How to Stop Time by Matt Haig Summary

How to Stop Time follows Tom Hazard, a 439-year-old man trapped in the body of someone who appears 41 due to a rare genetic condition called anageria that causes him to age extremely slowly. Born in 1581, Tom has lived through centuries of history alongside figures like Shakespeare and Captain Cook, but now works as a history teacher in modern-day London while searching for his long-lost daughter Marion, who shares his condition. The novel explores his struggle between hiding his secret and his desire to live authentically in the present moment.

Matt Haig is an English author known for exploring themes of mental health, mortality, and what it means to be human in contemporary fiction. Published in July 2017, How to Stop Time became a Sunday Times bestseller and received starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly. Haig uses the fantastical premise of extreme longevity to examine universal human experiences—how we cope with loss, fear vulnerability, and often become so obsessed with past regrets or future worries that we forget to live in the present.

How to Stop Time appeals to readers who enjoy character-driven historical fantasy with philosophical depth rather than action-packed plots. This book is ideal for fans of reflective fiction exploring loneliness, love, and the human condition, particularly those who appreciate Matt Haig's thoughtful storytelling style from works like The Midnight Library. Readers interested in time-spanning narratives, mental health themes, and books that use supernatural elements as metaphors for real-life struggles will find this novel compelling, though those seeking fast-paced adventure may find it slow at times.

How to Stop Time is worth reading if you're drawn to beautifully written, introspective fiction that uses fantasy elements to explore meaningful themes about mortality and living fully. The novel received praise from NPR, The Guardian, and The Washington Post for its "energy and zip" and meditation on time and human connection. However, The New York Times gave it mixed reviews, noting it lacked the sharp humor of Haig's previous work The Humans. Readers should expect a slow-burning, contemplative story rather than plot-driven excitement, with moments that can feel philosophically heavy.

Anageria is the fictional genetic condition in How to Stop Time that causes people to age at an extremely slow rate—the opposite of progeria, which causes rapid aging. Matt Haig conceived anageria as a medical rather than supernatural phenomenon, making those affected, called "albas," biologically unable to die easily and capable of living for centuries while appearing middle-aged. This condition forces Tom Hazard to relocate every eight years to avoid suspicion and has resulted in persecution throughout history, including witch trials and threats of medical experimentation.

The Albatross Society is a secretive organization in How to Stop Time that protects people with anageria by providing new identities, relocating them every eight years, and eliminating anyone who discovers their secret. Led by the ancient and tyrannical Hendrich, the society demands absolute obedience and "favors" from its members while enforcing one cardinal rule: never fall in love. While claiming to offer protection, the Albatross Society actually controls and isolates its members, preventing them from forming genuine connections or living authentically in the present moment.

How to Stop Time explores living in the present versus being trapped by the past, as Tom Hazard spends centuries unable to move forward after losing his wife Rose. The novel examines loneliness and the human need for connection, showing how immortality becomes a curse when you must hide your true self and watch everyone you love die. Additional themes include the meaning of mortality, the courage required to be vulnerable and fall in love, and how obsessing over problems can prevent us from enjoying life—illustrated through Tom's futile centuries-long search for explanations rather than acceptance.

The central message of How to Stop Time is that the only way to truly "stop time" is to fully embrace the present moment rather than dwelling in the past or fearing the future. Through Tom's journey, Matt Haig suggests that a long life means nothing if you're not actually living—forming connections, taking risks, and allowing yourself to be vulnerable despite inevitable loss. The novel argues that mortality and impermanence are what make life precious, and that hiding from pain also means hiding from joy, love, and authentic human experience.

Yes, Tom Hazard's search for his daughter Marion, who inherited his anageria condition, is a central plot thread in How to Stop Time. Tom confesses to Camille that he has spent years searching for Marion and never gave up hope of finding her. The resolution of this storyline connects to Tom's broader journey of learning to live in the present and risk forming genuine connections rather than remaining isolated by fear and loss, though the search itself drives much of his emotional struggle throughout the centuries.

Critics from The New York Times and Los Angeles Times found How to Stop Time inferior to Matt Haig's previous novel The Humans, noting it lacked sharp humor and featured "regrettable fondness for fortune-cookie philosophy". The Los Angeles Times described antagonist Hendrich as "more comic book villain than sensitively rendered character". Some reviewers on PopMatters also gave mixed or poor assessments, and readers noted the pacing can feel slow, with Tom's constant musing over his condition becoming repetitive. Despite beautiful prose, the execution occasionally prioritizes concept over compelling storytelling.

While both novels explore existential themes through fantastical premises, How to Stop Time (2017) focuses on one man's centuries-long journey and the burden of too much time, whereas The Midnight Library (2020) examines parallel lives and the burden of regret through choosing different paths. How to Stop Time received more mixed reviews compared to The Midnight Library's widespread acclaim, with critics noting the earlier novel felt more philosophically heavy and less humorous. Both showcase Haig's interest in mental health and living meaningfully, but The Midnight Library's tighter structure and more optimistic tone resonated more universally with readers.

Tom Hazard chooses to work as a history teacher in How to Stop Time because his centuries of firsthand experience make him uniquely qualified—he literally lived through the events he teaches and met historical figures like Shakespeare, Captain Cook, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. His 2017 London teaching position also represents his attempt at normalcy and connection to the present, though the location stirs painful memories from his past. The role allows Matt Haig to cleverly showcase Tom's vast knowledge while highlighting the irony that despite being the ultimate primary source, he must remain forever silent about his true experiences.