7jane's Reviews > When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing

(since my paperback version is not here, I use the hardcover one.)

music: Robert Palmer - "Housework" (like the little twist to the story in this song)

This book is a good one to have when trying to improve one's life, at work and at home. When-decision times come in so many ways: changing jobs, starting a project, running a marathon, when to exercise... it's importantly to do things not in a haphazard way, especially with important decisions.

This book is good when you want to build an ideal schedule, have a fresh start, or see time as a friend, not an enemy. Each chapter has a "time hacker handbook" in the end, where you can learn the best bits of the chapter, and use them in your life. You might want to keep a bookmark in this Place to be able to see what things are mentioned in the text and which are just in the main text. At the end are some suggestions for further reading (just books).

Plenty of studies are included (examples: Twitter's emotion moods during the day, hospital handwashing, student gym attendace, state of well-being in zoo apes, age of first-time marathon runners, and an interesting study of the dabbawalas of Mumbai, how they work every day).

How the text is broken down: Pt.1: the day + breaks in it; Pt.2: beginnings + middles + ends; Pt.3: coordinatings with others + time in language and use.

Some things that appear in the text that are interesting to me:
- biological clock; lark, owl, & third bird-persons
- importance of appointment time
- the ”nappucino” (coffee and a nap)
- recessions impact on the luck at getting work after graduation
- ”midlife crisis” (term since 1965)
- 9-enders (ages of 29, 39, 49…): challenges or destruction (of self, cheating etc.) starting then

This was a good read to me. I found it very helpful – inspiring me, surprising me, making me think. Self-improvement really benefits from good timing, and this book really help you with it. There is certain plenty of ideas for everyone, wherever they are in life. I recommend this :)