Oliver Burkeman, born in 1975, is a British author and journalist widely recognized for his writings on psychology, productivity, and the human experience of time and limitations. He is known for his somewhat contrarian approach to self-improvement, often challenging the prevailing notions of positive thinking and relentless productivity. Instead, Burkeman advocates for embracing imperfection and limitations as a pathway to a more meaningful life.
Burkeman is perhaps best known for his book, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, which explores our limited time on Earth and encourages readers to focus on what truly matters. From 2006 to 2020, he penned the weekly column "This Column Will Change Your Life" for The Guardian, where he dissected self-help trends and psychological research. He has also contributed to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Burkeman currently publishes a newsletter called "The Imperfectionist" and continues to explore themes of productivity, mortality, and building a meaningful life. His recent work, Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts (2024), quickly became a national bestseller in the United States and Canada.
