Uses of Time

>> Summer is a good moment to disconnect, relax, and of course, read! The Time Agreement and Xarxa NUST team have put together a list of recommended books for you to think, learn, or just enjoy reading about time uses, its impacts, and how to improve them. Moreover, we have classified the recommendations by topics, so you can choose the theme that is most interesting for you.

In the different proposals we present, you will find the editorial as well as the general link to the municipal library network. In cases where there is no linked URL, you can find the book on various online purchase platforms.

To enjoy a good movie:

• Selection of current and classic films.

For training:

• Recording of the training capsule “Towards an Operational Protocol for Digital Disconnection in Organizations.” The first training capsule of 2023 addressed the regulatory framework for digital disconnection, as well as introduced best practices from Time Pact member entities both in terms of content and the impact of their implementation. Additionally, in the final part, the entities worked on drafting a digital disconnection protocol for their organization.
• Recording of the training capsule “Time and Inequalities.” The second training capsule, where entities and organizations analyzed how existing inequalities in our society, from an intersectional perspective, impact time use, also introducing the concept of time poverty. The ten participating entities worked on a theoretical part about intersectional inequalities from a time use perspective, which was reinforced by a practical debate where they analyzed time policies that reduce inequalities, both in the political and social spheres, as well as in organizational and individual contexts.
• Recording of the training capsule “Development of a Time Use Improvement Plan for Your Organization.” In the third training capsule, there was joint work on the methodological process to develop a time use improvement plan, which concluded with a simulation of this plan, according to the idiosyncrasies of the different participating organizations.

To philosophise:

• The Breathing of Days: A Philosophical Reflection on Time and Life, Josep M. Esquirol, (Paidós Publishers). Why the set rhythym of night and day is so important for our health? On which sense can time be “lost” or “given”? Is it true that “time heals everything”? How much time do we “have left”? What does it mean, really, to “live in the moment”? How is it that, today, the most precise period regarding time, we still do not have almost “time” to do anything? These are some of the questions posed in this essay about the experience of time. Its originality is based not only on the particular way to approach the subject, but also on the use of clear and entertaining language to express profound ideas.
• The Scent of Time: A Philosophical Essay on the Art of Lingering, Byung-Chul Han, (Herder Editorial). In his philosophical reflections on the art of lingering, acclaimed cultural theorist Byung-Chul Han argues that the value we attach today to the vita activa is producing a crisis in our sense of time. Our attachment to the vita activa creates an imperative to work which degrades the human being into a labouring animal, an animal laborans. At the same time, the hyperactivity which characterizes our daily routines robs human beings of the capacity to linger and the faculty of contemplation. It therefore becomes impossible to experience time as fulfilling.

To start wandering:

• Wanderlust: A history of walking, Rebecca Solnit (Capitan Swing). A fascinating portrait of the infine possibilities presented when one walks. Analysing topics from anatomic evolution to cities design, treadmills, walking clubs, or sexual habits. Solnit uses her easy-to-read style, to defend the act of walking as a political, aesthetical and social action.
• A philosophy of walking, Frederic Gros (Taurus). This essay is a walk, philosophically and literary, together with authors such as Rimbaud, Thoreau or Kant, linked by the act of walking. Walking as an experience of freedom, as a solitary act and prompt to daydreaming, as a fuel for creativity, …

To enjoy a good story:

• The sense of an ending, Julian Barnes (Angle Publisher). Tony Webster and his clique first met Adrian Finn at school. Sex-hungry and book-hungry, they would navigate the girl-less sixth form together, trading in affectations, in-jokes, rumour and wit. Now Tony is retired. He’s had a career and a single marriage, a calm divorce. He’s certainly never tried to hurt anybody. Memory, though, is imperfect. It can always throw up surprises, as a lawyer’s letter is about to prove. The book reflects on time and memory, and how it can even make you rethink your life.
• Thief of time, Terry Pratchett (Plaza & Janes Editores). Time is a resource. Everyone knows it must be managed. You can let it move fast or slowly, but what you mustn’t do is allow it to stop. On the Discworld, the History Monks have the important job of ensuring that tomorrow always comes. But the construction of the world’s first truly accurate clock starts a race against, well . . . time. Monk Lu-Tze, his apprentice Lobsang Ludd and Death’s granddaughter Susan must stop the clockmaker before he completes his task. Because a truly accurate clock will stop time completely. And then, there really will be no tomorrow …

