Oliver Burkeman
Full Name and Common Aliases
Oliver Burkeman is a British author, journalist, and speaker.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: November 8, 1975 (exact date of death unknown)
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: British
Profession: Author, Journalist, Speaker
Early Life and Background
Oliver Burkeman was born in England in 1975. Little is known about his early life, but it is evident that he developed an interest in writing at a young age.
Growing up in the UK, Burkeman's surroundings likely influenced his perspective on life. He would later draw upon these experiences when crafting his thoughts on mindfulness and the human condition.
Major Accomplishments
Oliver Burkeman's career as an author and journalist spans over two decades. His notable works include:
"The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking" (2012)
"Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" (2021)
These books showcase his unique approach to self-improvement, encouraging readers to reevaluate their relationship with time and productivity.
Notable Works or Actions
Burkeman's writing often challenges conventional wisdom on happiness, success, and the meaning of life. He has been featured in various publications, including The Guardian and The New York Times.
Some notable works include:
"The Antidote" - A book that critiques traditional self-help methods and offers a more nuanced approach to achieving happiness.
"Four Thousand Weeks" - A guide to managing time effectively, focusing on the reality of our limited lifespan.
Impact and Legacy
Oliver Burkeman's impact is multifaceted. His writing has inspired countless readers to reevaluate their priorities and values.
He encourages his audience to adopt a more realistic approach to life, one that acknowledges our limitations and imperfections. This message resonates with many who feel overwhelmed by the demands of modern society.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Oliver Burkeman's unique perspective on happiness and productivity has made him a widely quoted figure in various fields. His writing challenges readers to think critically about their values and priorities, often sparking meaningful conversations and reflections.
His emphasis on living in the present moment, despite our limited time, is particularly resonant in today's fast-paced world.
Quotes by Oliver Burkeman
Attachment, this argument runs, is the only thing that motivates anyone to accomplish anything worthwhile in the first place. If you weren’t attached to things being a certain way, rather than another way – and to feeling certain emotions, rather than others – why would you ever attempt to thrive professionally, to better your material circumstances, to raise children, or to change the world?
Ultimately, what defines the ‘cult of optimism’ and the culture of positive thinking – even in its most mystically tinged, New Age forms – is that it abhors a mystery. It seeks to make things certain, to make happiness permanent and final. And yet this kind of happiness – even if you do manage to achieve it – is shallow and unsatisfying. The greatest benefit of negative capability – the true power of negative thinking – is that it lets the mystery back in.
Resisting a task is usually a sign that it’s meaningful-which is why it’s awakening your fears and stimulating procrastination. You could adopt “Do whatever you’re resisting the most” as a philosophy of life.
Pain is inevitable, from this perspective, but suffering is an optional extra, resulting from our attachments, which represent our attempt to try to deny the unavoidable truth that everything is impermanent.
It is alarming to consider how many major life decisions we take primarily in order to minimise present-moment emotional discomfort.
Bereaved people who make the most effort to avoid feeling grief, research suggests, take the longest to recover from their loss.
Ask yourself whether you are happy’, observed the philosopher John Stuart Mill, ‘and you cease to be so.’ At best, it would appear, happiness can only be glimpsed out of the corner of an eye, not stared at directly.