Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

To start, this is a new-age philosophy book. This isn't about tips and tricks to manage your time but our beliefs around time and how those beliefs shape the quality and productivity of our lives. Like many said, most of the ideas are not original and the book is well written.After reading this book, I was in a bit of a slump for a week and a half. I figured, I'm going to die. I'm not going to accomplish the things I want to accomplish. Apparently hope is meaningless (which is my biggest problem with this book). In a sense, I believe this is what the author was looking to accomplish and shock us by giving the reader a "reality check".So why 3 stars? Hope. Yes, there are people that "only hope" and don't get around to actually doing anything. These are your "thoughts and prayers" folk that pop up in the news who pretend they care to make themselves look good or feel better for just a moment. But just because some misuse hope doesn't make it useless or harmful. Sometimes all you have is hope and faith. There is no logical reason for you to believe you can succeed, yet you believe anyways. "Hope is independent of the apparatus of logic." The refugee in a war torn country trying to survive and give their child a better life, what reason do they have to hope? Yet they hope anyways and that's what leads them to take action. As humans, we need that emotional and illogical reason to keep going.Some other things I question... Often we CAN accomplish much more than we believe. Yes, obviously I can't accomplish everything in the world and my time is finite. Obviously I shouldn't be constantly living and planning for the future and not living in the moment. Yet, look at how far humanity has come. Go tell people 5000 years ago that we will have airplanes and the internet.I don't write a ton of reviews but felt compelled to write this. My point is that there is a balance. One can be too hopeful and optimistic but also stray too far to the other side. Your goals can be too lofty and grandiose but you can also limit yourself and never set out to reach your highest potential. The author paints his ideas as black and white, right and wrong.That's not to say there isn't a lot of great information in this book. In particular, the idea that if we do everything right and push ourselves, there will be a time in the future where all our problems and stress will go away. So constantly waiting for this moment or turning point where we can start truly living our lives. This is a fantasy that I think most can relate to on some level.So again, not a bad book. Many refreshing but unoriginal ideas packed into one neat book. But: "Hope is a good thing, may be the best of the things. And a good thing never dies."

I found this book sadly lacking in much that was new. There were a couple of insights, but overall, the narrative was did not hold my attention. I found myself searching for the vignettes for awhile, but finally gave up...the first book I haven't finished in decades.I thought it was interesting that this book found itself into weekend WSJ review sections two weeks in a row. Perhaps I am just further down the road than Mr. Burkeman and his readers, but given his credentials I doubt that. So perhaps the explanation is that this book is for what I presume must be a wealth of overachievers working in the business world along with a bunch of ADD people like myself who are trying to find a solution to their unhappiness and busyness. As I physician, I have demands as well, but the solutions here are not even scratching the surface to a real solution in my LIfe

I bought this book thinking it was going to be a practical guide to time management, but discovered that it's a really philosophical/anthropological essay about the role that time plays in human life. While it challenges the notion that "maximum productivity" should be a goal that we, as humans, should strive toward, and I appreciate this challenge as food for thought, I was really looking for a tactical, pragmatic guide to using my time productively. I'm all for philosophical explorations, but that just wasn't what I was looking for with this book. I now realize how cleverly deceptive the book's subtitle, "Time Management for Mortals" is. Like I imagine many buyers did, I interpreted the subtitle to mean that the book would provide time-management tactics for people who are "mere mortals"—i.e., not naturally great time managers. Having read most of the book now, I realize that by "mortals," the author is actually referring to the fact that we're all going to die, so we should re-think how we use the finite amount of time that we have. (The four thousand weeks refers to the number of weeks in an eighty year-old's lifetime.) And while the author offers some broad suggestions—e.g., spend time with people you love—I have yet to encounter any strategies or principles at the tactical level—e.g., how to create that time and still achieve my professional goals.

This is a book about happiness disguised as a time-management book. It is a long and rambling work but a pleasure to read. Our happiness, or conversely, our unhappiness hinge on how we deal with remorse and anxiety. One dwells on the past, and the other worries about the future. Getting rid of them does not mean that we do not reminisce fondly nor make no plans for the future. It is all a question of balance. All the advice in this book is sensible. Rational advice requires rational application, but remorse and anxiety are states of mind tied to our emotional self. Therein lies the problem, but most of us, once appraised of the acute problem, should be able to inculcate the habits that help us control the emotional states that hinders our enjoyment of the present. The advice and tips found in this book steer us to pay attention to the pleasure of enjoying the things we do on the basis of the joy in doing them, and not as a means to an end. We should run for the enjoyment of running and not because need have imposed a target of losing five kilogrammes of weight, or that we may become healthy through exercise. Properly understood, correctly practised, one will probably discover why we have not been happier in the past – but that will be in the past. Enjoy.

