Description

AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4 WOMAN’S HOUR

Chosen by the Financial Times and Stylist as a Book To Read in 2024

‘Schaffner is insightful, charming and visionary’ Susan Elderkin, author of The Novel Cure

Burnout is said to be the defining feeling of the post-pandemic world – but why are we all so exhausted? Some of us struggle with perfectionism, while others are simply overwhelmed by the demands of modern life.

From confronting our inner critics to how our desire to be productive stops us from being free, Anna Katharina Schaffner, cultural historian and burnout coach, brings together science, medicine, literature and philosophy to explore the causes and history of exhaustion and burnout, revealing new ways to combat stress and negativity.

Inventive and freewheeling, full of comfort, solace and practical advice, Exhausted is an inspiring guide to getting control of your own exhaustion – and rediscovering happiness along the way.

Publisher Review

A fascinating new book that guides us through the causes of burnout and how to avoid it. * New Scientist * Satisfying … engaging … useful * Times Literary Supplement * Antidotes to our exhausting modern life * Sunday Times * Burnout is a defining feature of modern life – but why are we all so exhausted? Cultural historian and burnout coach Anna Schaffner explains why and what to do about it. — What to Read in 2024 * Financial Times * Sensible wisdom for finding emotional support, combating stress and embracing rest * Stylist * Offers advice and guidance on how to address fatigue and exhaustion * The Sunday Post * In Exhausted, Anna Katharina Schaffner delivers a compelling dive into the intricacies of our collective fatigue, blending ancient wisdom with contemporary research. This book is not just a reflection on the pervasive burnout culture but a beacon of hope, offering a practical roadmap to recovery. Schaffner’s eloquent prose and compassionate outlook make this a must-read for anyone grappling with the pressures of modern life — Anne-Laure Le Cunff, founder * Ness Labs * Schaffner is insightful, charming and visionary, both in her description of ailment and her selection of cures. As ever, the answer to everything can be found in a book — Susan Elderkin, author * The Novel Cure * It is always a delight to read Anna Katharina Schaffner. In this handbook, she offers burned-out readers a balm made from her wide-ranging knowledge, her wit, and her experience as a coach and fellow-sufferer. Humans have been exhausted forever, and Schaffner knows, better than anyone, the centuries of philosophy, psychology, art, and literature that people have created to name and overcome their weariness. There are no shortcuts to healing from burnout. But reading Exhausted is like having a brilliant, compassionate, and good-humoured guide showing you there is a way forward. — Jonathan Malesic, author * The End of Burnout *