People all over the world are reclaiming their time and slowing down to live happier, healthier and more creative lives. It’s called the Slow Movement. Carl Honoré’s own moment of epiphany came when he tried to streamline reading-before-bedtime to his two year old in order to save time. But then he thought, what is the point of rushing through life just to save a minute? What followed is In Praise of Slowness, an in-depth investigative book into the history of the slow movement and its various manifestations, from Slow Food to Slow Cities to Slow Parenting. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to reconcile with their inner speed demon.
What is the Slow Movement?
The Slow Movement questions the unhampered materialism that drives the global economy. We feel constrained by greed, inertia and fear to keep up an unrelenting pace. Even children eel the pressure to do as many things as possible. How did we get to this point? According to Honoré, it began during the Industrial Revolution with the rise of factories, modern capitalism and increasingly accurate clocks. Workers began to be paid by the hour and not by productivity, allowing management to squeeze as much productivity out of us as possible by forcing us to work ever faster.
The irony is that working long hours on the job actually makes us less productive and more error-prone, not to mention unhappy and ill. Many of today’s rising medical conditions such as insomnia, asthma, hypertension, migraines and gastrointestinal problems are caused by stress.
So what does Honoré mean by Slow? He stresses that the concept does not literally mean to move slowly. Nor does it mean turning back the clock. Rather, it is about promoting a balance between the modern and traditional world. As Uwe Kliemt, the Tempo Giusto pianist who plays classical music more slowly said, “The world is a richer place when we make room for different speeds.”
Therefore, Slow is defined as “calm, careful, receptive, still, intuitive, unhurried, patient, reflective, quality-over-quantity. It is making real and meaningful connections – with people, culture, work, food, everything.” In contrast, he defines Fast as “busy, controlling, aggressive, hurried, analytical, stressed, superficial, impatient, active, quantity-over-quality.”
What is a Slow City?
The cultural revolution began in Italy in 1986 with the Slow Food Movement, which praised the joys of sustainable farming; organic and seasonal produce; supporting local farmers, markets and restaurants; and connecting with family and friends over a delicious meal. In fact, the very same city that brought us the Slow Food Movement, Bra, Italy, also gave Cittaslow (slow city). Expanding upon their original ideas, they aim to improve the quality of life in cities, resist the homogenization and globalizations of cities around the world, protect the environment, promote cultural diversity and provide inspiration for a healthier lifestyle. Since 2005, when In Praise of Slow was written, there are now 252 cittaslow in over 30 different countries and territories.
In the United States, a similar movement flourished independently of Cittaslow, called New Urbanism, which promoted walkable neighborhoods with lots of public spaces. In their cities, the streets are narrow and flanked by wide, tree-lined sidewalks. Garages are tucked out of view in the lanes behind their owner’s homes. They are also socially conscious, including a blend of mixed-income housing, schools, leisure facilities and businesses. New Urbanism has its critics though, saying that it feels as if you’ve landed into The Truman Show (which was coincidentally filmed in the New Urbanism community of Seaside).
Both movements, though, have labeled cars as the biggest enemies of slowness. With their noise and their space, they make pedestrians feel alienated. “The whole scene says cars first, people second,” Honoré wrote. Yet the less cars there are and the slower they go, the more connected a community feels. People walk more. Crime is lower. And with less cars, there’s more space for benches, bicycle lanes, play areas and parks. Slow Cities naturally foster a stronger community, which in turn encourages people to relax and slow down even further.
Slow Living
Unfortunately, the Slow lifestyle is often only accessible for the rich and upper middle class. Alternative medicine, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods and grass-fed beef are not easy for everyone to come by. In the United States, public transportation is poor and with such wide street lanes and huge overhead freeways, we feel encouraged to drive. However, the book does include tips that everyone can incorporate, such as cutting down on Netflix, spending more time with friends and family, meditating, cooking and walking. At the end of this book, you’ll feel inspired to design a slow life whatever way you can.
