LANGUAGES:

English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese (Complex Characters), Chinese (Simple Characters), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal), Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovenian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese.

NEW PREFACES PUBLISHED IN 2019 + 2024 

MY TED TALK BASED ON IN PRAISE OF SLOW

MY TED COURSE: ‘HOW TO SLOW DOWN’

BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK (1-hour abridged version):

 

“The No Logo of its age…strangely enthralling, an epiphany for those of us who have forgotten how to look forward to things or to enjoy the moment when it arrives.” 
– The Herald (UK)

“Entertaining, friendly and intelligent guide…with a light mix of well-researched historic trivia and contemporary statistics. [Honoré’s] anecdotes and self-deprecating humour convey the pleasure and reward that he experienced on his slow pilgrimage.” 
– The Economist

“(This) book makes a persuasive case against mindless speed and offers an intriguing array of concrete suggestions about ways “to make the moment last.” 
– Los Angeles Times

More Reviews

FREE DOWNLOAD for BOOK CLUBS

Q&A with Carl

What is In Praise of Slow about?

It examines our compulsion to hurry and chronicles a global trend toward putting on the brakes. It is the unofficial handbook and bible of the Slow Movement. It is published in more than 30 languages and has been a bestseller in many countries. It was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and the inaugural choice for the Huffington Post Book Club. It also featured in a British TV sitcom, Argentina’s version of Big Brother and a TV commercial for the Motorola tablet. The Financial Times said In Praise of Slow is “to the Slow Movement what Das Kapital is to communism.”

Is the Slow Movement anti-speed?

Of course not! I’m not an extremist of slowness. I love speed. But faster is not always better. Being Slow means doing everything at the correct speed: quickly, slowly or whatever pace works best. Slow means being present, living each moment fully, putting quality before quantity in everything from work and sex to food and parenting.

Has our obsession with speed has gone too far?

It’s reached the point of absurdity. You can now do courses in Speed Yoga or attend a Drive Thru Funeral. A magazine in Britain even published an article recently on how to bring about an orgasm in 30 seconds! So even in the bedroom it’s, “On your marks, get set, go!” Our speedaholism is out of control, and we all know it.

What inspired you to embrace Slow?

A personal wake-up call. When I caught myself admiring a book of one-minute bedtime stories (Snow White in 60 seconds!), I suddenly realised I was racing through my life instead of living it.

But if we slow down, surely life will pass us by?

On the contrary. Life is what’s happening right here, right now – and only by slowing down can you live it to the full. If you are always rushing, you only skim the surface of things.

How has slowing down changed your life?

Every moment of my day used to be a race against the clock. Now I never feel rushed any more. I do fewer things but I do them better and enjoy them more. I am healthier and have more energy. At work, I am much more productive and creative. I also have time for those little moments that bring meaning and joy to life – reading to my children, sharing a glass of wine with my wife, chatting with a friend, pausing to gaze at a beautiful sunset. I feel so much more alive now.

Why do we live so fast today?

Lots of reasons. Speed is fun, sexy, an adrenaline rush. It’s like a drug and we are addicted. At the same time, the world has become a giant buffet of things to do, consume, experience – and we rush to have it all. The modern workplace also pushes us to work faster and longer while technology encourages us to do everything faster and faster.

What is the main obstacle to slowing down in this fast world?

Fear. Thanks to the powerful taboo against slowness, even just thinking about slowing down makes us feel afraid, guilty or ashamed. Add to that the fear of being alone with our thoughts. Speed is often an instrument of denial, a way of avoiding deeper problems. Instead of facing up to what is going wrong in our lives, we distract ourselves with speed and busyness.

Slowing down can be the antidote to that. It allows us to reflect on the big questions: Who am I? What is my purpose? What sort of life should I be leading? How can I make the world a better place? Such questions can be uncomfortable but confronting them ultimately brings greater depth to our lives.

Is the Slow Movement also gaining ground in the workplace?

Very much so. Forward-thinking companies all over the world are looking for ways to help their staff slow down. By giving them more control over their schedules so they can work at their own pace, accelerating and decelerating when it suits them. By limiting working hours. Or by creating quiet spaces for doing yoga, massage or even take a short nap during the workday. The boom in meditation or mindfulness in the corporate world is another sign that business is waking up to the power and wisdom of slowing down. Not long ago the Economist magazine told its readers: “Forget frantic acceleration. Mastering the clock of business is about choosing when to be fast and when to be slow.” And that’s the Economist singing the praises of slowness in the workplace; it’s not Buddhist Monthly or Acupuncture Weekly!

What are the tell-tale symptoms of living too fast?

When you feel tired all the time and like you’re just going through the motions, getting through the many things on your To-Do list but not engaging with them deeply or enjoying them very much. You don’t remember things as vividly when you rush through them. You feel like you’re racing through your life instead of actually living it. Illnesses are often the body’s way of saying, “Enough already, slow down!”

What is the future of the Slow Movement?

The good news is that the Slow movement is growing fast! And as the world gets faster, the need for a counter-current of slowness will grow too. I feel more optimistic now than I did when In Praise of Slow first came out.

But what do you say to people who claim that the world will inevitably go on speeding up and that a Slow revolution is pie in the sky?

I say look at the history books. Take the rise of feminism. In the 60s, when feminists said the world was unjust and the moment for change had come, the mainstream reaction was: No, the world has always been this way. You can’t change it. Go back to the kitchen! But look at the world today. Obviously there is a long way to go to create a world of perfect gender equality, but a woman today could hardly imagine how severely life was limited for her grandmother. I look at my sister and my grandmother and marvel at the change in just two generations. And the green movement has followed a similar arc: it was dismissed as a plaything for hippies and tree-huggers thirty years ago but today is near the top of the political agenda. The message is that the world can change, if we want it to. For a cultural revolution to occur, you need three factors: the need for change; an awareness of the need for change; and people willing to put that change into practice. We now have all three factors in place for the Slow revolution to push on. I think the Slow movement is at the same point as feminism or green-ism was 30 or 40 years ago. We won’t change the world, or make it Slow, by next year. It will take time. The Slow revolution will be slow. But I believe it will happen.

What will a Slow world look like?

It will be a world that is healthy, happy and humane. But you have to realistic. I am no utopian. I am a skeptic by nature. I don’t believe we will ever create a world where everyone does everything at the right speed and no one ever feels rushed. That’s just a fantasy. The world is too complex and interconnected for that. It’s impossible in a world where we have to interact with others. Impatience is also part of being human. I suspect even the Dalai Lama rushes unnecessarily sometimes! Even I forget to slow down from time to time. I face a barrage of requests to give speeches, do interviews, etc from all over the world every day and it’s hard not to get caught up in the frenzy. But at least our starting point should be to seek the tempo giusto and to expect others to do so too.

What do you hope readers will take away from In Praise of Slow?

I hope that they will pause and reflect on how they lead their lives and how their lives affect the people and the world around them. I guess what I really want is for readers to grasp the very counter-cultural idea that the best way to survive and thrive in the fast-paced modern world is not to speed up but to slow down. And it seems to be working. Every day I open up my inbox and find a few emails from readers around the world who say the book has changed their lives. It’s exciting, and humbling.

