 24-hour clock.
In 1884, the International Meridian Conference officially recognized these 24 time zones, with Greenwich as the prime meridian. This decision established a global standard for measuring time, further solidifying the concept of time as a measurable, standardized entity.
The Commodification of Time: How Much is Our Time Worth?
As timekeeping became more precise and standardized, a new question arose: How much is our time actually worth? This concept of "time as money" has become deeply ingrained in modern society, often leading to conflicts between employers and employees.
The Italian Physicists' Protest
In 1998, the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics made a controversial decision to require its researchers to clock in and out of work. This sparked outrage among the scientists, who argued that the practice was unnecessarily bureaucratic and failed to account for the nature of research work.
This incident highlights the ongoing debate about what employers are entitled to when they pay for their employees' time.
Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times"
The 1936 film "Modern Times" offers a powerful critique of the capitalist view of time as a commodity. In one memorable scene, Charlie Chaplin's character is strapped into a machine designed to feed workers while they continue their tasks, eliminating the need for a lunch break. The machine malfunctions, repeatedly smashing food into Chaplin's face – a humorous yet poignant commentary on the dehumanizing effects of prioritizing efficiency over human needs.
Remote Work and Time-Tracking
The COVID-19 pandemic brought new dimensions to this debate. As many people shifted to working from home, some employers implemented invasive time-tracking systems to monitor productivity. These ranged from self-reporting methods to more intrusive measures like screenshot captures, recordings, and keystroke logging.
This level of surveillance left many employees feeling constantly watched and unable to take even brief moments for themselves during the workday.
The Concept of Fungible Time
Allen C. Bluedorn's idea of "fungible time" is central to this discussion. This concept, epitomized by Benjamin Franklin's famous quote "Time is money," suggests that time behaves like currency – each second can be interchanged with another, much like how every penny has equal value.
However, this raises important questions:
- Who gets to decide the value of time?
- Is time truly distributed equally among all people?
The Myth of Equal Time Distribution
The idea that everyone has the same 24 hours in a day is a cornerstone of modern time-management strategies. However, Odell argues that this concept of equal time distribution is deeply flawed and ignores the complex realities of people's lives.
The "Productivity Bros" and Hustle Culture
In many parts of the world, particularly the United States, there's a pervasive mentality that work and productivity should be valued above all else. This "hustle culture" is often promoted by content creators known as "productivity bros," who sell the idea that time management and personal discipline are universal solutions to life's challenges.
The Fallacy of "We All Have the Same 24 Hours"
While it might seem logical that everyone has an equal amount of time each day, this theory quickly falls apart when we consider the diverse circumstances people face:
- Caregiving responsibilities
- Chronic health conditions
- Unequal distribution of household labor
Philosophy professor Robert E. Goodin even refers to this suggested equality of time as a "cruel joke."
The Bootstrap Myth
The idea of equal time distribution thrives in "bootstrapper culture," which promotes the belief that anyone can achieve their goals through hard work alone. Ironically, the phrase "pulling oneself up by the bootstraps" originally meant "attempting the impossible."
Power Structures and Time Control
There are two main problems with the theory of equal time distribution:
- Some people have more power and influence over their own time and the time of others.
- The value at which we can "sell" our time is often influenced by factors beyond our control, such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
A New Understanding of Time Management
Odell suggests that, for individuals, time is less about measurement and more about one's position within power structures. Each person's experience of time depends on where they sit in the "economy of temporal worth."
Drawing on the work of author Sarah Sharma, Odell notes that our culture's obsession with time management contradicts political definitions of time. To truly understand time, we must address society's uneven and biased power structures.
While large-scale change is needed, Odell proposes a more personal solution: By acknowledging the different ways people experience time, we can create a fairer and more inclusive understanding of "time management."
Shifting Perceptions of Time: Lessons from the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered our perception of time, blurring the lines between days, weeks, and even months. This collective experience offers valuable insights into the nature of time itself.
Time as Duration: Henri Bergson's Perspective
Odell connects our pandemic-induced time confusion to the ideas of French philosopher Henri Bergson. In his 1907 book "Creative Evolution," Bergson argued that our difficulty in understanding time stems from our tendency to imagine it as a series of distinct moments occurring side by side in space.
Instead, Bergson proposed that time is more like a duration – a series of overlapping successions, stages, and intensities. He saw time as a mysterious, ever-creating, and developing entity rather than something measurable.
The Lava Flow Analogy
To illustrate Bergson's concept, Odell uses the image of flowing lava:
- The leading edge is always moving, creating something new.
- Looking back, you can see the path it's taken, containing the history of where it's been.
This analogy helps us understand time as a continuous flow rather than a series of discrete moments.
Climate Change and Time Perception
The pandemic also heightened our awareness of climate change, making many people feel as if the "climate clock" is ticking faster than ever. This increased sense of urgency about the future has added another layer to our complex relationship with time.
