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  • 168 Hours

  • You Have More Time Than You Think
  • By: Laura Vanderkam
  • Narrated by: Elizabeth London
  • Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (92 ratings)

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168 Hours

By: Laura Vanderkam
Narrated by: Elizabeth London
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Summary

There are 168 hours in a week. This book is about where the time really goes, and how we can all use it better. It's an unquestioned truth of modern life: we are starved for time. With the rise of two-income families, extreme jobs, and 24/7 connectivity, life is so frenzied we can barely find time to breathe. We tell ourselves we'd like to read more, get to the gym regularly, try new hobbies, and accomplish all kinds of goals. But then we give up because there just aren't enough hours to do it all. Or else, if we don't make excuses, we make sacrifices. To get ahead at work we spend less time with our spouses. To carve out more family time, we put off getting in shape. To train for a marathon, we cut back on sleep. There has to be a better way - and Laura Vanderkam has found one.

After interviewing dozens of successful, happy people, she realized that they allocate their time differently than most of us. Instead of letting the daily grind crowd out the important stuff, they start by making sure there's time for the important stuff. They focus on what they do best and what only they can do. When plans go wrong and they run out of time, only their lesser priorities suffer. It's not always easy, but the payoff is enormous. Vanderkam shows that it really is possible to sleep eight hours a night, exercise five days a week, take piano lessons, and write a novel without giving up quality time for work, family, and other things that really matter. The key is to start with a blank slate and to fill up your 168 hours only with things that deserve your time. Of course, you probably won't read to your children at 2:00 am, or skip a Wednesday morning meeting to go hiking, but you can cut back on how much you watch TV, do laundry, or spend time on other less fulfilling activities. Vanderkam shares creative ways to rearrange your schedule to make room for the things that matter most.

©2010 Laura Vanderkam (P)2010 Gildan Media Corp
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Critic reviews

"We so often live our lives day by day. Laura wants us to think about doing it hour by hour. Living this mantra by example, she gets more done in a day than most of us do in a week." (Seth Godin, author of Linchpin)
"Laura Vanderkam shows us how to use our only real wealth-our 168 hours a week- to make our lives richer, not busier. That's a wonderful gift, because it's what genuine success is all about." (Geoff Colvin, author of Talent Is Overrated)

What listeners say about 168 Hours

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Some good points

At first the book has potential and there are some useful tips/ideas on how to free up your time. However I fee like there should be a disclaimer that this book is written for middle-upper income people who can afford paying for services (cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc.) to save time. I don’t need a book to tell me that though.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Some good ideas but fo UK’s have been shorter

I’m glad I ‘read’ but she does come across a little self righteousness (perhaps inevitable for this subject?) and I think all the worth from the book could half been ascertained in half the time.

Nether the less a worthwhile listen.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I'd already redesigned my week

Where does 168 Hours rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top. I'll be replaying it again!

What did you like best about this story?

I'm always stressed. I'm always thinking I don't have enough time. This book made me realise how wrong I was. Instantly I feel better, happier and able to get everything done.

Have you listened to any of Elizabeth London’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Any additional comments?

I've now redesigned my week to a schedule I love.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good and practical book

Very practical advices and inspiring ideas for both woman and men. Based on high quality researches Thanks!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book and audio helps you to maximise time!

Love this book, as a mum of 2 who works full time, I often believed that I couldn't fit everything in, now having listened to this (whilst commuting so effectively making use of otherwise wasted time) I feel like candour so much more without feeling harassed. Seriously listen to this book, you will be amazed by what you can achieve!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Get yourself organised!

Listeners to this twice. Really Great practical book full of useful methods to use your time more effectively.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Just invest time to read this; the return is plentiful.

This in one of these books everyone would benefit from reading. Everyone? Yes, everyone! We all have the same hours available to us each week. So how come some thrive and have plenty left, while others always run out of time and complain they don’t have enough.
This book gives great insights to become more aware of your schedule, and practical tips on how to improve your life.
What’s not to like about it?

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

It's abit long-winded but still good tips

There are good tips, mainly near the beginning but it's very long winded and takes time to get the the point! found my mind drifting after the never ending stories of different people! Would help if it's was more to the point and less waffle!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

American insanity

Stop talking about your 60+ hour work weeks, for a book about time management this is very much waffling

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Nothing new about time management

So disappointed.
I expected lots of practical tips on how to manage time.
Instead it became a review of others who had done great things, with the same time alloted to everyone else.
A little bit self centred too.
I tried to stick with it but by chapter 6 I was wishing the time away just so I could start another book.
Basically, use your time wisely to accomplish what you want. That's the book in a nutshell.

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