Book SummaryWhen, by Daniel H. Pink

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of When

In When, Daniel Pink argues that timing is everything. Drawing on his extensive research on the science of timing, Pink shows how our daily lives and experiences follow predictable patterns. He offers guidance on how we can use these patterns to be strategic about our time, from being more efficient at work to taking advantage of momentum at important turning points in our lives. When is a handbook for those who want to harness the natural rhythm of their day and their lives to work and live more intentionally.

Now a best-selling author, Pink began his career working in politics and economic policy, spending two years as the chief speech writer for Al Gore. In 1997, he quit his job to begin working for himself, an experience he documents in his first book, _[Free Agent...

When Summary The Daily Rhythm

In this first section, we’ll discuss the importance of time in our daily lives—not only the human inventions of clocks and calendars, but also our innate biological rhythms. We’ll also explain how you can learn about your own biological clock in order to take full advantage of the natural rhythms of your day.

According to Pink, time is the unspoken (and often underestimated) force that runs our lives. We set alarms, schedule flights, celebrate annual holidays, and mark our aging year to year. Many of these conventions of time have been invented by humans as a way to organize our lives.

The True Nature of Time

America’s “official time” is kept by 21 atomic clocks housed in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, CO. These clocks, which can calculate the time within one-quadrillionth of a second, make up the system that broadcasts time to our computer networks and cell phone towers, ensuring all of our devices are in sync.

While our economy and society rely on the time according to the NIST clocks, some argue that [this precise version of time doesn't reflect its true...

When Summary The Crest: The Potential of Beginnings

In the previous section, we discussed how there are predictable patterns within a day. In this next section, we will show how those same patterns (crest, slump, and recovery) can apply in other contexts, whether it be a school schedule, a work project, or a relationship.

Pink argues that beginnings are full of potential. Just as people feel more optimistic and capable at the start of a day, they also feel more optimistic and capable when they're at the beginning of a project or a new job.

(Shortform note: The positive thought pattern of optimism often leads us to be more hopeful. In Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman explains that hopeful people have a variety of traits that tend to make them more successful. For example, they're intrinsically motivated, see themselves as resourceful, and are better able to weather challenges. Therefore, the optimism we feel at new beginnings not only makes us feel more capable, but will also help us perform better.)

Pink cites a study that describes this phenomenon as the **“fresh start...

When Summary The Slump: The Struggle of Middles

In the previous section, we discussed the power of beginnings and how to take full advantage of their potential. In this section, we’ll discuss the middle. Just like the slump we experience in a day, there's also a lull in the middle of an experience. However, this lull can have two possible outcomes—it can leave you feeling listless or inspire you to take action. We’ll explore the potential causes of the slump and discuss strategies to avoid getting stuck.

(Shortform note: In Managing Transitions, William and Susan Bridges discuss the impact of the midpoint in periods of transition. They explain that midpoints can often feel chaotic or directionless, leaving people feeling frustrated. However, like Pink, they describe middles as an opportunity for inspiration and increased creativity.)

Pink writes that our happiness and motivation decrease in the middle of an experience. Research tracking people’s level of well-being over the course of their lifetime shows an increase in happiness when people are in their 20s and...

When Summary The Recovery: The Power of Endings

Just like beginnings and middles, endings matter and have a powerful, often invisible, influence over our behavior. (Shortform note: Part of why endings matter is because they force us to reflect more deeply on ourselves. Endings provide an opportunity to look back on an experience to see how it fits into our life narrative and has formed our sense of self. For example, when people retire, they often have to adjust to a new identity that doesn't revolve primarily around work. Endings, whether chosen or not, give us the opportunity to develop greater self-understanding.)

Pink argues that the end of something, whether that be a period of time or an experience, can impact our life in four ways.

First, endings disproportionately shape our memory of an experience. How an experience ends often determines how we remember it. The “peak-end rule,” proposed by psychologists Daniel Kahneman (author of Thinking, Fast and Slow) and Barbara Frederickson,...

When Summary Working Together

Up until now, we've focused largely on how time affects the individual. But group timing, or synchronicity, is crucial to a functioning society. In this next section, we’ll elaborate on how you can apply what you know about the principles of timing when working in groups.

Pink argues that our survival depends on our ability to collaborate and coordinate with other people. Think about the level of synchronicity it takes to build a house or distribute food to grocery stores. We can't function without synchronicity. Therefore, while managing individual timing is important, the art of group timing is even more important.

(Shortform note: Scientists have long pondered the question of why humans evolved to collaborate when it seems as though acting in your own self-interest would be the evolutionary advantage. In The Social Conquest of Earth, Edward Wilson suggests that collaboration isn't the product of individual selection, as has been previously suggested, but of group selection. While selfish people might...

Shortform Exercise: Work With Your Daily Rhythm

According to Pink, the first step to mastering the science of timing is knowing your daily rhythm. While you can take a quiz to discover your chronotype, many people intuitively know if they are more of a morning type or night type based on their existing sleep patterns.

Based on your preferred sleep schedule, would you call yourself more of a morning type or a night type?

Shortform Exercise: Use New Beginnings to Take Action

According to Pink, beginnings are all about what is possible, and therefore they often inspire us to take action. While many people think of the new year as their annual new beginning, Pink shows how there are hundreds of temporal landmarks in a year that offer the opportunity for a fresh start.

What is a goal you want to achieve or a habit you want to start? Why is this goal or habit important to you?