Oliver Burkeman helps us to focus clearly on the brevity of our lifetime while simultaneously guiding us onto a path toward losing our fear of not getting everything done. Establish what's important, go after getting that, forget the rest and you may very well wind up with a very satisfying life.

This was my first Oliver Burkeman book. I enjoyed it. In reading Four Thousand Weeks, you'll be forced to confront your finitude and think about time in a new way. When you accept that you can't do it "all" in your four thousand weeks, what will you decide to do with your time?

I have to admit that I am a longtime fan of SONOS, although I do think that I have dealt my share of constructive criticism over the years. When it comes to the SONOS MOVE, I think they have made a home run!Here is what I like:1. It sounds amazing! Here's why - The bass is significant, even outside, without ever getting distorted. It plays really loud if you want, but also sounds well balanced at low sound levels. They did something amazing with the high-frequency and mid-range where is sounds uniform across the entire side and forward projection of the speaker, not just in the "sweet spot" in front like other speakers. It is beautifully detailed and realistic sounding.2. It looks great. Here's why - It has the same great looks as I have come to expect from SONOS, but there is something about the material choices on this product that make it even better. It fits right in with my other SONOS speakers, while not taking up any more space than say a SONOS ONE.3. Automatic Trueplay - it automatically adjusts its sound depending on where you place the speaker, making sure that it always sound its best. I imagine this was pretty had to do, but it works really well. I put MOVE in some pretty challenging places inside and outside, and within 20 or 30 seconds or so it just fixes itself and sounds great again!4. The WiFi range - I took MOVE outside and began to walk all around the outside my house and into the yard pretty far away and it never lost connection. SONOS did something special here with the WiFi to make it super robust.5. Bluetooth - even if you go some place without WiFi, you can still connect with Bluetooth. I like having that feature so that I don't have to worry if there is WiFi or not wherever I might travel.6. It feels solid - It has a great solid and balanced feeling to it. There is an integrated handle in the back that is just part of the design. I've set it down on sand and grass and it just feels stable and balanced.7. Stereo pair - I only have one, and with it I can fill my whole yard with incredible sound, but I like knowing that if I ever got another one, I could set them up as a stereo pair and have myself a real outdoor concert!8. It's weather proof - you could get caught in the rain, or it could get dirty and you can just rinse it off with a hose. I plan to take good care of MOVE, but its nice to know that it has this level of protection from the elements.9. It has voice control - just like the SONOS ONE, it has a microphones that allow you to use Alexa and Google voice assistants. That comes in handy, especially when you are outside grilling.10. Charging base - it comes with a nice charging base, instead of it being sold as an accessory like other brands do.What I don't like:1. Travel bag - it comes with a nice looking bag, but I question how long it will last and how much protection it will really give. I'm sure SONOS will offer a travel bag accessory at some point, but for $400, it seems like they could have included a nylon padded bag with handle and pouch for accessories.2. USB-C charger - it is great that it comes with a nice charging base, but if they made the charger a detachable USB-C charger, then you could more easily take it with you when you travel. I'm sure SONOS will probably sell a USB-C charger accessory at some point, but again, for $400, I think this could have been included.Overall, this is one fantastic product. I would say that this is easily the best SONOS product they have ever made. I just love having a" truly wireless" wireless speaker!

Finally, at long last.....we finally have an outdoor, portable, Bluetooth/wifi Sonos speaker offering. I have Sonos products all over my house, so I will admit I already like their products and I am very familiar with them. This speaker fits perfectly into their lineup for people who want to be able to bring Sonos away from home wifi zones. I'll make this review short and sweet. This speaker is not small....it's probably about twice the volume of a Play One. It's also not light, but it comes with a very well-designed handle. The way I think of this speaker is a new and improved Play 3 that happens to be mobile and battery operated. It has a front-facing driver that sounds very nice and is plenty loud for my taste. It can be paired to another Move speaker if you have a large deck and you don't want to hardwire a stereo setup.What I do with mine is the perfect application, in my opinion. I leave the handy and well-executed charging station where I would have placed a Play 3 in my house. It will operate exactly the same as your other Sonos speaker. When I'm going to use it outside, I simply pick it up and take it with me. The internal wifi extenders means I never have to use Bluetooth when I'm anywhere near my house. I use this on my deck. If I forget to bring it in at night, it will have no issues with a rain storm, a drop into the pool, or a water gun blast.Pros:- Solid speaker loudness and tone. It's not as good as a Play 5, but as good or slightly better than the Play One.- Very well built.- Charging station is nicely done and can remain in a convenient location.- Can be charged with any USB-C plug as well.- 10 hour battery life at 50% volume.Cons:- Price. This is not an inexpensive speaker.- Size and weight. I don't take this to the beach with me. It's a little too big for that and I wouldn't want to risk something of this value at the beach.- It's new, so there are not any aftermarket wall or deck mounts being made yet. I am waiting for a wall-mount for my deck where I can just set it down out of the way.