More Reviews

“(In Praise of Slow) is to the Slow Movement what Das Kapital is to communism.”
– Financial Times

“Thorough and highly persuasive, (In Praise of Slow) is well on its way to cult status. It has been described as the No Logo of its age, but it’s far more compelling and intelligent than that, and a necessary addition to the reading list of marketing, HR and new product development departments. Read (it) slowly to allow inward digestion without dyspepsia.” 
– Matthew Gwyther, editor Management Today

“This charmingly written exploration of the quiet life is so good, you have to resist the temptation to race through. A million times more inspiring than any of the mass of self-help books around on downshifting. A rare treat to be savoured — at your own pace, of course.”
– Sunday Express

“In Praise of Slowness is a revelation… It is possible to decelerate and business could gain so much from a sense of work-life balance.” 
– Business World

“I am learning to pace myself with a nightly dose of this book. Honoré is a journalist and TED speaker exploring the global backlash against the modern cult of speed living. All Londoners should read it.”
– Evening Standard (London)

“In brisk, cleanly written chapters, Honoré traces his personal encounters with advocates of slow living. In Praise of Slowness shows us various methods to release ourselves from what Baudelaire denounced as ‘the horrible burden of time,’ to break free of the ‘Matrix’-like illusion that we have no choice.”
– Washington Post

“(An) entertaining…hymn to the pleasure of allowing everything its proper time…well executed and persuasive.”
– Will Hutton, Guardian

“Readable and persuasive… it is virtually impossible to read Honore’s book without deciding to take things, you know, a little slower from now on.”
– Irish Times

“A wonderful book…”
– Katrina vanden Heuvel editor, The Nation

“Honoré makes an eloquent and convincing case for slowing down. His book challenges the conventional view that faster is better. Readers would be wise to savour it slowly.”
– Montreal Gazette

“(This) book makes a persuasive case against mindless speed and offers an intriguing array of concrete suggestions about ways “to make the moment last.”
– Los Angeles Times

“A terrific book.”
– Arianna Huffington (In Praise of Slowness was the inaugural choice for the Huffington Post book club.)

“Rush to your bookshop!”
– Mail on Sunday

“In his well-researched and often amusing book, Honoré presents an eloquent case for a thorough re-examination of priorities and shows how even subtle shifts in the way we live can have a very real effect on our well-being.”
– Guardian

“It’s about time someone insisted – in intelligent, persuasive language – that we all put on the brakes, or at least check the instruments on the dashboard. Through anecdote, statistic and argument, Honoré wants to convert us to an atheism that is opposed to this culture’s mad theology of speed.”
– Billy Collins, former American Poet Laureate

“His advice is too grounded in day-to-day practicality to be guilty of didacticism or whimsy… read this uplifting and enlightening book very soon; but do, please, take your time.”
– Times Literary Supplement

“Honoré offers compelling evidence that suggests controlling your own tempo of life is not only a healthier and happier alternative, but leads to a more rewarding and productive lifestyle.”
– Toronto Star

“Engagingly written and filled with interesting detail, (this) book is a timely manifesto for a more civilized world.”
– Sunday Times (Book of the Week)

“It’s about time someone took issue with the underlying mentality that sets our daily metronome…Those who savour this hopeful book one chapter at a time will be the biggest winners. It’s seductively crafted, ¶measuring out its subversive but ultimately healing message.”
– Edmonton Journal

“In Praise of Slowness has made Honoré the unofficial godfather of a growing cultural shift toward slowing down.”
– ABC News (US)

“Honoré’s excellent new book is a fascinating and well-guided tour of his own journey in search of the world of slow. Vibrant and very readable.”
– Winnipeg Free Press

“A compelling read. The book has a personal, intimate tone that belies the author’s considerable research…It’s great strength is that it consolidates seemingly disparate ideas (slow food and slow work!), providing a unique insight into a pervasive cultural issue…Honoré gives his readers an opportunity to change their lives for the better.”
– Vancouver Sun

“This slow thinker may be far ahead of his time.”
– Body & Soul Magazine

“Honoré (is) an international spokesman for the concept of leisure. It’s a message people seem to want to hear.”
– Newsweek

“In his appealing first-person approach, Honoré offers a you-are-there view of global efforts to challenge the “false god” of speed. Engaging and persuasive.”
– Christian Science Monitor (chosen as one of the Books of 2004)

” In Praise of Slow (is) the bible of craftsmen and amblers everywhere.”
– Tim Adams, The Guardian

“An amazing, poignant book…gives you such an in-depth look at our destructive culture and what we can do to help it, that it’s impossible not to consider applying these suggestions for slow living to yourself. Who knows? Maybe reading this book could be a life-altering experience!”
– TeenFX.com

“Honoré is particularly good at detailing the addictive properties and vagaries of speed, and its ill effects on individuals and society, including himself.”
– Globe and Mail (Canada)

“A fascinating take on a subject that involves us all and makes truly though-provoking reading.”
– Good Book Guide

“Enjoyable and thought-provoking book.”
– Children And Young People Now

“An intelligent manifesto that overturns the idea of speed as an absolute good…Much more than a hymn to slowness…A guide with tips and tools to transform the way we live.”
– La Repubblica (Italy)

“Packed with a power of fact, history, anecdote and reflection…The book delivers on its title – it praises life lived more slowly and is supported by good investigative reporting and firsthand experience.”
– Pacific Sun (US)

“The speed of life borders on insanity for an increasing number of us, and the price we pay is the erosion of our happiness and health. If you sometimes feel engulfed by the mad pace of modern life – and who doesn’t? – In Praise of Slowness could prove life-saving.”
– Larry Dossey, MD, author of Healing Beyond the Body and Reinventing Medicine

“Extremely entertaining.”
– Ode Magazine

“Honoré approaches his subject with fairness and balance, and his journey unfolds entertainingly and objectively…(He) takes the position of everyperson, and the book is strengthened by that.If you’re looking for an accessible initial touchstone on the subject (of slowing down), this is it.”
– Courier Mail (Brisbane, Australia)

“Honoré is no true-believer – he questions every aspect of the Slow movement and keeps coming up with the conclusion that it just makes sense: life in the slow lane is more enjoyable, more pleasurable, more humane. This is a remarkable book that should be read by every resident of today’s frenzied urban world.”
– Mark Frutkin, author of Acts of Light (poetry) and The Lion of Venice (novel)

“A thoughtful guide and a convincing manifesto for changing the pace of our lives… a skillful blend of research, observation, and humor. Honoré comes across as neither too self-conscious nor too self-confident, but rather as exuberant and genuine. In Praise of Slowness is a gift to all of us.”
– Science and Spirit magazine

“Fabulous.”
– Evergreen Monthly

“In this terrific book, Carl Honoré gets to the heart of what’s ailing western industrial societies – our obsession with productivity, speed and consumerism – but he doesn’t stop with the gloom and doom. Instead, he shows the way out, with inspiring examples from the growing worldwide ’slow’ movement. Take the time to read this important, excellently written book – our future depends on the ideas it contains!”
– John de Graaf, co-author of Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic, and editor, Take Back Your Time

“Delightful, surprising, inspiring – and subversive. There is so much food for thought here that I cannot recommend this book enough.”
– Yes! Magazine

“A magnificent appraisal of the measured life.”
– SF Weekly

“This is a hopeful book that offers a plethora of ways to join the Slow revolution…extensively researched and well-presented.”
– Canadian Literature

“The novelty of Honoré’s approach lies in its practicality.”
– The Japan Times

“Persuasive, alarming and reassuring all at once. In lucid prose Honoré weaves his research and reflection with journalistic anecdotes so vivid you can feel the tantric tingling, taste the creamy artisan cheese — and imagine what it might be like to live at tempo giusto, choosing the right pace for each moment.”
– National Catholic Reporter

“Entrepreneur and slow may seem like oxymorons. However, taking the time to read In Praise of Slowness may be the best decision an entrepreneur, or anyone working full time, can make.”
– Gary Erickson, Entrepreneur, CEO of Clif Bar Inc. and author of Raising the Bar

“In Praise of Slow could be an antidote to our fast-paced lives.”
– SEE Magazine

“Superb and eminently readable. Honoré has written an incisive overview of an important cultural phenomenon.”
– Spirituality and Health

“Honoré’s journalistic background makes this book a particular pleasure to read. He combines fact, analysis and anecdote elegantly and compellingly. He approaches all Slow activities with a healthy skepticism, which makes it all the more convincing when he’s eventually won over – or not. Honoré is never evangelical: this is not a self-help book. In Praise of Slow is simply an intelligent, sincere account of his own education in the Slow philosophy, the research he’s conducted to understand it better, and his genuine faith in the ability of this movement to improve people’s lives. By the end of the book, it’s difficult to disagree with Honoré’s conviction that most people would benefit from slowing down.”
– FFWD (Calgary weekly)

