Paul Roberts' Musings

Thursday May 10, 2007

Time - our most valuable commodity

Thanks to hint from an article I read in the paper the other day, I grabbed a copy of Arnold Bennett's How to Live on 24 Hours a Day, and it's a fine read indeed. Its tempting to bill this concise instructional guide as an Edwardian Getting Things Done as it definitely seems to share some of the same ideals and appeal. For me though, what is most enchanting about this book is its charming and avuncular writing style that makes you feel like you are getting a caring but cheeky telling off from an old friend. With such quaint delights as Bennett's response to the man who just can't get up early because he needs his servants to make him tea in the morning (have your servant leave a spirit lamp with a pot of tea on it outside your room before bed, of course!) you can't help but read this book with a great big smile on your face all the way through. But inescapably, this book leaves you genuinely inspired. It so compellingly reminds us that time is indeed life's greatest commodity, and that you can never get in debt with time because no matter how you spend today, tomorrow will always be there waiting for you in all its glory. Bennett encourages us to wrestle life back from the clutches of procrastination and apathy by developing our ability to pay attention to what is going on around us and to get maximum value from every moment, cheifly by educating ourselves (and not falling into the trap of thinking we have low energy; tiredness is voluntary!) and by exercising our minds. Well worth a read.