How to Stay Productive When the World Is Ending

Productivity, Burnout, and Why Everyone Needs to Relax More Except You

Narrated by Mara Wilson; Jay Aaseng
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Pub Date Jun 06 2023 | Archive Date Jul 31 2023
Andrews McMeel Audio | Andrews McMeel Publishing

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Description

A biting humor collection about the cult of productivity and the feeling of impending doom that comes with it, from Reductress.
Juggling careers, maintaining relationships, managing side gigs, and sustaining an engaging social media presence is hard––and we're expected to do it all while battling the ever-present feeling of existential dread against the backdrop of climate catastrophe, an ongoing pandemic, and social isolation.

From the editors and most popular writers of Reductress, the only satirical women’s magazine in publication, How to Stay Productive When the World is Ending is a collection of essays, how-tos, and “inspirational” phrases to help you laugh when staying both sane and productive in a commodified world feels impossible. From “’Doing What You Love’ and Why That’s Bad,” to "Why I'm Prioritizing My Career Over Finding a Better Career," this collection perfectly skewers the indignities, big and small, of living through late-stage capitalism.
A biting humor collection about the cult of productivity and the feeling of impending doom that comes with it, from Reductress.
Juggling careers, maintaining relationships, managing side gigs, and...

A Note From the Publisher

We regret this E-galley is not available for Kindle viewing.

We regret this E-galley is not available for Kindle viewing.


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format, Unabridged
ISBN 9781524886684
PRICE $16.99 (USD)
DURATION 4 Hours, 50 Minutes

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (AUDIO)

Average rating from 42 members


Featured Reviews

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this audiobook. Both the narration and the tone of the essays varied greatly. Because comedy is hard, and satire is especially difficult to please every one, I found some of the essays poignant and deeply moving, while others were a miss for me. Overall excellent.

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This satire gave me the laugh I needed to get through the work day! There were so many moments in which I was basically talking to the book.

It feels like listening to a podcast!

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This book was laugh out loud hilarious. I nearly cried laughing a few times and found myself chuckling to myself throughout. The narrators are fantastic and so serious that I don't know how they were able to make it through the readings without breaking. This was really well done and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have already recommended it to all of my friends. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This irreverent and humorous self-help book is not your typical guide to self-improvement. Instead, it takes a lighthearted approach to serious topics like personal growth, relationships, and career success. The author's witty writing style and clever anecdotes will keep you engaged and entertained from start to finish. Overall, "How to Stay Positive When the World is Ending" is a refreshing and entertaining take on the self-help genre. If you're tired of dry, boring self-help books and want to try something new, give this book a read. You won't be disappointed.

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I envision myself giving this book to my jaded friend who is beyond ready to move on to something great on her last day in the hypothetical office we both work in. A hilarious romp through the modern pressures of working, perfectionism, and 'have it all' culture, while balancing self-care, work-life balance, and generational trauma. A fun read!

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As a fan of Reductress I was all over this and I have to say it did not disappoint. Fun, evocative, and all too relatable.

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Reviewing a satirical nonfiction piece is a little challenging, since a lot of the content is ironic or flat out the opposite of what should be true. But I enjoyed it nonetheless. This book was irreverent and hilarious. It poked fun at a lot of real issues in the workplace and American culture. Of course, the tongue-in-cheek humor was appreciated all around. The narrators were great—I could hear when something was meant to be in quotation marks or italics… Reductress knows their own voicing very, very well.

I wouldn’t recommend this book to everyone—it is certainly not for people who feel the need to defend hustle or productivity culture. But I’m certainly grateful to have received and audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Reductress!

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How to Stay Productive When the World Is Ending: Productivity, Burnout, and Why Everyone Needs to Relax More Except You is a humor and satire collection from Reductress. The audiobook is narrated by Mara Wilson and Jay Aaseng. This humor collection is about the cult of productivity and the feeling of impending doom that comes with it. Juggling careers, maintaining relationships, managing side gigs, and sustaining an engaging social media presence is hard––and we're expected to do it all while battling the ever-present feeling of existential dread against the backdrop of climate catastrophe, an ongoing pandemic, and social isolation.

How to Stay Productive When the World Is Ending is a funny, and sadly too relatable, collection of short pieces that had me nodding, laughing, and thinking as I listened along. There were bits that were more fun and relate to me than others, but that is to be expected. There is something in this collection for everyone that has ever worked. The readers did a great job of capturing the needed tome in each segment and I really enjoyed the book on several levels.

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Thank you Netgalley for the access to the audiobook!

"Congratulations, you are reading a book"

This was great fun to listen to! It hits the nail about the existential crisis of the young adults and all the struggles in juggling work, personal and social life and how, no matter what, there will never be a great path.
It presents all the subjects in a satyrical and clever way that is entertaining to listen to.