“An engaging, well-written introduction to a philosophy which almost all of us could benefit from…. an eloquent, considered work of praise for the Slow Movement, and important reading for all of us who wish to live a richer and fuller life.”
– Resurgence (UK)

“Honoré makes a strong case against the demon of speed.”
– San Antonio Express

“Try reading this book one chapter a day – it is worth allowing its subversive message to sink slowly in so it has a chance of changing your life.”
– Bill McKibben, author of Enough: Staying Human in an Engineered Age and The End of Nature

“Part reportage, part manifesto, In Praise of Slowness is an engaging, well-written journey into the various ways that people around the globe have attempted to live more patiently.”
– Minneapolis Star Tribune

“The reader is presented with a careful road map to a happier life.”
– Willamette Week

“An important work that will induce greater awareness of our present hurried state-as well as the wholesome alternative.”
– Yoga Journal

“The No Logo of its age…strangely enthralling, an epiphany for those of us who have forgotten how to look forward to things or to enjoy the moment when it arrives.” 
– The Herald (UK)

“Entertaining, friendly and intelligent guide…with a light mix of well-researched historic trivia and contemporary statistics. [Honoré’s] anecdotes and self-deprecating humour convey the pleasure and reward that he experienced on his slow pilgrimage.” 
– The Economist

“(This) book makes a persuasive case against mindless speed and offers an intriguing array of concrete suggestions about ways “to make the moment last.” 
– Los Angeles Times

LANGUAGES: English, Arabic, Chinese (Complex Characters), Chinese (Simple Characters), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal), Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese.

More Reviews

Carl won an Audiophile Earphones Award for his reading of BOLDER

FREE DOWNLOAD for BOOK CLUBS

Q&A with Carl

Why and how did you record this audiobook?

For years, readers have been asking for an audio version of In Praise of Slow. In 2016 I finally spent two days in a recording studio in London reading it aloud into a microphone.

What was it like revisiting the book so long after publication?

It was strange. The language I use to talk about Slow has evolved since then so part of me was tempted to tweak the text a little (I didn’t, though). But what really struck me was how relevant the book still feels today.

What is In Praise of Slow about?

It examines our compulsion to hurry and chronicles a global trend toward putting on the brakes. It is the unofficial handbook and bible of the Slow Movement. It is published in more than 30 languages and has been a bestseller in many countries. It was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and the inaugural choice for the Huffington Post Book Club. It also featured in a British TV sitcom, Argentina’s version of Big Brother and a TV commercial for the Motorola tablet. The Financial Times said In Praise of Slow is “to the Slow Movement what Das Kapital is to communism.”

Is the Slow Movement anti-speed?

Of course not! I’m not an extremist of slowness. I love speed. But faster is not always better. Being Slow means doing everything at the correct speed: quickly, slowly or whatever pace works best. Slow means being present, living each moment fully, putting quality before quantity in everything from work and sex to food and parenting.

So our obsession with speed has gone to far?

Definitely. It’s reached the point of absurdity. You can now do courses in Speed Yoga or attend a Drive Thru Funeral. A magazine in Britain even published an article recently on how to bring about an orgasm in 30 seconds! So even in the bedroom it’s, “On your marks, get set, go!” Our speedaholism is out of control, and we all know it.

What inspired you to embrace Slow?

A personal wake-up call. When I caught myself admiring a book of one-minute bedtime stories (Snow White in 60 seconds!), I suddenly realised I was racing through my life instead of living it.

But if we slow down, surely life will pass us by?

On the contrary. Life is what’s happening right here, right now – and only by slowing down can you live it to the full. If you are always rushing, you only skim the surface of things.

How has slowing down changed your life?

Every moment of my day used to be a race against the clock. Now I never feel rushed any more. I do fewer things but I do them better and enjoy them more. I am healthier and have more energy. At work, I am much more productive and creative. I also have time for those little moments that bring meaning and joy to life – reading to my children, sharing a glass of wine with my wife, chatting with a friend, pausing to gaze at a beautiful sunset. I feel so much more alive now.

Why do we live so fast today?

Lots of reasons. Speed is fun, sexy, an adrenaline rush. It’s like a drug and we are addicted. At the same time, the world has become a giant buffet of things to do, consume, experience – and we rush to have it all. The modern workplace also pushes us to work faster and longer while technology encourages us to do everything faster and faster.

What is the main obstacle to slowing down in this fast world?

Fear. Thanks to the powerful taboo against slowness, even just thinking about slowing down makes us feel afraid, guilty or ashamed. Add to that the fear of being alone with our thoughts. Speed is often an instrument of denial, a way of avoiding deeper problems. Instead of facing up to what is going wrong in our lives, we just make ourselves faster and busier.

Slowing down can be the antidote to that. It allows us to reflect on the big questions: Who am I? What is my purpose? What sort of life should I be leading? How can I make the world a better place? Such questions can be uncomfortable but confronting them ultimately brings greater depth to our lives.

Is the Slow Movement also gaining ground in the workplace?

Very much so. Forward-thinking companies all over the world are looking for ways to help their staff slow down. By giving them more control over their schedules so they can work at their own pace, accelerating and decelerating when it suits them. By limiting working hours. Or by creating quiet spaces for doing yoga, massage or even take a short nap during the workday. The boom in meditation or mindfulness in the corporate world is another sign that business is waking up to the power and wisdom of slowing down.

What are the tell-tale symptoms of living too fast?

When you feel tired all the time and like you’re just going through the motions, getting through the many things on your To-Do list but not engaging with them deeply or enjoying them very much. You don’t remember things as vividly when you rush through them. You feel like you’re racing through your life instead of actually living it. Illnesses are often the body’s way of saying, “Enough already, slow down!”

What is the future of the Slow Movement?

The good news is that the Slow movement is growing fast! And as the world gets faster, the need for a counter-current of slowness will grow too. I feel more optimistic now than I did when In Praise of Slow first came out.

But what do you say to people who claim that the world will inevitably go on speeding up and that a Slow revolution is pie in the sky?

I say look at the history books. Take the rise of feminism. In the 60s, when feminists said the world was unjust and the moment for change had come, the mainstream reaction was: No, the world has always been this way. You can’t change it. Go back to the kitchen! But look at the world today. Obviously there is a long way to go to create a world of perfect gender equality, but a woman today could hardly imagine how severely life was limited for her grandmother. I look at my sister and my grandmother and marvel at the change in just two generations. And the green movement has followed a similar arc: it was dismissed as a plaything for hippies and tree-huggers thirty years ago but today is near the top of the political agenda. The message is that the world can change, if we want it to. For a cultural revolution to occur, you need three factors: the need for change; an awareness of the need for change; and people willing to put that change into practice. We now have all three factors in place for the Slow revolution to push on. I think the Slow movement is at the same point as feminism or green-ism was 30 or 40 years ago. We won’t change the world, or make it Slow, by next year. It will take time. The Slow revolution will be slow. But I believe it will happen.

What will a Slow world look like?

It will be a world that is healthy, happy and humane. But you have to realistic. I am no utopian. I am a skeptic by nature. I don’t believe we will ever create a world where everyone does everything at the right speed and no one ever feels rushed. That’s just a fantasy. The world is too complex and interconnected for that. It’s impossible in a world where we have to interact with others. Impatience is also part of being human. I suspect even the Dalai Lama rushes unnecessarily sometimes! Even I forget to slow down from time to time. I face a barrage of requests to give speeches, do interviews, etc from all over the world every day and it’s hard not to get caught up in the frenzy. But at least our starting point should be to seek the tempo giusto and to expect others to do so too.

What do you hope readers will take away from In Praise of Slow?

I hope that they will pause and reflect on how they lead their lives and how their lives affect the people and the world around them. I guess what I really want is for readers to grasp the very counter-cultural idea that the best way to survive and thrive in the fast-paced modern world is not to speed up but to slow down. And it seems to be working. Every day I open up my inbox and find a few emails from readers around the world who say the book has changed their lives. It’s exciting, and humbling.

