Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock
Authors: Jenny Odell
Overview
“Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock” by Jenny Odell is a thought-provoking exploration of how our modern understanding of time shapes our lives, work, and relationship with the world around us. Odell argues that the dominant “time is money” ideology, rooted in industrial capitalism and colonialism, promotes a reductive and commodified view of time that leads to anxiety, burnout, and a disconnection from the natural world. Targeting a broad audience interested in reclaiming their time and attention from the demands of modern life, the book critiques the self-help and time management industry’s obsession with productivity and efficiency, revealing the often-invisible power dynamics and structural inequalities that shape how we experience time. Odell proposes alternative ways of understanding time, drawing on philosophical concepts, indigenous worldviews, and the experiences of marginalized communities. She introduces readers to ideas such as “crip time,” “unfreezing something in time,” and “temporal commons,” offering practical and conceptual tools for reclaiming agency, recognizing interconnectedness, and imagining more just and sustainable ways of living. “Saving Time” is highly relevant to current discussions about the future of work, technology, and the climate crisis. It challenges the narratives of inevitability and declinism that often dominate these conversations, urging readers to recognize the potential for collective action, alternative economies, and a deeper understanding of the nonhuman world. Within a growing body of literature critiquing the attention economy and the commodification of experience, Odell’s work stands out for its insightful blend of personal reflection, historical analysis, and practical suggestions for change. It offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to cultivate a more mindful and meaningful relationship with time, technology, and the world around them.
Chapter Outline
1. Whose Time, Whose Money?
This chapter explores the historical evolution of time as a quantifiable and commodified entity, deeply intertwined with labor, productivity, and control. It argues that the modern concept of “time is money” has its roots in industrial capitalism and colonialism, with the mechanical clock serving as a tool for discipline and exploitation.
Key concept: How Much LABOR TIME do They pay You?
2. Self Timer
This chapter examines the self-help and time management industry’s perpetuation of the “time is money” ideology, pushing individuals to optimize and commodify their time through meticulous self-tracking and productivity hacks. It critiques the myth of equal hours, highlighting the power dynamics and structural inequalities that shape individual experiences of time. It also explores alternative approaches to time management rooted in collective action, social support systems, and a critical awareness of privilege.
Key concept: Do you need a therapist, or do you need a union?
3. Can There Be Leisure?
This chapter challenges the notion of leisure as a commodified experience, critiquing the experience economy’s tendency to package and sell slowness, authenticity, and nature as consumable products. It draws on Josef Pieper’s concept of leisure as a state of mind, advocating for a deeper understanding of leisure as a form of contemplation, gratitude, and an awareness of the interconnectedness of life. It also explores the historical and social inequalities that have shaped access to leisure, calling for a more inclusive and justice-oriented approach to public spaces and experiences.
Key concept: Rest is our path to liberation. A portal for healing. A right.
4. Putting Time Back in Its Place
This chapter explores alternative ways of perceiving time through a closer engagement with the natural world and its rhythms. It argues that the Western tendency to separate time and space leads to a limited understanding of agency and interconnectedness. It introduces the concept of “unfreezing something in time,” inviting readers to recognize the dynamic and ongoing processes that shape the world around us, including those that operate on timescales beyond human perception.
Key concept: Unfreezing something in time
5. A Change of Subject
This chapter examines the concept of the Anthropocene, questioning its tendency to homogenize human responsibility for climate change and to obscure the historical and ongoing role of extractive industries. It argues that narratives of inevitability and declinism serve to disempower individuals and to maintain the status quo. It highlights the importance of recognizing agency in both human and nonhuman actors, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between past, present, and future.
Key concept: There was no a priori reason
6. Uncommon Times
This chapter explores the possibility of creating “uncommon times” through social agreements, language, and collective action. It delves into the concept of temporal commons, examining the ways in which communities create and maintain shared time senses that challenge dominant temporal norms. It also highlights the importance of subversive language and inside jokes as forms of resistance and the creation of shared meaning, particularly in contexts of social control and oppression.
Key concept: The capital has its order, the village its customs.