Well I really like these handles. Especially the cost. The same one at a big box store was 5 for $23 and I needed 29. So to get 30 for $48 was a steal!!HOWEVER, they provide two different lengths of screws, which is great, but you'd think they'd make the holes in the handles slightly deeper so the longer ones can fit deeper. The problem I had was the short screws were fine for my cupboard doors, but my drawers are almost double the thickness (as you can see in the photos) and the long screws are actually too long (by about a 1/4") and the short ones don't go all the way through. In the photo of the screws, the two on the right are what they send in the package, and the one on the left is from my old hardware and is the length I need (but it's slightly too thick to use). So now I either have to cut all the screws or go buy the right size. Both are an inconvenience for me. I don't have the tools to cut it and I didn't really want to have to buy anything else (that's even if I can find exactly what I need). So I'm off to the big box store to see if they have the right size.UPDATE: I did go to a big box store and purchase breakaway screws (12 @ $2.75) which would be smart of the seller to provide with the handles instead of two different sizes that may not be right for everyone (clearly). I also second guess if these are actually stainless steel because of the weight. Similar ones at the BBS were much heavier, but even still, they look great - which is why I am upgrading my review from 3 starts (because really, they do list the sizing of the screws in the description, so it's not really the products fault), but providing break-away screws would've been smarter.

The media could not be loaded.  Worked great. Just added to this galley kitchen Reno. The longest screws that came with it were too short (for the drawers only) So I could’ve inset the hole from the inside 1/4” or get longer ones. I ended up getting a bit longer ones. All in all - perfect.Ontario Canada

We're doing some DIY home reno and one of the projects is to refresh our cabinet doors. We stained our doors darker so we picked up these to give the kitchen a modern look. I like that it is individually packaged so the hardware doesn't scratch against each other during shipment. It comes with two different types of screws so it's great for any type of doors. These handles are very affordable compared to those at the major hardware supply retailers which is 6x more expensive.

These handles were much more affordable than anything we could find in a hardware store. We like how they look installed. However, the screws they came with weren’t the right size and we had to check several local stores until we found the right size (a bit of an exercise in patience). The quality of the handles themselves isn’t fantastic and they did damage our cupboards when tightened in place, but the damage would only be noticeable if we were to replace with new handles in the future. Overall, with the money we saved, we’re satisfied with our purchase.

The product is light, looks good; holes for screws need some adjustment at time. Competitive pricing.The only annoying feature was that I ordered 2 boxes of 30 each and had in one box 4 pieces with no screws and in the other 3 with no screws. As I could not use the long screws I had to go to the local Home Depot and purchase screws for the 7 handles which had no screws in the individual wrapping.It appears there is a quality control problem with the product! Would recommend that whoever orders this orders extras as screws may be missing or be readyto do a trip to the local hardware storeto purchase spare accessories.

These are just what they say they are. They are sturdy and look great. They do not pick up marks and will be easy to clean The screws are break away which was good because we required different length screws for the drawers vs cupboards and even different between the drawers themselves. We has 28 handles replaced in an hour and that included cleaning the surface well. The hardest part was opening all the little packages.

I had purchased this item for drawers in my bedroom, I wanted something simple and fresh and not too expensive, so I opted for these handles! I ordered the 4 1/2 inch hole center which ended up being too long so I filed a return and made another order that same day of the same handles but different size. Shortly after I sent out my returned item I had received an email about the refund details. Turns out the amount wasn't being returned in full. I then reached out to customer service -Guna shanthini was the person I spoke with- on this matter and they were absolutely AMAZING! I've never had a problem with Amazon returns or items regardless until this little bump and they totally went above and beyond expectations to fix this situation. They returned the amount in full and then knowing I had to return the other set of handles (for the same reason) they're going to be sure to have it noted so this doesn't happen again. I've always loved Amazon and it's products, I would recommend 100%!! Thank you for making it so easy.

