In praise of slowness - Carl Honore
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Journalist Carl Honoré believes the Western world's emphasis on speed erodes health, productivity and quality of life. But there's a backlash brewing, as everyday people start putting the brakes on their all-too-modern lives. Honoré is best known for his advocacy of the Slow Movement. His book "In Praise of Slowness" dissects our speed-obsessed society and celebrates those who have gotten in touch with their "inner tortoise."
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Honoré says, “Some of the most heartrending emails that I get on my website are actually from adolescents hovering on the edge of burnout, pleading with me to write to their parents, to help them slow down, to help them get off this full-throttle treadmill.” Inspired by these pleas and growing out of his own experiences as a parent, three years after his TED talk Honoré authored "Under Pressure: Rescuing Our Children From The Culture Of Hyper-Parenting." Learn more about the genesis of this book and why Honoré worries about kids today at http://www.carlhonore.com/?page_id=5.
Work with classmates to survey or interview parents and children in your community. Aggregate and analyze the results, exploring their connection to Honoré’s hypothesis. Partner with your local library to sponsor a book club discussion of "Under Pressure" or a similar text; promote this event through local PTA groups, civic associations, and youth organizations. Present highlights from your own research as part of this discussion.
Harvard Business Review Blog Network: "Slow down, you move too fast" (04/03/2012) http://blogs.hbr.org/schwartz/2012/04/slow-down-you-move-too-fast.html
Slow Food International http://www.slowfood.com/
The Atlantic: "A slow-books manifesto" (03/26/2012) http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/03/a-slow-books-manifesto/254884/
Forbes: "Time for a slow-word movement" (12/30/09) http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/29/media-newspapers-internet-opinions-columnists-trevor-butterworth.html
Psychology Today: "Slow movement with awareness: better than exercise?" (07/06/2010) http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/body-sense/201007/slow-movement-awareness-better-exercise
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