7. Life Extension
This chapter critiques the pursuit of numerical longevity and the capitalist wellness industry’s tendency to view the body as a machine to be optimized for productivity and lifespan extension. It explores alternative understandings of “life extension” through the lens of “crip time,” advocating for a more expansive and inclusive view of human worth and the good life. It also emphasizes the importance of interconnectedness and the social dimensions of aliveness, advocating for a recognition of mutual regard as a form of life extension.
Key concept: It’s actually okay to be on a spectrum of reality….It is being alive.
8. Conclusion: Halving Time
The conclusion reflects on the concept of the meantime, arguing that the tendency to view it as an empty space between past and future obscures the dynamic and unpredictable nature of time. It revisits the concept of bioregionalism as a way of understanding time as a complex and interconnected fabric. It also emphasizes the importance of doubt as a generative force, allowing for new possibilities and a recognition of the emergent and unpredictable nature of life.
Key concept: To halve time
Essential Questions
1. How has the concept of “time is money” evolved historically, and what are its social and political implications?
The modern conception of “time is money” is a product of historical forces, specifically industrial capitalism and colonialism. These systems necessitate the quantification and commodification of time, leading to a focus on productivity, efficiency, and control over labor. Odell argues that this view of time is neither natural nor inevitable, but rather a culturally specific construct with significant social and political implications. She examines the role of the mechanical clock, time zones, and the wage system in shaping our relationship with time, highlighting the historical exploitation of labor and the ongoing impact of these structures on our lives.
2. How does the time management industry perpetuate the commodification of time, and what are the limitations of individualistic approaches to time management?
The self-help and time management industry, Odell argues, often reinforces the “time is money” ideology, urging individuals to treat their time as a scarce and valuable resource to be optimized for productivity and achievement. However, Odell challenges the notion that we all have an equal amount of time, highlighting the social and structural inequalities that shape our experiences of time. She critiques the myth of the self-made individual, advocating instead for a recognition of the power dynamics and dependencies that affect our lives.
3. How does the experience economy commodify leisure, and what are alternative ways of understanding and experiencing leisure?
Odell challenges the commodification of leisure, critiquing the experience economy’s tendency to package and sell experiences of slowness, authenticity, and nature. She argues that true leisure, as envisioned by Josef Pieper, is not a consumable product but a state of mind characterized by contemplation, gratitude, and an awareness of the interconnectedness of life. She explores the historical and social inequalities that have shaped access to leisure, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive and justice-oriented approach to public spaces and experiences.
4. How can engaging with the natural world help us develop alternative time senses and challenge the dominant “time is money” paradigm?
Odell encourages readers to engage more deeply with the natural world and its rhythms as a way of experiencing time beyond the clock and the calendar. By observing the cycles of growth, decay, and change in nature, she argues, we can develop a more nuanced understanding of time as a complex and interconnected fabric. She introduces the concept of “unfreezing something in time” to help readers recognize the dynamic and ongoing processes that shape the world around us, challenging the Western tendency to view time as a linear and abstract entity.
5. How does the concept of the Anthropocene shape our understanding of climate change and the future, and what are alternative ways of framing this crisis?
Odell critiques the concept of the Anthropocene for its tendency to homogenize human responsibility for climate change and to downplay the role of capitalist systems and extractive industries. She argues that narratives of inevitable decline and societal collapse can lead to nihilism and inaction, obscuring the agency of both human and nonhuman actors. She advocates for a more nuanced understanding of history and the future, recognizing the potential for collective action, social change, and a reimagined relationship with the nonhuman world.
Key Takeaways
1. Time and experience are increasingly commodified in the digital age, leading to a disconnection from genuine human connection.
Our modern obsession with productivity and efficiency has led to the commodification of time and experience, particularly within the digital realm. Social media platforms, for example, often operate as “experience economies,” where users are encouraged to consume and showcase curated experiences, their time and attention monetized through advertising and data collection. This commodification can lead to a sense of alienation and a disconnection from genuine social connection.
Practical Application:
AI product engineers can apply this by designing systems that promote meaningful connection and community building rather than just engagement and consumption. This could involve prioritizing features that facilitate collaboration, shared learning, and genuine social interaction over those that drive competition, comparison, and self-promotion.