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This was a fun little romp into the millennial worker's headspace and I'm here for the laugh. Thanks for the reality of life with the chuckles of doom and insanity of the times.

The narration was great, especially Boomer Dad announcer voice - super appreciate the individual voice approaches and comedic timing.

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Audio, Andrews McMeel Publishing for the advanced audio copy for review, via NetGalley! I'm always up for an escapist way to view my generation!

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I love the satirical take on this book and I found listening to it as an audiobook added to the level of satire.

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As a cranky millennial, working in a corporate world, this book was just what I needed. Full of snark and sassy commentary on working life and the world as we know it right now, I found my personal laugh track on repeat as I listened to this book!

I listen to the audiobook before purchasing a physical copy of this book, because I liked it so much, and found myself easily ensconced in the main narration from Mara Wilson. Her fun and upbeat cadence provided the perfect Snark to go along with the material she was reading. Jay Aasen’s commentary on different side notes provided a good break up in the dialogue and contrast. Both narrators delivered a fun and very listenable reading to this sarcastic self help manual.

I had a lot of fun listening to this and relating to a lot of the issues. A lot of sarcastic, and biting commentary. Depending on your sense of humor, and even perhaps what you do for a living, this book will either be absolutely hilarious and relatable, or a complete flop.

I personally love this book and had a lot of fun listening to the narration and I’m looking forward to revisiting some of the finer points and sharing them with my friends and my physical copy.

How to Stay Productive When the World Is Ending by Reductress is avail now in all formats.

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Audio and NetGalley for my audio review copy.

#HowtoStayProductiveWhentheWorldIsEnding #Reductress

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“Congratulations, you are reading a book”
The snark was on point!
I got the audiobook through NetGally, I enjoy the multiple narrators- it make me wonder what the print version who look like.
I laughed and snorted several times- my only concern it that there may be readers who don’t recognize sarcasm and fear they may follow some of the “suggestions”. 🤷‍♀️😉😆

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If you enjoy the Reductress content, you'll enjoy this book. But be warned, it's not for everyone. I'd check out their social media accounts first, and if you find yourself agreeing with everything there, you'll not be dissapointed.

I was a little surprised how much (depressing) reality they could pack into a book with so much satire. It was on the nose in the same way their web content is on the nose, while simultaneously making me feel like their writers are lurking behind every lamppost and bush and using my own thoughts for their perfectly absurd headlines.

It was the perfect length, and the audiobook was very well done. I worried it may be a joke that's gone on too long by the time I was done, but I listened straight through and had a sensible chuckle to myself the whole time.

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How to Stay Productive When the World is Ending
⛧ ⛧ ⛧ ⛧
do you ever get the feeling you’re doing too much, not accomplishing enough, while trying to look put together but not TOO together and wondering if you’re alone (besides everyone that also posts their existential dread online)? well. cozy. on. up. listening to this audio book has made me chuckle a fair few times. a collection of short blog like narratives and tweet length tips put your mind at ease that others really do think the idea of needing a side hustle to afford a bed in a flat with 3 other people to afford rent, is ridiculous, even if it isn’t far from the truth. quick read, we’ll narrated, laugh at life because it’s going to take you out anyways. #reductress #howtostayproductive #audiobook #audiobookstagram #newrelease #books #nonfiction #satire #women #pink

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“No thank you, I would not like to be hunted today.”

“Just work harder.”

Hilarious satire of the current state of our world. For real, it’s funny….and also a little sad & unfortunate but mostly funny.

My friend @spellboundreader recommended this book to me and I’ve never felt so attacked but in the best way. 😬

I’m guilty of so many of the stupid things humans do and which are discussed in this book. 🫣

While it is a little political (left leaning) it’s done in a way that I rather enjoyed. I hate when books are super political but I was here for it with this one.

Topics covered…

🌎 Prioritizing work over…well everything.
☠️ Ignoring illness and how it’s just something our culture does
🏫 College loan debt
💴 Work / Life Balance
🧠 Neurasthenia, Thanks Dr. Beard
⛅️ Climate Change

I learned a lot about stuff I already sorta knew but need to do better with. Work isn’t life. If COVID taught me nothing else…it’s that.

This book is laugh out loud funny and made me cringe. Let’s face it we are all guilty of some of the stuff in this book. Also the book format is great! Enjoy!

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If you have a good sense of humor and speak in sarcasm, this is a must read! I had to re read a few places because I couldn’t stop laughing. I really enjoyed this hilarious book. Thanks NetGallery!

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This book GETS ME! I haven't slapped my thigh this hard while listening to a book in a while! For me this book reflects our post pandemic time where everything is normal and not normal at all so well. I may not be able to get the burnout vacation that I need but I can listen to this book again!

The narrator is hilarious and incredible!

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