We all live in a speeded up world we buy instant meals, work overtime, are wired in to our homes and offices, and precariously balance family and jobs. But it seems the more we get done the more there is to do, and while our modern lifestyles have given us faster ways of doing things, they have also quickly taken away the rhythm and serenity of daily life. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Adair Lara wrote a column describing her mother's way of slowing down hanging up clothes on a clothesline. More than 1,000 readers responded to her column with their own suggestions writing letters in longhand though they have computers, washing dishes by hand though they have dishwashers, reading their favorite novels again and again. The best of these stories, as well as others, have been combined to create this inspirational collection.