More Reviews

“(In Praise of Slow) is to the Slow Movement what Das Kapital is to communism.”
– Financial Times

“Thorough and highly persuasive, (In Praise of Slow) is well on its way to cult status. It has been described as the No Logo of its age, but it’s far more compelling and intelligent than that, and a necessary addition to the reading list of marketing, HR and new product development departments. Read (it) slowly to allow inward digestion without dyspepsia.” 
– Matthew Gwyther, editor Management Today

“This charmingly written exploration of the quiet life is so good, you have to resist the temptation to race through. A million times more inspiring than any of the mass of self-help books around on downshifting. A rare treat to be savoured — at your own pace, of course.”
– Sunday Express

“In Praise of Slowness is a revelation… It is possible to decelerate and business could gain so much from a sense of work-life balance.” 
– Business World

“I am learning to pace myself with a nightly dose of this book. Honoré is a journalist and TED speaker exploring the global backlash against the modern cult of speed living. All Londoners should read it.”
– Evening Standard (London)

“In brisk, cleanly written chapters, Honoré traces his personal encounters with advocates of slow living. In Praise of Slowness shows us various methods to release ourselves from what Baudelaire denounced as ‘the horrible burden of time,’ to break free of the ‘Matrix’-like illusion that we have no choice.”
– Washington Post

“(An) entertaining…hymn to the pleasure of allowing everything its proper time…well executed and persuasive.”
– Will Hutton, Guardian

“Readable and persuasive… it is virtually impossible to read Honore’s book without deciding to take things, you know, a little slower from now on.”
– Irish Times

“A wonderful book…”
– Katrina vanden Heuvel editor, The Nation

“Honoré makes an eloquent and convincing case for slowing down. His book challenges the conventional view that faster is better. Readers would be wise to savour it slowly.”
– Montreal Gazette

“(This) book makes a persuasive case against mindless speed and offers an intriguing array of concrete suggestions about ways “to make the moment last.”
– Los Angeles Times

“A terrific book.”
– Arianna Huffington (In Praise of Slowness was the inaugural choice for the Huffington Post book club.)

“Rush to your bookshop!”
– Mail on Sunday

“In his well-researched and often amusing book, Honoré presents an eloquent case for a thorough re-examination of priorities and shows how even subtle shifts in the way we live can have a very real effect on our well-being.”
– Guardian

“It’s about time someone insisted – in intelligent, persuasive language – that we all put on the brakes, or at least check the instruments on the dashboard. Through anecdote, statistic and argument, Honoré wants to convert us to an atheism that is opposed to this culture’s mad theology of speed.”
– Billy Collins, former American Poet Laureate

“His advice is too grounded in day-to-day practicality to be guilty of didacticism or whimsy… read this uplifting and enlightening book very soon; but do, please, take your time.”
– Times Literary Supplement

“Honoré offers compelling evidence that suggests controlling your own tempo of life is not only a healthier and happier alternative, but leads to a more rewarding and productive lifestyle.”
– Toronto Star

“Engagingly written and filled with interesting detail, (this) book is a timely manifesto for a more civilized world.”
– Sunday Times (Book of the Week)

“It’s about time someone took issue with the underlying mentality that sets our daily metronome…Those who savour this hopeful book one chapter at a time will be the biggest winners. It’s seductively crafted, ¶measuring out its subversive but ultimately healing message.”
– Edmonton Journal

“In Praise of Slowness has made Honoré the unofficial godfather of a growing cultural shift toward slowing down.”
– ABC News (US)

“Honoré’s excellent new book is a fascinating and well-guided tour of his own journey in search of the world of slow. Vibrant and very readable.”
– Winnipeg Free Press

“A compelling read. The book has a personal, intimate tone that belies the author’s considerable research…It’s great strength is that it consolidates seemingly disparate ideas (slow food and slow work!), providing a unique insight into a pervasive cultural issue…Honoré gives his readers an opportunity to change their lives for the better.”
– Vancouver Sun

“This slow thinker may be far ahead of his time.”
– Body & Soul Magazine

“Honoré (is) an international spokesman for the concept of leisure. It’s a message people seem to want to hear.”
– Newsweek

“In his appealing first-person approach, Honoré offers a you-are-there view of global efforts to challenge the “false god” of speed. Engaging and persuasive.”
– Christian Science Monitor (chosen as one of the Books of 2004)

” In Praise of Slow (is) the bible of craftsmen and amblers everywhere.”
– Tim Adams, The Guardian

“An amazing, poignant book…gives you such an in-depth look at our destructive culture and what we can do to help it, that it’s impossible not to consider applying these suggestions for slow living to yourself. Who knows? Maybe reading this book could be a life-altering experience!”
– TeenFX.com

“Honoré is particularly good at detailing the addictive properties and vagaries of speed, and its ill effects on individuals and society, including himself.”
– Globe and Mail (Canada)

“A fascinating take on a subject that involves us all and makes truly though-provoking reading.”
– Good Book Guide

“Enjoyable and thought-provoking book.”
– Children And Young People Now

“An intelligent manifesto that overturns the idea of speed as an absolute good…Much more than a hymn to slowness…A guide with tips and tools to transform the way we live.”
– La Repubblica (Italy)

“Packed with a power of fact, history, anecdote and reflection…The book delivers on its title – it praises life lived more slowly and is supported by good investigative reporting and firsthand experience.”
– Pacific Sun (US)

“The speed of life borders on insanity for an increasing number of us, and the price we pay is the erosion of our happiness and health. If you sometimes feel engulfed by the mad pace of modern life – and who doesn’t? – In Praise of Slowness could prove life-saving.”
– Larry Dossey, MD, author of Healing Beyond the Body and Reinventing Medicine

“Extremely entertaining.”
– Ode Magazine

“Honoré approaches his subject with fairness and balance, and his journey unfolds entertainingly and objectively…(He) takes the position of everyperson, and the book is strengthened by that.If you’re looking for an accessible initial touchstone on the subject (of slowing down), this is it.”
– Courier Mail (Brisbane, Australia)

“Honoré is no true-believer – he questions every aspect of the Slow movement and keeps coming up with the conclusion that it just makes sense: life in the slow lane is more enjoyable, more pleasurable, more humane. This is a remarkable book that should be read by every resident of today’s frenzied urban world.”
– Mark Frutkin, author of Acts of Light (poetry) and The Lion of Venice (novel)

“A thoughtful guide and a convincing manifesto for changing the pace of our lives… a skillful blend of research, observation, and humor. Honoré comes across as neither too self-conscious nor too self-confident, but rather as exuberant and genuine. In Praise of Slowness is a gift to all of us.”
– Science and Spirit magazine

“Fabulous.”
– Evergreen Monthly

“In this terrific book, Carl Honoré gets to the heart of what’s ailing western industrial societies – our obsession with productivity, speed and consumerism – but he doesn’t stop with the gloom and doom. Instead, he shows the way out, with inspiring examples from the growing worldwide ’slow’ movement. Take the time to read this important, excellently written book – our future depends on the ideas it contains!”
– John de Graaf, co-author of Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic, and editor, Take Back Your Time

“Delightful, surprising, inspiring – and subversive. There is so much food for thought here that I cannot recommend this book enough.”
– Yes! Magazine

“A magnificent appraisal of the measured life.”
– SF Weekly

“This is a hopeful book that offers a plethora of ways to join the Slow revolution…extensively researched and well-presented.”
– Canadian Literature

“The novelty of Honoré’s approach lies in its practicality.”
– The Japan Times

“Persuasive, alarming and reassuring all at once. In lucid prose Honoré weaves his research and reflection with journalistic anecdotes so vivid you can feel the tantric tingling, taste the creamy artisan cheese — and imagine what it might be like to live at tempo giusto, choosing the right pace for each moment.”
– National Catholic Reporter

