Review: World Enough & Time

World Enough & Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down by Christian McEwen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Why do we rush? What do we miss out on by doing so? What could we discover (about ourselves, the world, our place in the universe) if we stopped? These are the questions McEwen is considering here. She does so through looking at the thoughts and writings of a wide variety of people, including the Transcendentalists, Buddhist teachers, and numerous people of her acquaintance. It took me a long time to read this book because I found much to stop and consider, much to savor about it as I went along. It does follow a linear narrative structure, but also lends itself to browsing through and re-reading bits that appeal in the moment. An extensive bibliography provides a path to further consideration of how and why we shouldn't be in such a hurry.