Coping with an Uncertain Future
While large-scale structural changes are necessary to address climate change, Odell offers two strategies to help individuals cope with the mental strain of an uncertain future:
Remember that we're not alone: Although we experience time individually in the present, the future belongs to all of us. Sharing our fears and concerns with others can help alleviate feelings of isolation.
Learn from historical perspective: Throughout history, many "worlds" have ended and been reborn. Native American author Elissa Washuta refers to her people as "post-apocalyptic," having survived various forms of annihilation due to colonization. This perspective reminds us that even in the face of great challenges, people can persist and work towards a better future.
Reframing the Question: How Can We Give Ourselves More Time?
As we grapple with our relationship to time, the question naturally arises: How can we give ourselves more time? Odell challenges the conventional wisdom of time-management strategies and offers a different perspective on this age-old question.
The Parable of the Golden Thread
Odell shares a story from her childhood about a witch who gives a boy a ball of golden thread. Pulling the thread would make time move faster, allowing the boy to quickly reach life's major milestones. However, by constantly rushing through life, the boy reaches the end without truly experiencing any of it.
This parable serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of always trying to "save" or "make" more time.
The Paradox of Time Management
Contrary to popular belief, time-management strategies often exacerbate our time-related anxieties. Author Oliver Burkeman argues that paying close attention to how we use our time actually heightens our awareness of how little we have, making it seem to slip away even faster.
The Wellness Industry and the Promise of More Time
Capitalizing on our fear of mortality, the wellness industry produces countless products promising to help us live longer, healthier lives. However, this approach ignores important factors like genetic predispositions and socioeconomic circumstances that affect our ability to access these supposed life-extending solutions.
Living in the Time We Have
Instead of trying to make more time, Odell suggests focusing on truly living in the time we have. If we spend all our moments trying to stretch them as much as possible, are we really living at all?
Chronos vs. Kairos: Two Perspectives on Time
Ancient Greek philosophy offers two different words for time:
- Chronos: Refers to linear, measurable time – the steady march of events into the future.
- Kairos: Roughly translates to "crisis" and involves "seizing the moment."
While chronos might seem more stable, Odell argues that embracing kairos is key to thinking about the future. In a rapidly changing world with an uncertain future, kairos offers new possibilities and opportunities to imagine something different.
Final Thoughts: Embracing a New Relationship with Time
As we navigate a world that seems to change by the minute, it's easy to get caught up in the idea of "saving time." The demands of modern productivity can make us feel like there are never enough hours in the day, and increasing anxiety about the future only compounds this stress.
However, Odell's exploration of time offers us a different path forward. By changing the way we perceive and interact with time, we can find a more balanced and fulfilling approach to life. Here are the key takeaways from "Saving Time":
Structural Change: On a societal level, we need to work towards a more equitable distribution of time. This means addressing the systemic inequalities that affect how different people experience and value time, regardless of factors like gender, race, or economic status.
Community Perspective: While our individual experiences of time may differ, it's crucial to remember that we're not alone in our concerns about the future. Sharing our thoughts and fears with others can help us feel more connected and less overwhelmed.
Personal Shift: Each of us has the power to change how we perceive time. By accepting that time isn't something to be measured and controlled, but rather something to be experienced, we can learn to live more fully in each moment.
Quality Over Quantity: Instead of focusing on living longer or doing more, we should strive to be more present and alive in the time we have. This shift in perspective can lead to a richer, more meaningful life experience.
Embracing Uncertainty: By adopting a kairos-oriented view of time, we can become more adaptable to change and open to new possibilities. This mindset can help us navigate an uncertain future with greater resilience and creativity.
Challenging Productivity Culture: We need to question the pervasive idea that constant productivity is the key to a successful life. By recognizing the flaws in this mindset, we can work towards a more balanced and humane approach to work and leisure.
Historical Context: Understanding the history of timekeeping and how it has shaped our modern relationship with time can help us critically examine our current practices and beliefs.
Philosophical Insights: Exploring different philosophical perspectives on time, such as Bergson's concept of duration, can expand our understanding and help us break free from rigid, linear thinking about time.
Addressing Power Structures: Recognizing how power dynamics influence our experience of time is crucial for creating a more just and equitable society. This awareness can inform both personal choices and broader social movements.
Mindful Living: Rather than always trying to "save" time, we can focus on living more mindfully within the time we have. This approach can lead to greater satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment in our daily lives.
In conclusion, "Saving Time" challenges us to rethink our relationship with time on multiple levels – personal, societal, and philosophical. By shifting our perspective and embracing a more nuanced understanding of time, we can work towards a future where time is not just a resource to be managed, but a dimension of life to be fully experienced and appreciated.
As we move forward, let's carry with us the wisdom that true time-saving isn't about squeezing more activities into each day or extending our lifespan indefinitely. Instead, it's about being present, connected, and alive in each moment we're given. By doing so, we might just find that we've given ourselves the greatest gift of all – a life rich in meaning, connection, and genuine experience.