In the eighties, greed was good. In the noughties, speed is often the alter at which we are urged to worship. Popular media is obsessed with the idea of 'now, now, now' and 'next, next, next' and, caught up in this sentiment, it seems our lives can't help but be tuned to the pursuit of 'fast'.

At work, we labour under the demands of time, or rather, no time: we have to get the report into the boss by Friday, be up the freeway by 6pm or at lunch by 1pm sharp. At home we often find little time to 'relax' beyond television or computer games, and sate our hunger with 'convenience' foods.

Whether it's urbanisation, consumerism, technology or globalisation, the truth is everything has become a race to the finish line - with a price. In Sydney, the toll of busyness is everywhere.

Yet, encouragingly, there is growing conviction that life should be more than a rush from A to B. That we should savour the sounds and sights of the environment and culture in which we find ourselves. That our food should be organic and lovingly prepared; that our exercise should involve nature and long slow strolls; that our entertainment and commerce should embrace genuine interaction with other members of our community; and that rather than our lives being ruled by the clocks on our gadgets, the seasons should at least play a role in guiding the rhythm of our lives.

Bio

Martin Hughes worked for years as a writer, editor and photographer for Lonely Planet, even after creating one of the company’s most commercially disastrous (albeit critically-acclaimed) series, World Food, about the culture of eating and drinking in different countries. Writing a guide to his original hometown of Dublin completed the circle and he stopped travelling for work.

Following a three-year stint as editor of The Big Issue magazine, Martin started his own publishing company with the idea of publishing books that have a positive impact on the community and which influence by delight. Affirm Press launched late last year with Slow Guides to Melbourne and Sydney. These lifestyle guides are for city people who want to slow down, smell the roses, and make a deeper connection with the place in which they live.

Books by Affirm Press

The Slow Guide Sydney: Live more, fret less 
(available for purchase at Soul in the City 27 July) 

Series also includes:

The Slow Guide Melbourne: Live more, fret less

Slow Guides for London & Dublin coming soon.