Bored and Brilliant

How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self

By: Manoush Zomorodi

Narrated by: Manoush Zomorodi

An AudioFile Magazine Earphones Award Winner

This program is read by the author.

It's time to move "doing nothing" to the top of your to-do list.

In 2015 Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC's popular podcast and radio show Note to Self, led tens of thousands of listeners through an experiment to help them unplug from their devices, get bored, jump-start their creativity, and change their lives. Bored and Brilliant builds on that experiment to show us how to rethink our gadget use to live better and smarter in this new digital ecosystem. In this fascinating new audiobook, Manoush explains the connection between boredom and original thinking, exploring how we can harness boredom's hidden benefits to become our most productive and creative selves, without totally abandoning our gadgets in the process.

Grounding her arguments in the neuroscience and cognitive psychology of "mind wandering" - what our brains do when we're doing nothing at all - Manoush includes practical steps you can take to ease the nonstop busyness and enhance your ability to dream, wonder, and gain clarity in your work and life. The outcome is mind-blowing.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 Manoush Zomorodi (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"In this spirited exploration of our relationship with technological devices, Zomorodi's melodic voice beckons and inspires listeners to develop a deeper understanding of how tech devices affect our potential...Zomorodi persuasively conveys her compelling points on the need for reflection to make room for enlightenment in this age of technological overload." ( AudioFile)

" Bored and Brilliant shows the fascinating side of boredom. Manoush Zomorodi investigates cutting-edge research as well as compelling (and often funny) real-life examples to demonstrate that boredom is actually a crucial tool for making our lives happier, more productive, and more creative. What's more, the book is crammed with practical exercises for anyone who wants to reclaim the power of spacing out - deleting the Two Dots app, for instance, or having a photo-free day, or taking a 'fakecation'." (Gretchen Rubin, author of number one NYT best seller The Happiness Project)

amazing book!

this book has so many practical ideas and calls to action. excited to apply these tactics

good read ...reduce your device addiction

great way to understand your inability to put your phone down and live in the now.

Useful, though not really what I expected

A 3.5 would be a more accurate star rating for me I think. Good narration, and simple, useable advice for managing screen time, as well as how to change our relationship to our devices. The book is not anti-tech, which was refreshing. I also enjoyed the interview with the 2 Dots developer; it was unexpected and unique.

If you are looking for a book that really emphasizes the important of being bored, or something more related to its relationship to creativity, or intelligence, where are probably better books out there. She does discuss these themes through references to other authors works, some of which I am likely to also read, so I can’t say this isn’t well researched. It just wasn’t so much the focus of the book: the major theme was applying the Bored and Brilliant Challenges and why each particular challenge matters with regards to our use of smart phones.

Still a good listen, though.

Love this NEED this

Helped me look honestly at my own behavior & addictive use of phone. Superb map for a way forward.

A great companion to the Ted Talk

Great reflection to remind us not to get carried away by the “busy bee” model. This books helps realize that we are self-sabotaging our creative potential by dedicating so much of our time to checking our phones, playing with apps or browsing the internet.

The narration is spot on, especially the discussion on the “two-dot” game. Great audiobook!

Thought Provoking and Conversational

I really enjoyed this book and the moments of reflection it led me to have. Listening to the exploration of the need to have boredom in our lives and it's ability to foster creative thoughts led me to observe how I currently engage with the vast array of entertainment and tech in my life. I also really enjoyed the narration by the author. Although I do not think I would enjoy her as a narrator for works of fiction in this case it really gave me the feeling of sitting down and having a conversation with someone who is intensely passionate about this topic. In this way I felt her narration added to my experience of her writing and the level of invitation I felt to explore how I currently live and whether I might want to try changing things up. I am thankful for the conversation she is establishing here and think it is an important one and something that I feel has benefited how I look at my self-care and validated some of my own life experiences. I recommend this audible and think it would make an excellent book club read and conversation piece.

great read especially in this day in age

I loved it! I definitely have had my struggles of finding myself giving myself too much time in my phone. this is a great book to give you the baby steps to reorganize your life and productivity. Manoush does an incredible job at reading, her voice has a great enthusiasm and keeps you actively listening!

Great topic chosen by the author. Well excuted.

End it in one listen. Pleasurable and Honest. Highly recommended for millennials and parents who are struggling with the youths and how to help them from the evitable future.

brilliant and Thought Provoking

I was skeptical I enjoy a very small margin of self help or time management books, this met both standards and Im a tough cookie. Well done.

Manoush is my spirit animal.

I've always loved Zomorodi's reporting and podcasts. This book is just as good and covers information we can all use: how to unplug and why it's a good idea to do so.