They are very light in your hand...they don't have the heft that I was hoping for. I have brushed nickel handles on the lower cabinets and was only replacing the uppers, was surprise dat how "light" these ones were in comparison, so you can feel that you aren't getting the real quality handle that you would be getting at a higher price. So to be fair, they are probably priced accordingly from that perspective. That said, there was a surprising number of duds in the box. Something was "off" that didn't allow the screws to thread into the handles properly. This was true for about 30% of the product in the box. It worked out for me because I did not need as many handles as came in the box and I was also able to re-use some old screws I had laying around in place of the ones that came with the product...this helped. If it hadn't been for all the out-of-box failures, I probably would have rated this considerably higher.

Excellent read. Every chapter is interesting and rolls into the next while at the same time stacking on top of one another in a profound way. How to form a meaningful life by not forming a meaningful life is the message I took. Maybe it won’t have the same effect on you and it shouldn’t or doesn’t have to but for me, it gave me more clarity than I have ever received in my life so far. Thank you for sharing Mr. Burkeman.

In a world saturated with endless self-help books, Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks is not your average self-help book. There are no lists to make or color code; there are no empty platitudes about finding the strength to be your best self, productive, accomplished and in control of your time and life. No, Burkeman tells us that we are only here for 4,000 weeks if we’re lucky enough, so we better stop trying to strive to be this idealized version of ourselves who is on top of everything. It’s impossible. We need to get over it.What I enjoyed about this book was the blunt manner in which I was told to relinquish the unending desire to master my time. Life is unpredictable. There will never be enough time to do everything and if we keep thinking that once we get our act together and get organized, things will finally be fine. This mindset takes us away from the beauty of life’s spontaneity, the joy of relationships, and keeps us in a perpetual state of reaching toward an elusive goal that never gets accomplished. The bottom line is that life is unpredictable, we’re not alive for very long, and we need to get used to the reality that we need to live in the present and stop planning for this future, perfect , smooth sailing life we’re at which we’re trying to arrive.

I honestly don’t know if there is anything new written in this book, but there is something about the way it is written that challenges the reader to reconsider their existence. It’s a quick read, but a meaningful one, and probably one that should be reread regularly as a reminder that because nothing really matters, everything does.

I am not that far into the book and already I am viewing my time differently. I'm at the time of life where I have maybe six or seven good years left. (If it turns out to be more, I will feel myself very lucky. I like my life.) This puts me at ease with that reality. Timely for me, for sure.

Thought provoking from then title to the last page. Excellent job at possibility shock in an age of possibility shock.

First heard about this from a podcast interview with the author and liked the points raised.Then made time to read the book.I’m glad I put some of the time in my own four thousand weeks to do so, and would happily recommend others do as well.

Interesting in so many ways. I found myself often pausing just to digest the implications. Well researched and put together.

I've just finished and I'm itching to start the second read through - this book is an easy read but holds so many difficult and wonderful ideas

To every person terrified of wasting time; to every person who could no longer enjoy the pleasures of life; to every person who forgot how to rest; to every person who forgot the meaning of leisure; to every person feeling the need to justify and earn their existence - this is the book for you.

I heard Oliver Burkeman on a podcast talking about this book. (Turns out he's been on many!) The message resonates with me so deeply - that there's only so much time in our lives. There's an opportunity to be more willing to be pro-active AND let go of perfectionism. There are things I will get done and there are things I won't get done. The more willing I am to surrender to that fact, perhaps, the easier my life will go / feel. Every "system" of getting things done seems to suggest that we can do it all, when we can't. I'm working on acceptance of that. And this book is a profound help. Now I'm on Burkeman's newsletter and really soaking in his reflections about life and death and limitations. I want to live fully in the time I have. This book is a meditation on that.

I listened to the audio book and immediately bought the book for my gf to read. Loved it.

Time is not something we manage or use wisely. Time is us. A sequence of moments comprises us. We can never master time or hope to be so efficient we get everything done because we have an inherently limited time on Earth. Anything we can hope to accomplish will, by definition, be insignificant compared to the eternal moments of the Universe. We will never have enough time to do everything we need or want to. That fantasy is humanity's hubris and it hinders us from truly living. Living as if there is some future where we will be perfectly in control of our limited time is delusional. This book helped me to see how to do the next most important thing. Thank you.

Was just what I ordered and can't wait to read it. It was packaged securely and came when expected.