To share with your family:

• It’s the journey, not the destination, Carl Honoré / Kevin i Kristen Howdeshell (Flamboyant Editions). Take time to connect with the world as you embark on 40 slow adventures. Each of these journeys are on foot, bike, boat or train, allowing you to take in the history, absorb the landscape and meet extraordinary people along the way. Whether you roam the ‘Rose City’ of Petra, feel the magic of the Great Stones Way or sail back in time on the River Nile, these journeys, illustrated step-by-step through each location and accompanied by texts from bestselling author ‘Godfather of the Slow Movement’ Carl Honoré provide young readers with a feast for the senses and food for the soul.
• Momo, Michael Ende (Jollibre Group Promoter). Momo lives outside a big city, within the ruins of an amphitheatre. She owns nothing but what she finds or receives as a present but she has an extraordinary gift: She is a wonderful listener. One day, however, the gray gentlemen enter the stage. They are after the precious lifetime of people – and Momo is the only one able to stop them. The unkempt little heroine has nothing but a flower in her hand and a tortoise tucked under her arm to fight the vast army of the “grey gentlemen”. It is the enigma “time” itself that this book is about, an enigma that fascinates thoughtful children and also adults

To rethink working time:

• “The future of the professions: How technology will transform the feina of humanexperts”, Richard Susskind and Daniel Susskind. (TEELL Publisher). Richard Susskind and Daniel Susskind examine the impact of technology on the professions and with això it will transform the way in which experts and humans work. The authors suggest that disruptive technology, such as artificial intelligence and automation, will fundamentally change the nature of the professional woman. They argue that many tasks that traditionally require the intervention of human experts will be replaced by more efficient and precise technological systems. It also raises the question of work times, since technological advances could allow certain tasks to be carried out more quickly and with fewer human resources. The book examines how professions could adapt to this new reality, suggesting alternative work models that could emerge. For example, ideas are explored with project-based work, collaboration between professionals and artificial intelligence systems, and the redefinition of labor responsibilities to maximize human and technological capabilities. Although it is not focused exclusively on work time, the book highlights how technological transformations can influence the way in which experts manage and distribute their work time. It is a very suggestive reading for those interested in understanding how technology is reshaping the professional world and how we can adapt ourselves to face the challenges and opportunities that it presents.
• “WORK”, James Suzman. (DEBATE Editions). It is a fascinating book that sheds new light on the role of work in our lives and in society in general. Through deep research and compelling prose, the author invites us to question our traditional conceptions of work and to reconsider its meaning in an ever-changing world. Suzman examines the history and evolution of work, from hunter-gatherer societies to the modern era of capitalism. It shows us how work has been fundamental to the survival and development of civilizations, but also how it has been shaped and exploited by power and inequality. The most striking thing about this book is Suzman’s reflection on work in today’s society. It makes us question why we work so hard and what we are really looking for in our work lives. Is work a way to find meaning and purpose, or just a way to make a living? Is it possible to find a balance between work and other aspects of life? “WORK” is a book that challenges convention and makes us rethink our deep-rooted beliefs about work. It is essential reading for those interested in understanding how work has shaped our society and how we can rethink it in a world in constant transformation. With rigorous research and insightful perspective, James Suzman delivers thought-provoking work that makes us question our own work lives.
• Remote Not Distant: Design a Company Culture That Will Help You Thrive in an Hybrid Workplace, Gustavo Razzeti. (Liberationist Press Editions). Razzetti is a work culture guru and has studied how companies like Amazon, Slack, GitLab, Volvo, Microsoft and others operate. In this book, he argues that companies that fail to adapt to remote and hybrid work will suffer irrelevance in the future of work. Plus, he shares ways to reset the culture, collaborate in hybrid workplaces, and connect with remote workers.
• The Good Enough Job: What We Gain When We Don’t Put Work First, Simone Stlozoff. (Ebury Edge Publishing). The title is an allusion to the British psychoanalyst D.W. Winnicott’s theory of “good enough” parenting. Stolzoff profiles nine people who have reduced their commitment to a career in search of new kinds of meaning. In “The Good Enough Job,” journalist Simone Stolzoff traces how work has come to dominate American lives and why we find it so hard to let go. Drawing on groundbreaking research and interviews with Michelin-starred chefs, Wall Street bankers, overwhelmed teachers, and other workers in the American economy, Stolzoff lays bare what we lose when we expect work to be more than just an occupation. Instead of treating work as a vocation or a dream, he asks what it would take to change the perspective of work as a part of life, rather than the entirety of our lives. What does it mean for a job to be good enough?

