Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing

by Olga Mecking, Lucy Price-Lewis (Read by)

Overview

The Dutch people are some of the happiest in the world. Their secret? They are masters of niksen, or the art of doing nothing.

Niksen is not a form of meditation, nor is it a state of laziness or boredom. It’s not scrolling through social media, or wondering what you’re going to cook for dinner. Rather, to niks is to make a conscious choice to sit back, let go, and do nothing at all.
With this book, learn how to do nothing in the most important areas of your life, such as:

• AT HOME: Find a comfy nook and sit. No technology or other distractions. 
• AT WORK: Stare at your computer. Take in the view from your office. Close your eyes.
• IN PUBLIC: Forget waiting for the bus, enjoy some relaxing niksen time.

Backed with advice from the world’s leading experts on happiness and productivity, this book examines the underlying science behind niksen and how doing less can often yield so much more. Perfect for anyone who feels overwhelmed, burnt out, or exhausted, NIKSEN does not tell you to work harder. Instead, it shows you how to take a break from all the busyness while giving you sincere, heartfelt permission to do nothing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781664783553
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	01/12/2021
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Olga Mecking is a writer, journalist, and translator based in the Netherlands. She contributes to The New York Times, The Guardian, The BBC, The Atlantic, and many other publications. She is the reporter who made Niksen big, her New York Times article on the subject was shared over 100k times. Since then, she has been interviewed by numerous media on the topic, from written news and blogs to radio shows.
 

Editorial Reviews

11/09/2020

Journalist Mecking, expanding on her viral New York Times article, highlights in her pleasing debut a wellness trend from the Netherlands that doesn’t require any special equipment or complex training. The concept of niksen, she writes, is essentially “the act of doing nothing.” Making a point of separating it from mindfulness meditation—which still requires posture, focus, and intention, and is rooted in wanting to do something—Mecking explains niksen as a way of doing nothing in order to allow one’s mind to rest. She speaks with many experts who weigh in on the value of niksen as a way to boost creativity and productivity, and provides tips on how to resist the pressure to stay busy, manage expectations, and find hobbies one can do “with niksen in mind” (like running, owning an aquarium, or doing yoga). Mecking’s friendly, almost motherly tone is a great match for the concept, though her exceedingly thorough approach of reviewing, examining, and exploring her topic from every conceivable angle can feel ironically exhausting. Self-help readers who have been enjoying the wave of imported lifestyle guides have something new to look forward to. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Would listening to an audiobook, even one as relaxing as this one, count as “niksening”? According to Polish author Olga Mecking, no—to do niks (Dutch for “nothing”) is to do nothing at all (think gazing out the window and letting your mind wander). British narrator Lucy Price-Lewis gives a bright and engaged reading of this study of how making time to do nothing can increase energy and creativity and bring balance to a busy life. Mecking, who lives in the Netherlands, argues that the Dutch have perfected this practice, though she also admits that many Dutch people don’t recognize what they’re doing as niksen. Lewis’s narration matches Mecking’s friendly tone, and she convincingly delivers quotes from productivity and happiness experts. So listen, and THEN niksen. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2021 - AudioFile

Would listening to an audiobook, even one as relaxing as this one, count as “niksening”? According to Polish author Olga Mecking, no—to do niks (Dutch for “nothing”) is to do nothing at all (think gazing out the window and letting your mind wander). British narrator Lucy Price-Lewis gives a bright and engaged reading of this study of how making time to do nothing can increase energy and creativity and bring balance to a busy life. Mecking, who lives in the Netherlands, argues that the Dutch have perfected this practice, though she also admits that many Dutch people don’t recognize what they’re doing as niksen. Lewis’s narration matches Mecking’s friendly tone, and she convincingly delivers quotes from productivity and happiness experts. So listen, and THEN niksen. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2021 - AudioFile