“Entrepreneur and slow may seem like oxymorons. However, taking the time to read In Praise of Slowness may be the best decision an entrepreneur, or anyone working full time, can make.”
– Gary Erickson, Entrepreneur, CEO of Clif Bar Inc. and author of Raising the Bar

“In Praise of Slow could be an antidote to our fast-paced lives.”
– SEE Magazine

“Superb and eminently readable. Honoré has written an incisive overview of an important cultural phenomenon.”
– Spirituality and Health

“Honoré’s journalistic background makes this book a particular pleasure to read. He combines fact, analysis and anecdote elegantly and compellingly. He approaches all Slow activities with a healthy skepticism, which makes it all the more convincing when he’s eventually won over – or not. Honoré is never evangelical: this is not a self-help book. In Praise of Slow is simply an intelligent, sincere account of his own education in the Slow philosophy, the research he’s conducted to understand it better, and his genuine faith in the ability of this movement to improve people’s lives. By the end of the book, it’s difficult to disagree with Honoré’s conviction that most people would benefit from slowing down.”
– FFWD (Calgary weekly)

“An engaging, well-written introduction to a philosophy which almost all of us could benefit from…. an eloquent, considered work of praise for the Slow Movement, and important reading for all of us who wish to live a richer and fuller life.”
– Resurgence (UK)

“Honoré makes a strong case against the demon of speed.”
– San Antonio Express

“Try reading this book one chapter a day – it is worth allowing its subversive message to sink slowly in so it has a chance of changing your life.”
– Bill McKibben, author of Enough: Staying Human in an Engineered Age and The End of Nature

“Part reportage, part manifesto, In Praise of Slowness is an engaging, well-written journey into the various ways that people around the globe have attempted to live more patiently.”
– Minneapolis Star Tribune

“The reader is presented with a careful road map to a happier life.”
– Willamette Week

“An important work that will induce greater awareness of our present hurried state-as well as the wholesome alternative.”
– Yoga Journal

SHORTLISTED FOR WRITERS’ TRUST PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION (CANADA’S LARGEST LITERARY PRIZE)_

“A gospel of the Slow Parenting movement.” TIME

“A wake-up call to parents and educators, as well as a solid summary of how children are being raised in the 21st century. Honoré covers a lot of territory, investigating academic testing and homework issues, extracurricular activities and sports, consumerism, and safety issues. . . . This is not a parenting book or a how-to manual, but rather a comprehensive look at the state of the childhood nation.” Quill & Quire

“An engaging and alarming exploration of children as vanity projects.” Macleans 

“Carl Honoré examines child-rearing attitudes and actions across the globe…seeking a way forward to a new dawn when we can encourage our children to slow down, develop at their own pace and just act their age.” Daily Record

“An indispensable, anecdotal, commonsensical guide.” Globe and Mail 

LANGUAGES: English, Chinese (Complex Characters), Chinese (Simple Characters), Croatian, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal), Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Swedish

More Reviews

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE (USA)

FRANTIC FAMILY RESCUE trailer (Carl’s show on ABC TV1 in Australia)

FRANTIC FAMILY RESCUE behind the scenes

Q&A with Carl

What is Under Pressure about?

It’s about how the pressure to give our children the best of everything and make them the best at everything is backfiring on kids, parents and society as a whole. But the book is not all doom and gloom. On the contrary, it maps out how we can start rescuing childhood from the excesses of the early 21st century. Under Pressure has been translated into more than 20 languages. It was shortlisted for the biggest literary prize for non-fiction in Canada. TIME magazine, in a cover story, described Under Pressure as the “gospel of the slow-parenting movement.”

Who is the audience for Under Pressure?

Parents, teachers, coaches, doctors, counsellors – anyone who has an interest in kids. Lots of teenagers are reading the book, too, and using it to start a debate in their own families and schools.

What is Slow Parenting and how does it fit in with Under Pressure?

I coined the term Slow Parenting a few years ago. My first book, In Praise of Slow, examines how the world got stuck in fast-forward and chronicles a global trend towards putting on the brakes. This culture-quake is called the Slow movement “Slow” in this context does not mean doing everything at a snail’s pace. It means doing everything at the right speed. That implies quality over quantity; real and meaningful human connections; being present and in the moment. The Slow creed can be applied to everything we do: work, sports, medicine, food, sex, design…and, of course, child-rearing.

To me Slow Parenting is about bringing balance into the home. Children need to strive and struggle and stretch themselves but that does not mean childhood should be a race. Slow parents give their children plenty of time and space to explore the world on their own terms. They keep the family schedule under control so that everyone has enough downtime to rest, reflect and just hang out together. They accept that bending over backwards to give children the best of everything may not always be the best policy (because it denies them the much more useful life lesson of how to make the best of what they’ve got.)

Slow parenting means allowing our children to work out who they are rather than what we want them to be. It means letting things happen rather than jumping in and forcing them. It means accepting that the richest kinds of learning and experience often cannot be measured or neatly packaged on a résumé or CV.

Slow parents understand that childrearing should not be a cross between a competitive sport and product-development. It is not a project; it’s a journey. Slow parenting is about giving kids lots of love and attention with no conditions attached.

Is Under Pressure an attack on parents?

No, absolutely not. I am a parent myself and I know how hard and confusing it is to raise children today. It is not just kids who are under pressure now; it’s parents too. We feel we have to push, polish and protect our offspring with superhuman zeal – or else we’re somehow falling down on the job. We start from the noble and natural instinct to do the best for our kids but end up going too far. Social and cultural pressure drives a lot of this. My aim in the book is not to blame or demonise parents. It is to make us all feel less guilty and insecure about our children, and to show how parenting less hard can actually help them to thrive even more.

So other forces are at work here beyond just parents?

Definitely. Outside the home, everyone from the state to the advertising industry is trying to bend childhood to fit its own agenda. A task force of British parliamentarians recently warned that too many children dream of growing up to be fairy princesses or football stars. Their solution: career advice for five-year-olds. Consumerism has crept into corners of children’s lives that once seemed untouchable. Even the humble sleepover is now an advertising opportunity, with companies such as Girls Intelligence Agency sponsoring slumber parties where tweens sample new products and fill in questionnaires. McDonald’s workers visit the children’s wards of hospitals to hand out toys and balloons, as well as leaflets promoting their food. Put all this together, and many kids now see an estimated 40,000 ads a year.

Why did you write Under Pressure?

It all started at a parent-teacher evening. The feedback on my seven-year-old son was good but the art teacher really hit the sweet spot. He stands out in the class, she gushed. Your son is a gifted young artist. And there it was, that six-letter word that gets the heart of every parent racing. Gifted. That night, I trawled Google, hunting down art courses and tutors to nurture my son’s gift. Visions of raising the next Picasso swam through my mind until the next morning. “Daddy, I don’t want a tutor, I just want to draw, my son announced on the way to school. Why do grown-ups always have to take over everything?” The question stung like a belt on the backside. You know, I thought, he’s right. I am trying to take over. I’m turning into one of those pushy parents you read about in the newspapers. So I started thinking about how easy it is to get carried away as a parent, and to end up hijacking your children’s lives. That showdown with my son was the trigger that set me off on the journey that ended with my writing Under Pressure. As a father I wanted to take some of the heat and anxiety out of my parenting. I wanted to know how far to push, polish, protect and pamper my own children.

How did you research Under Pressure?

I spent nearly two years travelling through Europe, the Americas and Asia to investigate the state of childhood today. I visited schools, nurseries, sports teams, laboratories and toy fairs; I interviewed teachers, coaches, camp councillors, advertisers, police, therapists, doctors and every kind of child development expert; I sifted through the latest scientific research. I also spoke to hundreds of parents and children. Everywhere I went, I was struck by how much people everywhere are yearning to find a new approach to child-rearing that gives children the time and space to be children.

What makes Under Pressure relevant today?

Childhood is always evolving and it has always been defined by adults. But we seem to have reached a point now where childhood is being warped more than ever before by adult fantasies and fears, anxieties and agendas. Every aspect of childhood – education, safety, discipline, sports, play, etc – is now set up to suit grown-ups rather than children. We are living in a culture that tells us that childhood is too precious to be left to children and children are too precious to be left alone.

