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Author of Four Thousand Weeks Oliver Burkeman on How To Live Well

History &
Social Policy

Reconsidering what it means to live well and how we might do it better amid the hustle and bustle of modern life

Acclaimed author and journalist Oliver Burkeman has captivated readers with his refreshing insights on how to embrace the finiteness of existence and find meaning in the everyday. Author of the bestselling book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and formerly a columnist for the Guardian, Burkeman challenges conventional productivity advice, offering a more realistic perspective on how to live well.

In April 2025 Burkeman came to the Intelligence Squared stage, where he was in conversation with Financial Times Columnist Tim Harford, to discuss Meditation for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts – the sequel to Four Thousand Weeks. Together, they explored how letting go of the relentless pursuit of productivity and accepting our imperfections can lead to a more fulfilling life.

 

Speakers for the motion

  • Oliver Burkeman

    Journalist and author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals 

Featuring

  • Tim Harford

    Senior columnist for the Financial Times and author of How To Make The World Add Up

Speakers are subject to change.

Speakers

Speaker

Oliver Burkeman

Journalist and author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals 

Oliver Burkeman is a feature writer for The Guardian. He is a winner of the Foreign Press Association's Young Journalist of the Year Award and has been shortlisted for the Orwell Prize. He wrote a popular weekly column on psychology, ‘This Column Will Change Your Life,’ and has reported from New York, London, and Washington, D.C. His books include Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and The Antidote: Happiness for People who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking. He lives in New York City.
Host

Tim Harford

Senior columnist for the Financial Times and author of How To Make The World Add Up

Senior columnist for the Financial Times, where as 'The Undercover Economist', he reveals the economic ideas behind everyday experiences. He also presents the BBC radio series More or Less. His writing has appeared in Esquire, Forbes, New York magazine, the Washington Post, and The New York Times. His latest book is How to Make the World Add Up, and previous books include The Undercover Economist, The Logic of Life and Adapt.