Felt Time by Marc Wittmann Summary

Felt Time explores the psychology of subjective time perception, examining how emotions, attention, and memory shape our experience of duration. Marc Wittmann argues that time isn’t objectively measured but felt through bodily awareness, with factors like boredom, flow states, and aging altering its pace. The book integrates neuroscience and philosophy to explain phenomena like slowed time during stress or accelerated years in routine-heavy lives.

This book suits readers interested in psychology, neuroscience, or self-improvement. It’s valuable for those curious about why time perception varies—whether feeling stuck in a slow workday or noticing years blurring by. Students of consciousness studies or mindfulness practitioners will also gain insights into temporal awareness and techniques to manage felt time.

Yes, Wittmann’s blend of research and accessible analysis makes it a standout for understanding time perception. It offers practical takeaways, like using mindfulness to slow subjective time, and explains why impulsive people experience boredom differently. Critics praise its interdisciplinary approach, though some may desire more direct productivity hacks.

Wittmann proposes that time perception arises from bodily self-awareness, not external cues. The brain’s “pacemaker-counter” system tracks intervals, while emotions and focus modulate this process. For example, stress amplifies bodily signals, making minutes feel longer, whereas flow states minimize self-awareness, speeding up felt time.

Routine reduces novel experiences, which the brain compresses in memory, creating a sense of acceleration. Childhood’s constant new milestones stretch subjective time, while adulthood’s repetitive patterns shorten it. Felt Time suggests varied activities and mindfulness can counteract this effect.

Consciousness is framed as an “island of presence” rooted in temporal awareness. Wittmann links time perception to the brain’s processing of bodily rhythms (e.g., heartbeat), arguing that self-referential awareness drives our sense of duration and the passage of time.

Impulsive individuals struggle to delay gratification, heightening their focus on unmet desires. This hyper-awareness of waiting triggers boredom, elongating subjective time. The book likens this to chickens in experiments, which couldn’t wait more than six seconds for food.

Strong emotions, like fear or joy, intensify bodily awareness, slowing felt time. For instance, during a car crash, adrenaline sharpens sensory focus, making events seem prolonged. Conversely, positive distractions compress perceived duration.

Mindfulness practices reduce self-focused rumination, which Wittmann ties to accelerated time perception. By anchoring attention to the present, mindfulness dilates moments, countering the autopilot mode that makes life feel fleeting.

The brain segments experiences into roughly three-second chunks, a rhythm tied to speech phrases and decision-making. These intervals form the building blocks of subjective time, with overlapping chunks creating the illusion of seamless flow.

Prolonged waiting triggers an internal “error signal,” alerting us to unmet expectations. This mechanism explains impatience while waiting for a bus or meal—the brain flags delays as deviations from predicted timelines, amplifying frustration.

Some readers may find its focus on theoretical models over actionable steps limiting. While it clarifies why time perception varies, practical strategies are briefly addressed. Additionally, its interdisciplinary scope might overwhelm those seeking a pop-science read.