How widespread is this micromanaging approach to children?

It is global. Some nations call it hyper-parenting. Others refer to “helicopter parents” who always hover overhead. Canadians joke about “snow-plow parents” who clear a perfect path through life for their kids. In Japan, “education mothers” devote every moment of their time to steering their kids through the country’s schooling system. “Tiger parenting” is rife in the Chinese world. Even in Scandinavia, where everyone is supposed to be gloriously relaxed, they talk of “curling parenting”: picture mum and dad frantically sweeping the ice in front of their child.

Is hyper-parenting the domain of the affluent?

Not all childhoods are created equal. You don’t find many children being hyper-parented in the refugee camps of Sudan or the shantytowns of Latin America. Even in the developed world, millions of youngsters, especially in poorer families, are more likely to suffer from underparenting than overparenting. Let’s be honest: most helicopter-parents hail from the middle class. But that does not mean this cultural shift only affects the well-to-do. When it comes to social change, the middle classes usually set the tone. And already hyper-parenting is eroding social solidarity because the more obsessed people become with their own children, the less interested they become in the welfare of other people’s.

How did we reach this point?

We got here because a number of trends have converged at the same time to produce a cultural perfect storm. The rise of globalisation has brought more competition and uncertainty to the workplace – which makes us more anxious about equipping our kids for adult life. The consumer culture has reached a kind of apotheosis in recent years and the net effect is to create a culture of soaring expectations: we now want perfect teeth, perfect hair, a perfect body, perfect vacations, a perfect home – and perfect children to round off the portrait. As parents we feel immense pressure to give our children the best of everything and make them the best at everything – to give them a “perfect” childhood.

Demographics have also changed in ways never seen before in history. Smaller families mean we have more time and money to lavish on each child. Parents are more anxious because small families give them less experience of parenting and put their genetic eggs in fewer baskets. Women are having babies much older than ever before, and that can add another layer of worry. If your first pregnancy comes at 38 or 39, then you may well have spent long years fretting over and planning for the child. And if something goes wrong you may not be able to have another one to make up for it. So there is a built-in anxiety from the start.

Parents of both genders are having kids older, or after many years in the workplace. As a result, we end up importing the office ethos into the home. We think, “Well, how can we parent better? Why don’t we do what we do at work when we want to improve our performance: bring in the experts, spend lots of money and put in long hard hours – we will professionalize parenting.”

The bottom line is that parents in this generation have lost their confidence. That makes us easy prey for companies hawking unnecessary tools for childrearing (helmets to protect toddlers from head injuries, anyone?). And very vulnerable to pressure from other parents (“What, you mean your two-year-old doesn’t have a tutor?!?”).

What is the evidence that our approach to children is backfiring?

If you look at the time, money and energy that we’re putting into our children, we should be witnessing the emergence of the happiest, healthiest, most able generation of kids the world has ever seen. But that’s not what’s happening.

Let’s start with health. Cooped up indoors and ferried everywhere in the backseat of a car, kids are growing fatter than ever before. Athletic kids suffer as well. Too much training too young is wearing them out. Injuries like anterior cruciate ligament tears, formerly only seen in college and professional athletes, are now rife in secondary school and increasingly common among nine- and ten-year-olds.

And where the body goes, the mind follows. Child depression and anxiety—and the substance abuse, eating disorders and self-harm that often go with it—are now most common not in urban ghettos but in the smart downtown apartments and leafy suburbs where the go-getting middle classes are piling pressure on their children.

Micromanaged kids can end up struggling to stand on their own two feet. University counselling services report that students are going to pieces in record numbers. And professors tell of 19-year-olds handing over the mobile phone in the middle of interviews with the words: “Why don’t you sort this out with my mum?”

The umbilical cord even remains intact after graduation. To recruit college graduates, blue-chip companies such as Merrill Lynch have started sending out “parent packs” or holding open-house days when Mum and Dad can vet their offices. Parents are even turning up at job interviews to help negotiate salary and vacation packages.

Along the way something precious and hard to measure is also being lost here. William Blake, the English poet, famously summed up the magic and wonder of childhood thus:

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wildflower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

Today, many children are too busy racing to violin practice or math tutoring to hold infinity in the palm of their hand. And that wildflower sounds a little scary—what if it has thorns, or the pollen triggers an allergic reaction?

How does a parent know when he or she is parenting too hard?

It’s not always easy because the line between engaged parenting and hyper-parenting can be a fine one, yet there are some telltale warning signs. You may be going too far if you do your children’s homework; shout yourself hoarse at their sporting events; spy on their social media profiles; let them take fewer risks than you did at the same age; find them falling asleep en route to their next extracurricular activity; quote verbatim from parenting manuals; regularly eat meals in the car on the way to activities; have no conversation beyond what your children are up to; never spend time alone with your partner.

When it comes to raising children, are we getting everything wrong?

No, definitely not. There are many advantages to growing up in the developed world in the early twenty-first century: You are less likely to suffer malnutrition, neglect, violence, or death than at any time in history. You are surrounded by material comforts that were unthinkable even a generation ago. Legions of academics, politicians, and companies are striving to find new ways to nurture, feed, clothe, school, and entertain you. Your rights are enshrined in international law. The Internet is a hugely exciting new frontier for learning and playing; fathers are much closer emotionally to their kids than ever before. It’s not all bad news for kids.

So do you see signs of change in the right direction?

Yes, very much so. Around the world, schools are curbing the obsession with exams and trimming the academic workload – and finding that when pupils have more time to relax, reflect and take charge of their own learning, they learn better.

To give youth sports back to the young, leagues are clamping down on parents howling abuse from the sidelines and shifting the emphasis away from winning at all costs to learning and enjoying the game.

To give over-scheduled children a breather, towns across the world now hold special days when all homework and extracurricular activities are cancelled. Many families are so relieved to go just one evening without dashing off to karate or lacrosse that they prune their planners during the rest of the year. Elite universities are sending a similar message. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology revamped its application form to put less emphasis on the number of extracurricular activities a candidate signs up for and more on what really fires his passion. Even the mighty Harvard urges incoming freshmen to check their over-scheduling ways at the door. Posted on the university Web site, an open letter by Harry Lewis, a former dean of the undergraduate school, warns students that they will get more out of college, and indeed life, if they do less and concentrate on the things that really fire their passion: “[You] are more likely to sustain the intense effort needed to accomplish first-rate work in one area if you allow yourself some leisure time, some recreation, some time for solitude, rather than packing your schedule with so many activities that you have no time to think about why you are doing what you are doing.” Lewis also takes aim at the notion that everything young people do must have a measurable payoff or contribute toward crafting the perfect CV. “You may balance your life better if you participate in some activities purely for fun, rather than to achieve a leadership role that you hope might be a distinctive credential for postgraduate employment. The human relationships you form in unstructured time with your roommates and friends may have a h3er influence on your later life than the content of some of the courses you are taking.” The title of the letter sounds like a direct challenge to the culture of hyper-scheduling. It is called: Slow Down: Getting More Out of Harvard by Doing Less.

Our penchant for bubble-wrapping children to keep them safe from even the tiniest risk is also coming under review. At a new pre-school in Scotland, three-year-olds spend the day in a forest negotiating harsh weather, open camp-fires and poisonous fungi. Sure, they suffer the odd scratch or burn, but they arrive at kindergarten happier, more confident and less prone to illness and allergies than do their indoor peers. Or look at the global success of The Dangerous Book for Boys, a manual stuffed with tips on how to enjoy all kinds of high-risk pastimes, from racing go-carts to making slingshots and catapults.

What do children really need?

They need time and space to explore the world on their own terms: that is how they learn to think, invent and socialise; to take pleasure from things; to work out who they are, rather than what we want them to be. They need lots of love and attention with no conditions attached. We’ve done it for poultry and cattle – now it’s time to do the same for the young. It’s time to usher in the age of the free-range child.

