The Scent of Time

A more approachable work of modern philosophy, no doubt aided by the fact that German is Byung-Chul Han's second language which is subsequently translated into English. Not to say as a newbie reader of philosophy I haven't taken the absolute wrong message from this work.

Deep breath.

Our secular society has meant that time has lost its narrative structure. Time has been atomized. Each moment does not link with other moments and as a result we lack directional movement. We're whizzing from experience to experience - multitasking and trying to cram more and more into our lives. It's reduced us to “animal laborans” with an imperative to work. We should be stopping and lingering - seeking a contemplative life that rests in each moment.

Philosophers love explaining this and you respond with “Oh you mean Live, Love, Laugh?”

Like I said, new to this whole philosophy thing. But enjoyed it enough to pick up some more Han. Many of these ideas provide the foundation for his later work in The Burnout Society.