What You'll Learn:
The self-help shelves at bookstores and libraries are teeming with titles about how to successfully do x, y and z. This book is less about “how to” and more about “when to.” Daniel Pink’s When is the synthesis of over 700 studies from fields as diverse as biology, neuroscience, anthropology, economics and social psychology. His aim is to show that timing in life is not an art, but a science. Pink’s book is full of fascinating facts and practical suggestions for when it is best to take action.
Key Insights:
- For most people, the average day follows a pattern of peak, trough and rebound.
- From the simplest to the most complex, internal biological timers go on and off precisely when needed, without the organism consciously monitoring the process.
- Knowing your peak hours for productivity will help you know when to make important decisions and complete tasks.
- Taking breaks improves finesse, productivity, mood, and decision-making during afternoon slumps.
- The midlife crisis is overdramatized, but midpoints are still a force to be reckoned with.
- Being in sync is important—not only at an individual level, but also at a group level.