2. “Crip time” challenges the dominant “time is money” paradigm, advocating for a more inclusive and accommodating view of time and productivity.
The concept of “crip time” challenges the able-bodied norms that shape our understanding of time and productivity. It recognizes that individuals experience time differently, with varying needs and capacities for pacing, scheduling, and task completion. By acknowledging these differences, we can create more inclusive and accommodating systems that value diverse ways of being and working.
Practical Application:
In product design, this means recognizing the diverse needs and temporal rhythms of users. For example, designing interfaces and interactions that accommodate varying levels of ability, attention spans, and time constraints can create more inclusive and user-friendly experiences. AI systems can be designed to adapt to individual pacing and preferences, offering personalized experiences rather than imposing standardized timetables.
3. Recognizing the agency and temporal rhythms of the nonhuman world is essential for a more sustainable and ethical relationship with the environment.
The Western tendency to separate time and space leads to a limited understanding of agency in the nonhuman world. By recognizing the dynamic and interconnected nature of ecological and geological systems, we can develop a more respectful and sustainable relationship with the environment. This shift in perspective requires acknowledging that nonhuman actors have their own temporal rhythms and agency, challenging the anthropocentric view that casts nature as a passive and inert resource.
Practical Application:
In the context of AI safety, recognizing the agency of nonhuman actors becomes crucial. AI systems designed to interact with the natural world must account for the unpredictable and dynamic nature of ecological systems. This could involve incorporating principles of adaptive management, allowing AI to learn and respond to the evolving needs and rhythms of the environment.
Suggested Deep Dive
Chapter: Chapter 5: A Change of Subject
This chapter delves into the concept of the Anthropocene, a topic highly relevant to AI engineers working on climate change solutions or ecological modeling. Odell’s critical analysis of the Anthropocene narrative and her emphasis on the agency of non-human actors can inspire AI engineers to consider the ethical and ecological implications of their work.
Comparative Analysis
Jenny Odell’s “Saving Time” shares thematic connections with several influential works. It resonates with Carl Honoré’s “In Praise of Slowness,” advocating for a rejection of the cult of speed, but dives deeper into the socio-political structures underlying our obsession with productivity. While Honoré focuses on lifestyle changes, Odell pushes for structural and systemic shifts. Odell’s critique of the commodification of experience aligns with Naomi Klein’s “No Logo” and “This Changes Everything.” Both authors challenge capitalist exploitation, but Odell extends the critique to time itself, highlighting the temporal dimension of social injustice and environmental degradation. Odell’s exploration of alternative time senses, such as “crip time,” connects with the work of disability studies scholars like Alison Kafer and Sara Hendren. These authors collectively challenge the able-bodied norms that shape our understanding of time, productivity, and the good life. Unlike books that offer individualistic solutions to time scarcity, “Saving Time” emphasizes the importance of collective action, social support, and the recognition of interconnectedness, echoing the communal spirit found in works like Mia Birdsong’s “How We Show Up.”
Reflection
Jenny Odell’s “Saving Time” provides a thought-provoking and timely critique of our modern relationship with time. Its strength lies in its interdisciplinary approach, weaving together personal anecdotes, philosophical insights, historical analysis, and observations of the natural world to create a compelling argument for reclaiming our time and attention from the demands of a capitalist, productivity-obsessed culture. While Odell’s critique of the “time is money” ideology is compelling, her proposed solutions sometimes lean toward the idealistic. For example, her calls for structural and systemic changes, such as universal basic income and a shortened workweek, face significant political and economic hurdles. Additionally, her emphasis on the agency of the nonhuman world, while insightful, could benefit from a more nuanced engagement with scientific perspectives on consciousness and agency. Despite these limitations, “Saving Time” offers valuable insights into the ways in which our understanding of time shapes our lives, work, and relationship with the world around us. It encourages readers to question the dominant temporal norms, to cultivate a more mindful and attuned relationship with time, and to imagine alternative ways of living that prioritize human connection, social justice, and environmental sustainability.