I read a lot of self help and psychology books. This one stood out, it takes a profound look at how we can approach time management. Two things, one it's not very practical or immediately actionable. Two, the author sometimes admits there can be exceptions to what he thinks but he mostly brushes those aside with a quick mention, but not everything fits so nicely into a well off UK perspective. That said, strangely enough, even though I've read other books I've given 5 stars, I might recommend reading this first to others. Worth reading

My girlfriend heard about this on an NPR lifekit podcast and snatched it from the library for me, knowing I could use it.She's right.Having read it once, I am working to put in place some techniques described in it. I struggle with anxiety, and because I work a lot of hours at work, I tend to focus on "maximizing" my time outside of work. This book, like many others, focuses on learning to slow down from modern society's breakneck pace, to put the phone down, and to focus on things that are meaningful to you. I've read a good chunk of this book in other packages. But this one clicked for me more. One reason is he did a good job breaking down the concepts and tackling practices or objections one to three at a time, for easy digestion and review. The other reason, and a big one for me, is that he used to be a professional optimizer and multitasker. He wrote columns about how to get more out of your workday, about how to juggle everything and make it look easy. Then he realized it wasn't making him happy, and during the pandemic he reflected on why and this book is the result of that soul-searching.I will read it again in a year or two, and we'll see how the me of then has implemented these lessons. Highly recommended for anybody who feels that they are "too busy" or "can't clear their inbox".

Finally an honest accounting of how to make the most out of time. I have finally given myself permission to do less and enjoy it more.

This novel was different than her other romantic thrillers. I preferred the other that were set in more of a "reality" than "fantasy" scenario. Although, this situation may not be fantasy forever. The characters were complex and the plot was complete and full. I read it with ease and couldn't put it down. I have read several Debra Webb books and will continue to search for her thrillers. I prefer the Faces of Evil Series.

Loved this book. I wish I would've known that this was the first book in the series. I loved it and enjoyed the plot etc...... As with the others, I couldn't put it down until I'd finished it.

A very good book to read. I did not want to put it down. I have almost read all of Debra's books she is really an excellent writer.

Debra Webb does it again and leaves you hopeful for the next in the series.

It was fantastic! it left me wanting more!I'm looking for her next book!

very interesting

Keeps her entertained and wanting more. Fast delivery and good product. Will be buying more as soon as she'd done with her current stash.

You can't go wrong with a Debra Webb book.

I like this book very much, for the philosophical as well as the practical implications it has for us in our Western society. His sources and references are new to me, many of them, and this book has added significant thoughts for me to ponder.As a believer in the Gospel of Jesus, and as one who hopes in a better tomorrow as a result, I see ways that my view of time and the way I spend it—and especially the way I feel about its passing and all the things I realize I will never get to do—run against that hope and against being truly grateful for the person God intends me to be (i.e., my finiteness). Such refusal at some level to accept and live within my limits can rob us of much joy and peace.I especially appreciate the thoughts on productivity and on procrastination. These have been especially helpful and even liberating for me.Having written what I mentioned above, this book is not written from a Christian perspective, though it does resonate with the book of Ecclesiastes, which looks at life from a perspective of life without God in the picture. Those looking for such will find it echoed here. But to get the whole picture and the verdict thereof, I recommend the latter.I thank Mr. Burkeman for writing this book, and for sharing his insights with us. It bears my re-reading it again, with enjoyment.

Gen Z should not read until mid 30s most likely.Breaking down how we choose to live and how we decide what's important. Even choosing not to choose is a choice.

