Unearthing the hidden science of timing

WHEN: THE SCIENTIFIC SECRETS OF PERFECT TIMING

Daniel H Pink Loot.co.za (R325)

Riverhead

IT’S time to make room in the self-improvement section of your bookshelf. When: The Scientific Secrets of

Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink perfectly executes the tried-and-true formula for social science books. Start with a compelling anecdote, tease it apart with some science and suggest ideas on how applying the underlying principle can better your life.

Pink sets out to “unearth the hidden science of timing” – to uncover it as a significant player in our lives. He highlights a study of Danish schoolchildren that found that those who took their yearly standardised test in the morning performed better than those who took it in the afternoon. The PM. slump is real, which is why Pink advises against scheduling a doctor’s appointment later in the day. According to a study, doctors found an average of more than 1.1 polyps during colonoscopies performed at 11am. By 2pm, it dropped to barely half that number, even though the patients were no different. What helps mitigate the slide, Pink explains, are breaks. Judges rule in favour of prisoners about 65% of the time early in the day, but by late morning, that rate drops to nearly zero, regardless of the facts of the case, researchers found. Immediately after the judges take a break, they become more forgiving again, Pink writes, “only to sink into a more hard-line attitude after a few hours”.

The breadth of the book’s scope is impressive. It explains why people whose age ends in 9 are overrepresented in first-time marathoners category. Pink makes a point to end each chapter with takeaway points that readers can apply to their own lives.

When is engaging and tightly edited, making it an easy read.