Are you suggesting that we should give children total freedom?

No, definitely not. A lighter touch is not always the best policy. When it comes to shielding our children from consumerism, we need to wield a heavier hand. That is why parents around the world are campaigning to stop companies from advertising in schools. There is also a backlash against the trend for ever more lavish birthday parties. Many parents are now fixing spending limits on gifts and party bags, or eliminating them altogether. Others are agreeing on guest quotas. In other words, parents are relearning the lost art of saying No.

Many children today actually need to hear “No” more often. Even as we pour time, money and energy into helping our kids build a killer CV, we tend to go a bit wobbly on the discipline front. It just seems easier to say Yes to another hour on the xBox or to an untidy bedroom. But children need discipline and a firm hand sometimes. Boundaries make them feel safe and equip them for life in a world built on rules and compromise. Children need us to say No sometimes.

What do you hope Under Pressure will achieve?

I hope that readers will come to the end of the book and breathe a huge sigh of relief. Especially parents. I want to inspire readers to ease off and find the natural balance between doing too much and too little for children.

Does that mean parents need to regain their confidence?

Exactly. This generation of parents has lost its confidence. I wrote Under Pressure to regain my own confidence and help others do the same. Confident parents are able to resist the scare-mongering and the peer pressure in order to find their own way to raise their children.

There is no magic formula for raising kids. Every child is unique and every family is unique. The secret is to find the formula, the style of parenting, that works best for you and your children – and not to feel like you have to follow exactly what everyone else is doing.

What advice would you give to parents?

Ignore the panic and peer pressure – your child will be fine. Trust your instincts. Find your own way to parent. Listen to and observe your child. A child is not a project or a product or a trophy or a piece of clay you can mould into a work of art. A child is a person who will thrive if allowed to be the protagonist of his own life.

More Reviews

“Under Pressure is not a parenting manual, but, rather, an attempt to encourage parents to slow down, to understand how our best intentions are often misdirected and to allow children to be children.” 
– Montreal Gazette

“An engaging and alarming exploration of children as vanity projects…We’ve done it for cattle and for chickens – it’s time for a generation of free-range kids.” 
– Macleans (Canada)

“Under Pressure can be viewed as a wake-up call to parents and educators, as well as a solid summary of how children are being raised in the 21st century. Honoré covers a lot of territory, investigating academic testing and homework issues, extracurricular activities and sports, consumerism, and safety issues. . . . This is not a parenting book or a how-to manual, but rather a comprehensive look at the state of the childhood nation.” 
– Quill & Quire

“Un excelente libro…Se lo recomiendo fervientemente a todos ustedes. Pasarán un rato divertido y a la vez despertarán su conciencia a la ‘hiperpaternidad’ o deseo desmesurado de modelar a nuestros hijos.” 
– El Confidencial, España

“Mr. Honoré has a winning style and an infectious curiosity about the minutiae of other people’s lives.”
– Wall Street Journal

“Accessible, lucid and wise, this book should sit in every government and managerial office.”
– The Independent (UK)

“Honoré is a skilled journalist, well aware of the virtues of brevity in relating an anecdote or setting a scene or making a point. The narrative never bogs down.”
– National Post (Canada)

“With compelling narratives and thoughtful analysis…The Slow Fix is ideal for individuals who are tired of temporary solutions and are seeking lasting change in their personal or professional lives. It’s particularly relevant for leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in systemic improvement. Honoré’s engaging writing style makes complex concepts accessible.”

– Elevate Society

LANGUAGES: English, Chinese (Complex Characters), French, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Spanish.

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BRILLIANT OVERVIEW 

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE (USA)

INGREDIENTS OF THE SLOW FIX

Q&A with Carl

What is the Slow Fix about?

It’s about finding the best way to tackle complex problems in every walk of life, from health and relationships to business and politics. Our addiction to superficial, short-term quick fixes is backfiring badly in so many ways. This book explores how to start forging solutions that work both now and in the long term. I call this approach the “Slow Fix.”

Is the book a manual for problem-solving

Yes, it is, but also much more. On one hand, the book uses lots of fascinating case studies and first-hand reporting from around the world to show how to tackle hard problems intelligently and thoroughly. But THE SLOW FIX is also a philosophy of life. If we slow down, if we learn to do everything as well (rather than as fast) as possible, we can not only solve problems, work smarter and live better. We can also create a better world.

When the world is so fast can we really afford to take a slow fix approach?

Absolutely. In fact, I would argue that we cannot afford not to. People often say there is not enough time or money for anything other than a quick fix. Yet we always seem to have enough time to pick up the pieces when our quick fix goes wrong later. And we usually find the money to clean up the mess, too. What I’m proposing is that we reverse that equation and start investing the time, energy and resources now in order to come up with solutions that actually work. That way we save ourselves a lot of time, money and grief in the future.

Who is your target audience?

Anyone who wants to tackle a difficult problem. It could be something at work or in a relationship. Or it might be a global challenge such as poverty or the environment. Though it may sound grandiloquent, the The Slow Fix is also meant to be a handbook for making the world a better place. In short, it has something for everyone.

What was it like to write this book?

Very painful! At the start I had no idea where I’d end up. A clear vision eventually bubbled up from the research but there was a long time when I felt like I was groping around in the dark. (Learning to live with that kind of uncertainty is actually one ingredient of the Slow Fix.)

So you did lots of research?

Loads! My approach was to travel round the world investigating successful problem-solving in situ. So I traveled the world to spend time with :

A coffee grower in Costa Rica ☕️

Teachers and students at a school in a gang-infested corner of Los Angeles ?

A Formula One pit crew ?

Companies that rowed back from the brink of collapse ?

Prisoners in a state-of-the-art Norwegian jail ?

Therapists helping couples and families rebuild broken relationships ?‍?‍?‍?

Anti-poverty campaigners in New York ?

A mayor who revolutionised public transport in Bogotá ?

Fighter pilots in Britain’s Royal Air Force ?

Doctors and families in the organ transplant system in Spain ?

A design team reinventing the water bottle in France ?

Children resolving their own playground conflicts in Finland ?

Disabled people designing their own public services in Australia ?

Citizens reinventing democracy in Iceland ?

Medical workers rolling back tropical diseases in Chile ?

And more …

 

Are all these slow fixes’ relevant to every reader?

Definitely, yes. Some of the slow fixes will be directly relevant to your own life, organisation or community, but my goal was to go much deeper. What The Slow Fix does is draw universal lessons about how to find the best solution when anything goes wrong. That meant spotting the common ground between problems that on the surface seem completely unrelated. What lessons can peace negotiators in the Middle East, for instance, take from the organ donor system in Spain? How can a community regeneration program in Vietnam help boost productivity in a company in Canada? What insights can French researchers trying to reinvent the water-bottle take from the rehabilitation of a failing school in Los Angeles? What can we all learn from the troubleshooters at NASA? From the gamers who spend billions of hours tackling problems online? From the contestants in Odyssey of the Mind, the closest thing we have to an Olympics of problem-solving? Bottom line: The Slow Fix delivers a recipe that can help anyone tackle any problem.

What is wrong with quick fixes?

Every quick fix whispers the same seductive promise of maximum return for minimum effort. But that equation seldom adds up. When dealing with complex problems, the quick fix addresses the symptoms rather than the root cause. It puts short-term relief before long-term cure. It makes no provision for unwelcome side effects. Trying to solve problems in a hurry, sticking on a band-aid when surgery is needed, might deliver temporary reprieve – but usually at the price of storing up worse trouble for later. The inconvenient truth is that quick fixes rarely fix anything at all. And sometimes they just makes things worse.

Any examples?

I’ll give you two. Even as we drop billions of dollars on diet products promising Hollywood thighs and Men’s Health abs in time for summer, waistlines are ballooning all over the world. Why? Because there is no such thing as One Tip to a Flat Stomach.

