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Not Doing London book launch with Steven D’Souza

Last night LID Publishing celebrated the London launch of Steven D’Souza and Diana Renner’s new book Not Doing.

Despite the snow, guests packed out the room at WeWork Devonshire Square for Steven D’Souza and his panellists Roz Savage MBE, Mark Walsh and Gerald West.

After a short introduction from LID UK’s Martin Liu, Steven took to the mic to thank both his audience for braving the cold weather and the book’s illustrators who had travelled from Berlin to be there.

Discussing the central themes of the book, Steven said he and Diana wanted to create a book that was “an experience,” and discussed the central themes of Not Doing and the almost-spiritual journey of learning and self-reflection it hopes to encourage.

Sharing her personal story included in the book, Roz Savage MBE, once a busy London managerial type, gave up everything to sail across the ocean. During the long period of time at sea, she had to learn to become more comfortable with her own thoughts, feelings and inner voice. She had to learn how to be OK with Not Doing.

Mark Walsh, Director of Integration Training, livened up the evening by encouraging guests to partake in an experimental “Doing” mode, looking specifically at our posture and being aware of our bodies while sitting, standing and introducing ourselves.

Gerald West brought us back to the present with a story of how his week had been interrupted by family emergencies and, inevitably, the snowfall. He got through it, he said, by Not Doing, simply making the most of the time and not worrying about what else “should” be happening in that moment.

So many people today are struggling with the increasing pace of change and the constant, excessive busyness that comes with it. Many feel stretched, overwhelmed and exhausted, besieged by the demands of complex projects and workplaces.

Not Doing explores the limits and dangers of “doing” and how they play out in our lives and workplaces. It looks at what is driving, or contributing to, our excessive activity and what a different kind of “doing” might look like – one that is less about control and struggle, and more about well-being, harmony and creativity.

The book is available to buy here.

Tags: Book Launch, Diana Renner, Not Doing, Steven D'Souza