To start practising healthier schedules:

• The Science of Good Sleep, Javier Albares (Península Editions). To sleep well is to live better, with more energy, happiness, creativity and empathy. Sleep is one of the pillars of our health and, despite that, is the most abandoned and forgotten. This essay collects all the scientific and medical knowledge of Dr. Albares after decades attending thousands of patients with sleep issues. A guide to better understand why we need to sleep, how to optimize our rest, how to detect sleep disorders, and in summary, how to sleep more and better.
• The Tokei Method, Eduard Estivill i Carla Estivill (Rosa dels Vents). Thousands of years ago, humans were connected harmonically with the natural cycles of life. This connection with nature’s rhythms gave our ancestors health, energy and emotional well-being. Today, we are still living focused on time, but we have disconnected from its original cadency, and we are no longer paying attention to our internal clocks. The clocks that are responsible for hunger, sleep, energy, or tiredness we feel during the day. Based on chronobiology, this method developed by doctors Eduard and Carla Estivill, is a training to learn to listen to our body and reconnect it to its rhythms.

To understand the relationship between equality and time use:

• Gender Inequalities in Health in Barcelona (Barcelona Public Health Agency; 2023). Report analyzing, among other indicators, hours of sleep, sleep quality, physical activity during leisure time, gender inequalities in domestic and caregiving work time, and in paid work time.
• The Value of Time: How Many Hours Are You Missing Each Day?, Maria Àngeles Duran (Espasa Books). Witty essay about time use, that analyses current issues such as the election between children and paid work, migrant arrival, fast-food chains, or domestic conflicts over who does the dishes. This book helps us better understand the society we live in, in order to face key questions related to time, that need a solution in the future.
• Time, Citizenship, and Inequalities Matxalen Legarreta Iza i Marina Sagastizabal Emilio-Yus (Barcelona City Council). A reflection on time use and social inequalities from a perspective that understands time organisation as a citizen right. It analyses the inequalities provoked by it, and valorises the existing data on time use produced by the statistics Basque institute (EUSTAT), every five years, between 1993 and 2013.

To modify our use of time from sustainability:

• The revolution of proximities, Carlos Moreno (Alianza Ensayo). When facing the triple challenge: ecological, economic, and social, Carlos Moreno proposes to rethink the city from use, proximity, and the suppression of trips. What has been called the “15-minute city”, appears as a new way to live, consume, work and be in the city. It implies to re-think the way to move, explore and discover the space.
• Time for Life: A Contextual Reflection on the Sustainable City  Charo Moran, Helena Pariente i Yayo Herrero (Barcelona City Council). Half a century ago, in 1972, the Meadows report was published about the limits to growth. It warned about the obvious invalidity of the permanent growth of the population and its consumption. And it alerted that, a world limited physically, could not support the permanent growth of material extraction, pollution of water, land and air, ecosystems degradation, and population and its consumption. It was simply not possible.