Even in business, where speed is usually an advantage, our fondness for the quick fix is backfiring. When firms hit choppy waters, or come under pressure to goose the bottom line or jack up a sagging stock price, the knee-jerk response is often to downsize. But shedding staff in a hurry seldom pays off. It can hollow out a company, demoralise the remaining workforce and spook customers and suppliers. Often it leaves deeper problems untouched. After sifting through 30 years’ worth of longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, Franco Gandolfi, a professor of management, came to a stark conclusion: ‘The overall picture of the financial effects of downsizing is negative.’

But surely fixing things quickly isn’t always bad?

Of course not. There are scenarios – patching up a soldier on the battlefield, for instance – when sitting back to stroke your chin is not an option. You have to channel MacGyver, reach for the duct tape and cobble together whatever solution works right now. When circumstances demand a quick fix, by all means deliver a quick fix, but never let it stand untested. Come back later, when time permits, to forge a more lasting solution.

Does that mean a quick fix never fully solves a problem?

Not never. Not all problems are created equal. Some can be fixed with a quick and simple solution. Inserting a single line of code can stop a misfiring webpage from inflicting mayhem on a company. When someone is choking on a morsel of food, the Heimlich manoeuvre can dislodge the offending object from the windpipe and save the victim’s life. Job done. My focus in The Slow Fix is on a very different kind of problem, where the parameters are unclear and shifting, where human behaviour comes into play, where there may not even be a right answer. Think climate change, the obesity epidemic, a broken relationship or a company grown too big for its own good.

Is the “quick fix” a modern phenomenon?

Not at all. Looking for shortcuts is nothing new. Two thousand years ago Plutarch denounced the army of quacks hawking miracle cures to the gullible citizens of Ancient Rome. At the end of the eighteenth century infertile couples queued up in hope of conceiving in London’s legendary Celestial Bed. The amorous contraption promised soft music, a ceiling-mounted mirror and a mattress stuffed with ‘sweet new wheat or oat straw, mingled with balm, rose leaves, and lavender flowers’, as well as tail hairs from the finest English stallions. An electric current allegedly generated a magnetic field ‘calculated to give the necessary degree of strength and exertion to the nerves’. The promise: instant conception. The cost for one night of fertile fumbling: £3,000 (US$4,800) in modern money.

Is the quick fix more prevalent today?

Definitely. The quick fix has become the standard across the board in our fast-forward, on-demand, just-add-water culture. Who has the time or patience for Aristotelian deliberation and the long view any more? Politicians need results before the next election, or the next press conference. The markets panic if wobbly businesses or wavering governments fail to serve up an instant action plan. Websites are studded with ads promising fast solutions to every problem known to Google: a herbal remedy to reboot your sex life; a video to perfect your golf swing; an app to find Mr Right. All over the world, doctors are under pressure to heal patients in a hurry, which often means reaching for a pill, the quick fix par excellence. Feeling blue? Try Prozac. Struggling to concentrate? Join Team Ritalin. In the never-ending quest for instant relief the average Briton now pops, according to one estimate, 40,000 pills in a lifetime.

So what exactly is this slow fix?

First of all, it is a state of mind. An acceptance that solving complex problems requires patience, effort and resources. Once we change that chip in our heads, then we can start forging a Slow Fix by taking the time to: admit and learn from mistakes; work out the root causes of the problem; sweat the small stuff, think long and connect the dots to build holistic solutions; seek ideas from everywhere, work with others and share the credit; build up expertise while remaining skeptical of experts; think alone and together; tap emotions; enlist an inspiring leader; consult and even recruit those closest to the problem; turn the search for a fix into a game; have fun, follow hunches, adapt, use trial and error and embrace uncertainty.

Can ew really put the slow fix into practice in a world addicted to speed?

Absolutely. There will be plenty of resistance, but the best arguments are all on the side of the Slow Fix. Fixing problems thoroughly is never an indulgence or a luxury; it is a wise and essential investment in the future. A problem left to fester now will almost always be harder and more costly to fix later on. Put in the time, effort and resources today, and reap the benefits in your business, relationship or health in the future.

So you’re optimistic that we can start putting the slow fix agead of the quick fix?

Very much so. Wherever you go in the world today, and in every walk of life, more people are turning away from the quick fix to find better ways to solve problems. Some are toiling below the radar, others are making headlines, but all share one thing in common: a hunger to forge solutions that actually work. The good news is the world is full of Slow Fixes. You just have to take the time to find and learn from them.

More Reviews

“With sharp, rhythmic prose, Honoré presents a number of guideposts to effective problem solving supported by intriguing anecdotes…A feast of stories about people overcoming obstacles, with the promise of showing us how to better cope with our own struggles.”
– Quill and Quire

“Honoré has travelled the world trying to eradicate ‘the virus of hurry’ and the endless multitasking that robs people of serenity, reflection and face time……Honoré spent two years digging up case studies to illustrate exactly how and why (the Slow Fix) approach works.”
– Toronto Star

“A terrific book.”
– Kathy English, Public Editor, Toronto Star

“Honoré is a skilled journalist, well aware of the virtues of brevity in relating an anecdote or setting a scene or making a point. The narrative never bogs down.”
– National Post (Canada)

“I would recommend Carl Honoré’s “The Slow Fix.” In a world so markedly addicted to the “quick fix,” Honoré presents multiple examples of a problem-solving and decision-making paradigm which will enhance the value and viability of one’s personal and professional life. His process, fluid and flexible, entails taking and making time to reflect thoughtfully, listen carefully, think holistically, learn and teach honestly, and lead with compassion and creativity. Any prospective leader should read Honoré to learn how so often the best quick fix is the slow fix.”
– Joel Jones, The Daily Times (New Mexico)

“Honoré gives us a good reminder that it’s important to step back from our fast-paced lives every once in a while and slow down, however hard that may be.”
– Justine’s Bookends Review

“Journalist Honoré observes that our society is hooked on the quick fix as we seek the maximum return for the minimum effort. He offers a practical and entertaining guide to what he calls the “slow fix” for problem solving: hard work requiring humility to admit we do not have all the answers and we need time and help. The self-help industry encourages the quick fix, and Honoré acknowledges the media’s role, too, as it immediately leaps into a crisis and demands instant answers and remedies. Steps in the author’s slow fix for solving complex problems include taking time to admit mistakes and finding what is really wrong, focusing on details, thinking long, building holistic solutions, seeking ideas from others and sharing the credit, acquiring expertise while remaining skeptical of experts, tapping emotions, enlisting a leader, consulting those closest to the problem, treating problem solving as a game, following hunches, adapting by trial and error, and embracing uncertainty. This is a sound, thought-provoking book.”
– Mary Whaley, Booklist

“After reading the first six pages of The Slow Fix at my desk, I turned to a coworker and exclaimed, “This is so good!”….Honoré’s writing remains engaging throughout, with careful attention to the people and places that populate his examples of successful slow fixes.”
– Jack Covert, 800ceoReads

“The Slow Fix is an…eloquent…roadmap for genuine transformation, for rewiring the way we overcome both individual and universal obstacles….Unlike the authors of so many quick-fix, meme-studded self-help books, Honoré practices what he preaches, taking time to build his theories and exploring them through both narrow and wide lenses….Without resorting to a single bullet point in 262 pages, he shatters leadership and talk-show clichés…”
– Alice Peck editor at Rewire Me

“Covering situations from failing schools in Los Angeles and the prison system in Norway to the crime-ridden city of Bogotá, Colombia, and the coffee farms of Costa Rica, (Honoré) proposes the ingredients for long-term solutions…(his) challenge is to slow down, analyze, assess, and explore how others have turned around failing organizations and systems with lasting results.
– Carol Elsen, Library Journal

“Après Éloge de la lenteur, son dernier titre, Carl Honoré nous revient avec Lenteur mode d’emploi. Pionnier du slow movement, il nous explique comment mieux vivre dans un monde où tout va très vite. Très bien documenté, ce livre est surprenant et offre une perspective nouvelle sur notre façon de vivre. À lire pour comprendre et mieux penser.”
– Huffington Post Québec