About this Event
About the book:
A guide to long-term pacing that balances hustle and leisure, whether you’re chasing bold dreams or just trying to stay afloat in daily life, inspired by the strategies of elite athletes and renowned psychologists.
Every distance runner knows this cardinal rule: don’t go too fast, or you’ll drain your energy well before the finish line. Intuitive for athletes, most of us struggle to pace ourselves in daily life. We find ourselves caught between two extremes: an endless sprint, or complete disengagement. Yet, cultivating this pacing sensibility can give us the breathing room we need to create a rich, meaningful life, all while making meaningful progress on our goals.
In The Art of Pacing, science writer Elizabeth Svoboda explores how shifting between the full range of paces can transform the way you reach your goals. Blending memoir, cutting-edge research, and interviews with Olympic athletes and entrepreneurs, Svoboda artfully uncovers the nuances of pacing and provides techniques to adjust your tempo across life’s challenges, so you can effectively balance ambition with rest. You’ll learn:
- How to determine your natural “pulse points” so you can reserve your most important work for your circadian high points and build in plenty of restorative rest.
- Why practicing modulation lays important groundwork for designing a life that nourishes you.
- What brief candle moments are, and how you can use them in your life to build in strategic, meaningful pauses.
- How narrative reflection reveals what gives you a sense of purpose, so you can pare excess from your life and make space for what matters.
Written with the perfect mix of soul and science, The Art of Pacing offers a refreshing alternative to all-or-nothing living—and reveals the path toward lasting success.
"Every runner knows the danger of going out too fast. Managing your pace is the key to fulfilling your potential. The Art of Pacing shows us how that same principle governs work, relationships, and life itself. This book is a much-needed antidote to hustle culture, which has left many of us burned out or disengaged. Svoboda expertly draws on science, sport, and real-world stories to argue that the path to a meaningful life isn't about going harder. It's about going wiser."—Steve Magness, author of Do Hard Things and Win the Inside Game
"The Art of Pacing is a wise and welcome antidote to hustle culture. Blending science, research, and storytelling, Svoboda makes a compelling case that the secret to thriving in the modern world is not to speed everything up or slow it all down. It's to find the right pace—for the task, the moment, the life you wish to lead. Because mastering the art of pacing is how you master the art of living."—Carl Honoré, author of In Praise of Slowness
"Engaging and deeply reported, The Art of Pacing is essential reading for anyone who seeks to work hard without burning out."—Olga Khazan, author of Me, But Better
"At a moment when speed is often mistaken for progress, Svoboda shows that pacing isn’t a luxury—it’s a prerequisite for doing meaningful work in the long run. This book is a salve for a world that has forgotten how to slow down."—Simone Stolzoff, author of The Good Enough Job and How To Not Know
“The Art of Pacing names the lie at the heart of modern ambition: that your only choices are burnout or disengagement. Svoboda offers a smarter, saner, science-backed alternative to grind culture—a way to move through life with intention, energy, and staying power by finding your right pace. Grounded in interdisciplinary research, this practical, approachable guide to flourishing is essential reading for anyone who wants to contribute meaningfully yet sustainably, without sacrificing themselves in the process.”—Megan Hellerer, author of Directional Living
Elizabeth Svoboda is an award-winning science writer and contributor to Scientific American, Discover, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and other publications. Elizabeth is a winner of the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Writers, and her work has been anthologized in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. She lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and young sons.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Books Inc., 1875 South Bascom Avenue, Campbell, United States
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