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cover of episode Author of Four Thousand Weeks Oliver Burkeman on How To Live Well (Part Two)

Author of Four Thousand Weeks Oliver Burkeman on How To Live Well (Part Two)

2025/5/4
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Intelligence Squared

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Oliver Burkeman: 我认为许多事情即使不全力以赴也能完成得很好,不必事事都全力以赴,学会高效地分配精力是一种重要的成人技能。生活中很多事情不必费尽全力去做,努力并不等同于意义,我们应该尝试以轻松的方式去做事,而不是假设所有重要的事情都必须非常艰难。我们常常过度控制和计划,是因为我们不信任自己,害怕放手会造成混乱,但实际上,适度放松反而能让我们更好地完成任务。我们对未来的担忧,很大程度上源于对自身应对突发事件能力的不信任,但实际上,我们已经成功地度过了许多挑战,应该相信自己能够应对未来的困难。这本书并非鼓励懒惰,而是帮助那些过度追求完美、压力过大的人们重新审视自己的生活,学会接纳自身的局限性。与其试图减轻生活的负担,不如直面它,感受它的重量,直到你放下它,才能轻松前行。书中提到的冥想并非指严格意义上的每日正式练习,而是指任何能帮助我们放下执念、专注当下体验的活动。冥想并非唯一的解脱之道,任何能帮助我们专注当下、放下执念的活动,例如攀岩、太极拳等,都能起到类似的作用。“不完美的待客之道”是一种生活态度,它鼓励我们接纳生活中的不完美,放下对完美的追求,从而建立更真实、更亲密的人际关系。这本书的结构设计也体现了“不完美主义”的理念,它鼓励读者在日常生活中逐渐吸收书中的观点,而不是追求一次性地完美掌握。如果能回到18岁,我会建议自己放松一些,不必为了证明自己的存在而过度努力,尝试在生活中放松掌控,看看会发生什么。教育体系中过度的考试和评估,加剧了人们对完美的追求和压力,这与本书中提到的“放松掌控”的理念相悖。 Tim Harford: (作为访谈者,Tim Harford 没有提出核心论点,而是引导Oliver Burkeman阐述其观点,并提出一些质疑和补充。)

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Acclaimed author and journalist Oliver Burkeman has captivated readers with his refreshing insights on how to embrace the finiteness of existence and find meaning in the everyday. Author of the bestselling book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and formerly a columnist for the Guardian, Burkeman challenges conventional productivity advice, offering a more realistic perspective on how to live well.

In April 2025 Burkeman came to the Intelligence Squared stage, where he was in conversation with Financial Times Columnist Tim Harford, to discuss Meditation for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts – the sequel to Four Thousand Weeks. Together, they explored how letting go of the relentless pursuit of productivity and accepting our imperfections can lead to a more fulfilling life.


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