I give this lovely book four stars! Why not five? I'll explain below.I have a select few of what I consider top quality watercolor books. As a retired educator and professor of the arts of a university, there are certain things I look for in my art book collections. Quality of the work, quality of the author's ability to convey a message throughout the book especially if it has to do with instruction, and the quality of the book itself, the paper and cover binding, etc.Joe Cartwright proves he can paint AND teach in this Step by Step book. As with many how-to books, he reviews palettes, brushes, paper, tools of the trade, and the kind of paints he uses, etc., to get the beginning artist started. He talks briefly about watercolor basics and the types of strokes and the type of surface such as wet on wet or wet on dry, photo resources, and so on. The book is written to understand the concepts easily and he doesn't get too heady but keeps things basic and straightforward. Every page is loaded with paintings and diagrams and step by step procedures. And in all of his case studies, he also reveals the photos, and the colors he uses, and what he does in adjustments so you cannot get lost!The only problem I found has to do with a couple of little things that made me give only four stars and not five.One is that he published a painting with some serious perspective flaws. He knows the principles of perspective it seems and has a linear layout on page 49 imposing perspective lines over a photo to show what the horizon line and the eye level is, aling with z-axis lines (depth) that go into the distance as vanishing points. All of that is working in fine. The instruction is solid. However, on page 33 the painting has a number of horizon lines all over the painting and as we know, there is only one horizon line which is the eye level of the viewer. It would be okay if there was some close resemblance to reality since watercolor artists often work loosely around perspective. Yet, there is so much discrepancy with several horizon lines in the work that the illusion of space doesn't hold up. There can be many vanishing points in a 1, 2, or 3 point perspective along the X-axis representing depth, even on hilly surfaces, which can be distracting. Buildings built in hills are built with the slope of the ground in mind and are adjusted for this at the foundation. They have concrete structures to compensate for the slope of the hill to keep the buildings level. All depth lines should therefore recede into space to the single horizon line. The sample photo he shows reveals this architectural proof. But in the painting from the photo, the buildings appear to dip and slant in unnatural ways, throwing the whole thing off. There can be different vanishing points for various structures that are not necessarily parallel to each other but there should be only one horizon line because the horizon line is representative of the viewer's eye level and it also is the level where the sky and ground meet along the horizontal plane. This is what makes a painting hold reality.Clearly, in other examples of the author's work, he knows and applies perspective with accuracy. So I don't know why this piece was included in the book. There were a couple of other things that did not hold well in the book - but minor.The book quality influenced my rating. The cover is nice and glossy but thin and feels a bit cheap. I would have expected the cover to be nice and thick with inside pages to be of better quality. This book comes very pricey so I expected more of it. The paper should have been of better quality inside as well. It is pulpish. There are only a few pages with a hint of quality sheen to them. Other watercolor books of high professionalism and price I have purchased are made with better paper with much more content. This could have been published with a little more care for the price of it.Joe Cartwrite is a very successful watercolor artist and his work shines with great knowledge and the ability to teach the watercolor medium very well. His book has many examples of cities, farms, harbors, and far reaching places in it like Greece, Australia, and Italy, and more. Step by step, you can't miss out on the entire detailed process of building a watercolor painting. He does not venture out into the abstract or get into areas where form and edge, color and contrasts lose their reality of three dimensional space. He keeps his color ranges within the reach of local colors and sticks close to his photos with adjusted values to create a more focused composition. The level of instruction for this book in my opinion, is beginner to intermediate.The main thing to get out of this book is the great step by step instructions which he takes the reader through anywhere from 6 to 13 photos of progression from the drawing to the finished work. He explained everything he does and provides excellent instruction so you cannot get lost. It's a good book overall and because of his talent and the excellent book instruction.A great book in that respect and it holds up to its title as a Step by Step watercolor book.I wish I could post photos of the pages in the book but due to CV19, Amazon has limited photo posting options for many of their products.

You don’t need to be a water color artist to enjoy Joe Cartwright’s new book Watercolors Step-By-Step! You just have to love watercolor artwork and all the nuances that go into making a beautiful piece of art! I have always loved watercolor art——-there is something so lovely about painting with pigments. There is a softness and ethereal sense to watercolor paintings that I have always loved.Joe’s new book is written well and is truly a step by step, how-to masterpiece! He has detailed instructions on not only basic materials needed but techniques used in accomplishing shadows, waters edge, reflections, morning light, painting fog and mist and much, much more in well detailed and easy to understand language!I love watercolors, and Joe’s new book just helps me to understand why I love this medium!

Joe Cartwright is a very good teacher, who demonstrates how to create numerous paintings from photographs. His paintings show a very loose style - artistic, yet realistic looking.

As someone who is revisiting watercolor painting after 30 years, I found this book immensely helpful.

This is an excellent book providing detailed descriptions of how to paint 12 different scenes. It's a great follow up to his first book 'Mastering Water Color' including instruction on perspective, planning and staging a painting, and a variety of techniques to achieve different effects. It is an invaluable resource providing guided practice.

For the beginner, this is a great teaching book. Everything you want to know about watercolors is inside. Easy to follow step by step instructions on how to complete a painting.

Good understanding of technique and the products high quality images are helpful. As I improve I can continue to revisit this book.

This 2nd instructional book by Joe Cartwright is very informative, easily to read & follow. I am enjoying working through the exercises. I have both books and have gleaned much from both.

Loved the authors thinking and much needed thought in our world of over commitment

Can't wait for my little one to start using this. Very cool how easily it folds and unfolds, and when it's unfolded it feels very sturdy.My only complaint is that the white triangles on top are just little pieces of foam inset into the plastic. When I received it, one or two of the pieces were curling up a little bit. I'm sure after stepping on it a few times they'll settle in but I wish they seemed more permanent. I'm worried about them falling out!

