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  • The Upside of Downtime

  • Why Boredom Is Good
  • By: Sandi Mann
  • Narrated by: Karen Cass
  • Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
  • 3.0 out of 5 stars (2 ratings)
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The Upside of Downtime cover art

The Upside of Downtime

By: Sandi Mann
Narrated by: Karen Cass
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Summary

Are we living in an age where we are more boredom-prone? Or are other people boring us? Or could we be those boring people? In our current information age, we are constantly connected to technology and have so many varied ways to spend our leisure time that we should all surely never know what boredom feels like.

Yet boredom appears to be on the rise; it seems that the more we have to stimulate us, the more stimulation we crave. In a quest to relieve our boredom, we engage in dangerous risk-taking, from extreme sports to drugs to gambling to antisocial behavior, or we overindulge in shopping or eating.

The Upside of Downtime explores the causes and consequences of boredom in the fast-paced 21st century. Parents are desperate to keep their children entertained during every waking moment, the education system is geared towards interactivity, and attention spans are dropping as we use multiple devices at all times. But the world of work can be increasingly repetitive and routine, and we are losing the ability to tolerate this everyday tedium.

Using Sandi Mann's own groundbreaking research into boredom, this audiobook tells the story of how we act, react and cope when we are bored and argues that there is a positive side to boredom. It can be a catalyst for humour, fun, reflection, creativity and inspiration. The radical solution to the 'boredom problem' is to harness it rather than try to avoid it. Allowing yourself time away from constant stimuli can enrich your life. We should all embrace our boredom and see the upside of our downtime.

©2016 Sandi Mann (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

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an alternative but insightful speculation

leads to a lot of reflection on weather constant stimulation is really a good thing to distract ourselves from boredom. have we developed a low threshold to being bored and benefits that boredom can have? is technology having an ill effect on children and their ability to be content and deal with unstimulating parts of the day? what is boredom and and is it good for us? this book argues very thoroughly and academically with a slight hint of humour these very questions. I found it particularly in sight full and very speculative. I'm very glad I stumbled across this book.

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