Saying No to New - by Eric Athas (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From New York Times editor Eric Athas comes a groundbreaking solution on how to rewire our impulses to consume new things and reclaim control of our lives and spending habits.

New things are everywhere--and they're causing us to disconnect from what we value most in life. One of the biggest lies of modern times is that new is always better. A new phone is always better than the previous edition. A new pair of sunglasses is always better than the one you wore last summer. The new fitness app is always better than the one you already downloaded. Influencers are constantly promoting the latest trends, and retailers are designing frictionless experiences that optimize for speedy checkouts. Sooner or later, we can't help but feel like a new product, trend, or fad is too good to resist.

Saying No to New recognizes that instead of improving our lives, new things often distract us from our goals. They steal our time, money and attention--and even our joy and happiness. As a solution to today's challenges, Saying No to New will help you:

• Understand how your own brain may be pushing you to newness for brief dopamine hits
• Become knowledgeable about the landscape of new things and the forces pulling you in
• Master the art of detecting persuasion in humans and technology
• Make smarter decisions about what to embrace and what to deflect
• Develop a calmer, healthier, clutter-free lifestyle
  

In Saying No to New, Eric Athas draws upon his experiences and the latest research--as well as interviews with scientists, philosophers, tech insiders, happiness gurus, decision-making experts, and others--to provide a framework for reshaping your relationship with new things. You will learn how to break the flow of new things into your life and take a more intentional approach to the ones you do encounter.

Review Quotes

"Saying No to New offers something increasingly rare in the world of ideas: an original angle, based on real science, that gets at the root of why modern life so often feels like it's working against us -- in our finances, our attention, our happiness. And because Eric Athas's take is genuinely new, so are his solutions. My life is better for reading this book."--Leidy Klotz, author of Subtract and In a Good Place

"A smart guide to reclaiming your attention and intention, and defining what is enough for you."--Cait Flaunders, author of The Year of Less and Adventures In Opting Out

"Brilliant and timely! A wake-up call for anyone caught in the endless chase for more--and a persuasive case for enough."--Shira Gill, author of Minimalista

"Eric Athas gives us the whys and hows to saving ourselves from the pulls of our consumerist society. He provides a valuable roadmap to finding a life of being instead of having. Put it in the hands of everyone you know: Collectively applied, this book can save our civilization from self-destruction and offers us hope for a brighter future."--Bea Johnson, author of Zero Waste Home

"Eric Athas has written a fascinating book about something that affects so much of modern life: our attraction to newness. In a culture constantly pushing the next trend and product, he explores why novelty is so hard to resist and how it influences the way we think, feel, and live. Drawing on neuroscience and psychology, he helps us rediscover the richness of the familiar and stay grounded in what truly matters in a world always urging us to want more simply because it's new. This is a thoughtful, insightful guide for anyone trying to live more intentionally. After reading it, you'll never think about newness in quite the same way again."--Gloria Mark, PhD, author of Attention Span

"In a world constantly telling us the latest upgrade will make us happier, smarter, and more fulfilled, Saying No to New offers a guide to resisting the pull of endless novelty and unneeded innovations. Blending journalism, psychology, and practical wisdom, this book explores why we're so drawn to the new--and how ignoring that instinct can give us back our time, money, and joy."--Charles Duhigg, bestselling author of Supercommunicators and The Power of Habit

About the Author

Eric Athas is an editor at the New York Times, where he helps journalists learn new tools and skills they can use to tell stories. Before joining the Times in 2016, he worked at NPR and the Washington Post. His work has been published in the New YorkTimes, the Washington Post, Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and the Nieman Journalism Lab. Athas lives with his wife and two children in Brooklyn.