I was in the living room when my kiddo was brushing her teeth when I heard a crash. I was so terrified that she fell with the brush in her mouth. After a few hugs, she told me that her old stool slipped from under her. The sink was put a bit higher than it maybe should have been during a remodel, and my daughter often has to nearly climb to reach. After the old (cheap plastic) stool that I had fell over, I said, “Don’t worry, Daddy is going to get you a better one.” It was time. After doing some searching, I was between one with two steps and this Bula Baby stool. As noted by that whole “verified purchaser” thing you see above this review--I went with this one.I am glad I did. At about 9” tall, it stands a bit taller than our old one. My daughter can more easily reach now! I was concerned a bit that if it was taller that it might be more top-heavy and even more prone to falling over, but that is not the case. I even put the two of them side by side and tried to flip it with my foot. This Bula Baby stool most certainly won in that category--it just braces much better. I won’t say that this is unflippable, but the odds are much, much lower.What amazes me with this thing is how solid it is in spite of its light weight. When I pulled it out of the box I thought, “Oh great, what a cheap stool.” Then you open it up and realize that it is absolutely sturdy. I weigh about 180 pounds, and I was able to stand on it with no problem. I tried to put my weight on one foot on the old one and thought it was going to crack. If someone blindfolded me and put me on this one, I would have no idea that it is such a lightweight stool. It holds like a much heavier one. This claims to hold 220 pounds, and while I didn’t try to hold forty pounds of flour in my arms I can definitely believe it.On that note, being so light has its perks. It is easy for me to move around. It is easy for my five-year-old to move around. And when I want it out of the way, I can just fold it up. It folds completely flat, and I am able to shove it between the wall and my towel rack. I have a step-stool for household things that is much heavier and a pain to carry around. Since I have had this one, I have used it a few times just quickly grabbing it. I did not put it on a scale or anything, but I take the manufacturer’s word for it that this stool weighs less than three pounds.My daughter is able to fit on comfortably on the surface, and she has flippers for feet. It is sturdy, tall enough, and has a nice grips on both the bottom legs and on the top where she stands. Her old stool is going to Goodwill this weekend.At the current price point of less than $16, this stool is incredible. My old one cost me slightly more. Overall, I am very happy with this stool.

I wanted to love this. I wish there was a way to "lock" it in place once it's unfolded. My toddler would pick up the stool to move it from the toilet to the sink and it would fold, nearly pinching his fingers. Also the rubber on the corners wasn't enough to keep this from slipping on the tile, so we had a couple near falls.

I bought this for my 3 year old son. It is perfect, when we travel he can go potty without assistance, just like at home. I only give it 4 stars because it is a little unwieldy when it is collapsed. It almost doesn't fit under the stroller. Great product, work on making future versions more compact.

No complaints. Doesn’t feel like it’s strong but it definitely holds the weight.

Nice little stool. wish it was a little higher and a better set up to keep it from collapsing as easy. My toddler has had it collapse a couple of times he has been on it. just be aware.

EXACTLY what I was looking for. perfect height for my child to use the toilet. it's also light enough for my 2-year old to push into place at either the toilet or sink (a tad too short for the sink but not a big issue). it's also quite sturdy; my son has leaned on various points to try and get on and it hasn't tipped. It has definitely helped the potty training process go very smoothly. As a bonus, it's right next to the tub for me to use as a seat when I bathe my son and I find it sturdy enough to hold my weight.

Product works just as I'd hoped. Easy enough to use that my almost 2 yr old can get it out himself to use the potty and reach the sink. Locks into place well enough that I don't worry about it folding up with the kids on it. Only complaint is that it locks so well that I chip a fingernail almost every time I fold it back up, but I'm sure that's an operating error on my part or due to my thin nails, neither of which have anything to do with the product. ;-) Overall pleased with the purchase.

Stunningly counterintuitive yet so illuminating! If you read it, you have no choice but to change. Remarkable thinking, remarkable book. Must read.

This book really puts life into perspective.The biggest thing that stuck with me was that there is too much to do in this world. You HAVE to choose what you do with your time and you HAVE to accept the fact you cannot do it all. Once you come to terms with this you will start living a much happier life. Knowing this brings a great sense of relief.

Simple, short and full of practical ways to live a better life. You can find similar concept another books but they’re nice and organized here.

Great writer. I found myself nodding my head a lot, as I began to realize what messages the author was trying to teach. As with all good teachers, humor is one of his tools. Laughing out loud happened so much more often than I could have imagined, considering the seriousness of the topic. This is just a great book, I loved it and I highly recommend it.

