Subtract : the untapped science of less

Subtract The untapped science of less

Leidy Klotz, 1978-

Book - 2021

"Blending behavioral science and design, Leidy Klotz's Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less offers a scientific appreciation of why we underuse subtraction-and how to access its untapped potential. When humans solve problems, we overlook an incredibly powerful option: We don't subtract. We pile on "to-dos" but don't consider "stop-doings." We create incentives for high performance, but don't get rid of obstacles to our goals. Whether considering a stack of Legos, preparing a grilled cheese sandwich, or writing an essay, Leidy Klotz shows that we consistently overlook the principle of subtraction as a way to improve. Our mental preference for addition-for adding to what's already there rath...er than thinking of taking away-is so wide-spread and strong that we would prefer to accommodate wrong ideas than simply remove them. Drawing from his own pioneering research and scientific research throughout history, Klotz examines cultural, political, and economic trends underlying our neglect of subtraction, asserting that we have billions of years of evidence showing that lifeforms are perfectly capable of subtracting to improve. Proposing a new way to frame our behaviors, Klotz shares thought-provoking examples and anecdotes to supplement his proven techniques on implementing a new perspective and understanding of subtraction. By learning to use the counterintuitive approach of subtracting, we can revolutionize not just our day-to-day lives, but our work across every field and industry. Subtract shows how this innovative approach to life is the key to unlocking our greatest potential"--

Saved in:
Place a Hold Save to List Email this

2nd Floor Show me where

158.1/Klotz
1 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
2nd Floor 158.1/Klotz Checked In
Subjects
Self-actualization (Psychology)
Stress management.
Self-help publications.
Genres
Self-help publications
Published
New York, NY : Flatiron Books 2021.
Language
English
Main Author
Leidy Klotz, 1978- (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
290 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN
9781250249869
  • Introduction: The Other Kind of Change
  • Part I. Seeing More
  • 1. Overlooking Less: Legos, the Lab, and Beyond
  • 2. The Biology of More: Our Adding Instincts
  • 3. The Temple and the City: Adding Brings Civilization, and Civilization Brings More
  • 4. More-ality: Time, Money, and the Modern Gospel of Adding
  • Part II. Sharing Less
  • 5. Noticeable Less: Finding and Sharing Subtraction
  • 6. Scaling Subtraction: Using Less to Change the System
  • 7. A Legacy of Less: Subtracting in the Anthropocene
  • 8. From Information to Wisdom: Learning by Subtracting
  • Takeaways
  • Acknowledgments
  • Image Credits
  • Notes
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Klotz (Sustainability Through Soccer), a University of Virginia engineering and architecture professor, makes a bold but poorly executed case for the benefits of a minimalist approach to life. Klotz argues that when one is seeking to make changes, the natural instinct is to add (more tasks, more content, more objects) while overlooking solutions that involve doing or having less. Unfortunately, Klotz gets lost in the weeds, and instead of supplying practical suggestions, turns his attention to examples of minimalism in art and science. While some illustrations of how excess is prized come off as too amorphous (Keynesian economic theories or the rise of the Anthropocene), his arguments are most memorable when they draw on the world of design, such as in his explanations of the genius of the cement block and the Vietnam Memorial. Some ideas are intriguing, with shades of Cal Newport's minimalism and Daniel Kahneman's paradigm-shifting approach to psychology, but Klotz's reasoning is hindered by repetition, tangents, and philosophical overreach, such as reflections on "interdependent multitudes" and the duality of the Hindu goddess Kali. This overfilled and underbaked take on a fertile topic makes for frustrating reading. (Apr.)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review

Copenhaver Associate Professor at the University of Virginia, Klotz argues that in problem solving of any kind, we shouldn't keep adding on new and different takes but instead subtract, trying to figure out what we shouldn't be doing. With a 125,000-copy first printing.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Similar Items