So much of nostalgia is rooted in popular culture, particularly in the music that encapsulates this time. The 1980s was certainly a fascinating decade for music with a rise in new genres, the death of old ones, and of course, the rise of MTV and concurrently, some of the world's biggest superstars. There’s not many non-fiction titles that I would choose to read again. Not from cover to cover at least. Slow is different. I want to hold it close, and re-read it again and again. Keep it under my pillow as a talisman. (Although maybe the bedside table is a better, less uncomfortable option!) And it’s one of those books you can read in an evening – and re-read to find something new every time.

But what do you say to people who claim that the world will inevitably go on speeding up and that a Slow revolution is pie in the sky? Somehow, 1984 became the year that everyone seemed to get together and push toward the mainstream...and the result was a pop music fan's dream, the likes of which we're not apt to live through again. Can’t Slow Down is a sweeping, roundtable history, at which Duran Duran sit alongside the Judds, who sit alongside the Minutemen, who sit alongside Rubén Blades, who sits alongside Metallica … you get the picture?? It’s also a carefully researched and remarkably ambitious work that immediately takes a place on the shelf of indispensable books about music in the 1980's. Helaas vond ik de vertaling wat slordig en soms echt in kromme Nederlandse zinnen. Echt een gemis! Want zo kan ik dit boek niet aan een school aanraden om op te nemen in de schoolbibliotheek.It’s reached the point of absurdity. You can now do courses in Speed Yoga or attend a Drive Thru Funeral. A magazine in Britain even published an article recently on how to bring about an orgasm in 30 seconds! So even in the bedroom it’s, “On your marks, get set, go!” Our speedaholism is out of control, and we all know it. In Closer to the Ground, Dylan Tomine shares stories from his family’s year on the water, in the woods, and at the table. From foraging for chanterelles to digging clams and fishing for salmon, it’s a celebration of nature around his home turf on Puget Sound, but also an ode to the beauty of just getting outside and living closer to the wild.

I love this quote from the end of the book and feel that it sums up the lessons of SLOW very nicely: In his appealing first-person approach, Honoré offers a you-are-there view of global efforts to challenge the “false god” of speed. Engaging and persuasive.”Honoré offers compelling evidence that suggests controlling your own tempo of life is not only a healthier and happier alternative, but leads to a more rewarding and productive lifestyle.”

In Praise of Slowness is a fascinating look at how speed permeates every facet of our lives – from orgasm-oriented sex to the increased tempo of classical music concerts. She recounts her journey to recovery, from guiltily taking time off work to swimming in the Blue Lagoon and celebrating solstice at Stonehenge. An intelligent manifesto that overturns the idea of speed as an absolute good…Much more than a hymn to slowness…A guide with tips and tools to transform the way we live.” If you believe being overly busy and overextended is evidence of productivity, then you probably believe that creating space to explore, think, and reflect should be kept to a minimum. Yet these very activities are the antidote to the nonessential busyness that infects so many of us. Rather than trivial diversions, they are critical to distinguishing what is actually a trivial diversion from what is truly essential.”There are sections on well-being and taking care of your body, seasonal living in tune with nature and crafting a simple home that inspires a slower pace of life. However, Slow, was a really good read. Brooke McAlary has a definite way with words, her prose is inflected with humour, a self-depreciating honesty, and a tell it like it is quality that I always appreciate. The premise of Slow is to simply ‘slow down’ and ‘be present in our own lives’. Be grateful. Be mindful. Stop buying crap you don’t need and working harder to afford a life you don’t even enjoy. At a base level, Brooke’s words made a whole lot of sense to me and I was pleased to note that in many ways, I was already adopting some of the practices of living slow. Don’t be fooled into thinking this book is a step by step manual on how to live slow; far from it, and that’s what appealed to me the most. Brooke explains within the book that living slow looks different for each and every person, but there are things to keep in mind that will help you shape your life into one you are delighted to live in.