I found this book while searching for time management solutions for my overscheduled life and, wow, I am so glad I did. It doesn’t offer organizational or time management strategies in the way I expected. Instead, Burkeman presents a perspective shift that I found liberating and inspiring. Highly recommend.

This was a good read, it had a lot of great points. Although I did not agree with everything I found the book entertaining as well as informative.

For me, the really helpful stuff in near the end of the book, and after the first few pages, skipped to the end. Still, it was worth buying.

This is one intellectual man’s journey to a more peaceful life. The key is to accept our limited time, unknowns, and uncontrollable to find peace and productivity.He uses universal truths on time based on insights from history, philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers; current and ancient Oliver offers an alternative way to look at time management. It’s heavily researched and referenced, with 13 notes pages and 8 pages of index.He does this via many stories, history, and examples in dense sentences. It can be funny, engaging, and at times tedious.The gist is “Finitude.” We have limited time. Four Thousand weeks if you live to be 80 years old. His premise is that to become empowered; you must accept the limitations and lack of control over your life. . You accomplish more of what matters and is meaningful to you. The book ends with ten tools to help you embrace your Finitude. The rest of the book is a journey to prove it, entertain you, and inspire you.This is his journey and justification for his life. Much of it I can relate to. I, too, was a productivity junkie and taught project management. I found some places where I disagreed or didn’t have the challenges he had to overcome or differently. I was mentally arguing with him as I was reading. He comes across as a bit of an intellectual snob to me. He doesn’t seem to like “self-help,” yet this is what the book is about. He uses romance novelist Danielle Steele as an unhealthy example of time management and Rod Stewart as a good example. There are long winding sentences. There were a few words I had to look up the meaning.I used this book for a book group, and there is something for everyone in this book.

Absolutely one of my favorite books I have read in the last several years. It is so incredibly well thought out and put together and really makes you stop to reconsider how you are spending your finite life.

I really enjoyed this. Not sure where Burkeman is coming from worldview wise but I found that I could agree with much of the reflections and advice in here. It feels a bit Buddhist to me at times, but other than that I really enjoyed this book.

Our book club at work recently read this. The first half drags a little, at least for me, but the second half really made up for it. The message is simple and the delivery did not feel preachy at all. The author’s delivery was personable and interesting as well.

I enjoyed this book very much. It was practical, approachable, and often very funny. Many of the author’s examples apply directly to me.

This book is fantastic and one of the best reads in years. It brings a breath of fresh air for those of us who are always concerned about efficiency and have an angst to use our time 'well' and productively. I would highly recommend it if you feel identified with this.The book doesn't actually speak (except in passing) about productivity techniques, but rather instead focuses on the beliefs that underpin our constant pursuit of productivity, and the consequences it brings. By describing them, it helps unravel a tightly knit set of reinforcing beliefs and habits that we fall unconsciously into, and keep us like hamster running on an endless wheel.The author describes a few practical solutions but the majority of the book is spent understanding the phenomenon and its ramifications on work, relationships, rest, and our perceptions of what life is about. Highly recommended read.

This book is about approaching the use of time under the realization that we only have a shockingly finite amount of it (hence the title). This is a healthy and useful way to approach how we spend our days, and entering this book I was hopeful that there would be wisdom in it about how to live a life oriented toward purpose and meaning, and how to use the time we have to do good rather than waste it.Instead, I was very surprised to find that the very idea of "using the time we have" is something to be argued *against*. The author says -- over and over -- that there is no point in trying to control time, and any attempt to do so is a willful blindness to the fact that our lives are finite. Instead, he argues, we should live in the moment, embracing our cosmic insignificance (there is a whole chapter on this!) because nothing we do will matter in the end anyway.It's definitely true that we cannot control time, and that would be a fine way to unwind the arguments in the book, except the author takes "controlling time" and takes it to mean any kind of plans a person might make to put their lives in order. The author misses the point that plenty of people try to put their lives in order, to decide in advance through careful thinking just exactly what matters most to them and then planning out what projects they take on and what tasks they will focus on in certain times of the day, precisely *because* their lives are finite and they don't want to waste them. Instead, those people would be branded by this book as delusional, holding a hyperinflated view of their own significance, and foolish.It's clear that the author has run afoul of toxic productivity gurus who preach unrealistic life hacks to people while promising control over time. But this book is an overcorrection, applying straw men arguments and reheated Epicurean philosophy in a repetitive way that unfortunately makes it very hard to hear a useful message.

This informed, down to earth, practical view of time management was all that the person who recommended it to me promised. I made it my "book of the month" in my organization's newsletter.