Listen free for 30 days

  • When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing

  • Written by: Daniel H. Pink
  • Narrated by: Daniel H. Pink
  • Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (195 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing cover art

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing

Written by: Daniel H. Pink
Narrated by: Daniel H. Pink
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $30.70

Buy Now for $30.70

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

The instant New York Times best seller

Number one Wall Street Journal Business best seller

Instant Washington Post best seller

"Brims with a surprising amount of insight and practical advice." (The Wall Street Journal)

Daniel H. Pink, the number one best-selling author of Drive and To Sell Is Human, unlocks the scientific secrets to good timing to help you flourish at work, at school, and at home. 

Everyone knows that timing is everything. But we don't know much about timing itself. Our lives are a never-ending stream of "when" decisions: when to start a business, schedule a class, get serious about a person. Yet we make those decisions based on intuition and guesswork. 

Timing, it's often assumed, is an art. In When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, Pink shows that timing is really a science. 

Drawing on a rich trove of research from psychology, biology, and economics, Pink reveals how best to live, work, and succeed. How can we use the hidden patterns of the day to build the ideal schedule? Why do certain breaks dramatically improve student test scores? How can we turn a stumbling beginning into a fresh start? Why should we avoid going to the hospital in the afternoon? Why is singing in time with other people as good for you as exercise? And what is the ideal time to quit a job, switch careers, or get married? 

In When, Pink distills cutting-edge research and data on timing and synthesizes them into a fascinating narrative packed with irresistible stories and practical takeaways that give listeners compelling insights into how we can live richer, more engaged lives.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. 

©2018 Daniel H. Pink (P)2018 Penguin Audio

What the critics say

"Pink is as comfortable behind the mic as he is with his subject matter as he reveals that it really is all about timing.... With a popular TED talk and a long list of public speaking engagements on his resume, Pink is more polished than many author narrators, and his high-energy style is infectious." (AudioFile Magazine) 

“Known for his popular books on motivation and creativity, Pink tackles the science behind how we organize our time and how we should set up the routines of our days.” (Washington Post, 11 Leadership Books to Read in 2018)

“Pink delivers the bad news about our time-based weaknesses with some good news about how to compensate for them. More delightful still, many of these tips involve simply slowing down, taking breaks and stealing naps. Alas, none of this advice will prevent time from flying by, but at least there are proven ways to fill our hours a bit better.” (The Wall Street Journal)  

What listeners say about When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    118
  • 4 Stars
    59
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    111
  • 4 Stars
    45
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    98
  • 4 Stars
    51
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent listen

This book draws on key scientific concepts around timing in a way that is easy to listen to and understand. A great starting point for anyone who communicates scientific material academically or professionally and is trying to improve the way they share new studies and findings.

#Audible1

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Months Later and I Still Think About This Book

This book was amazing. Insanely practical at both a micro (day to day activities) and macro (your whole life) level. I can honestly say that even months after reading it, I still regularly think about this book and act on what it taught me. Recognizing when I'm biologically wired to be more productive, combined with his caffeine/nap combination has been a total game changer. I can't recommend this book enough! #Audible1

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The ignored system that drives our systems!

All to often we take time for granted. It is a deadline or a appointment. This book have given me some wonderful perspective that ties our body and mind to the significance of “timing”. This is one of my new favourites! Thank you Daniel Pink.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good but not great.

I'm a huge fan of Daniel Pinks writing and books. So perhaps I came with high expectations. Dont get me wrong there's a ton of actionable advise. I guess my problem was that I didn't feel there was a succinct flow or narrative linking all of the advise. Instead it felt like sections were somewhat picked at random and the because of that the book and its actionable advise is extremely difficult to commit to memory.

To sell is human was a great book with a wonderful central thesis. This book is missing the same magic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book - very informative!

I felt I had to write a review because this book was awesome. I did not wantvit to end. Very interesting facts that the author backs up with research papers and scientific studies. This gives tips on when to do things in life for all types of people. If you are a boss or in charge of people read this to help make yourself better...I know I am forwarding it to my boss (who I think is a great leader) for insight and inspiration.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Valuable insight on this subject

I liked the approach of the author regarding all these facets of timing and it’s importance in our lives.
The information about knowing your levels of energy, how taking break can greatly enhance the rest of your day, specially the nappucino part was for me a great reminder.
But in spite of all these facts that really make sense, i have my reserve on life timing. Statistics are relevant but basing our life on the best timing doesn’t necessarily grant happiness.
But overall, this is a book I recommend !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great tips

Great book to understand the brain a little better and how humans work together. Great tips to improve your day.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Amy
  • 2020-05-21

great listen.

must listen again with the pdf companion. good info. I enjoyed it and the author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great book

super useful information. easy to follow. engaging. I've already started implementing what I've learned

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Strongly recommend

Interesting and engaging, laid out nicely with practical tips at the end of the chapters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!