Smarter

10 Lessons for a More Productive and Less-Stressed Life

Coming Soon

Contributors

By Emily Austen

Formats and Prices

On Sale
Sep 2, 2025
Page Count
288 pages
Publisher
Little Brown Spark
ISBN-13
9780316594400

Price

$29.00

Price

$39.00 CAD

“An empowering manifesto for those ready to break free from burnout and redefine what it means to thrive.” Vanity Fair (UK)

Are you stuck in an exhausting struggle for balance between work, family life, fitness, friendships, and mental health? It’s time to live life smarter, not harder. In Smarter, entrepreneur and recovering productivity addict Emily Austen releases you from the myth that over-productivity equals success, with a life-changing system for getting the right things done—instead of trying to do them all. With the ten pillars of the Smarter Method, you’ll learn how to:

  • Track your energy, not your time
  • Forget the 5 a.m. club, and join the 8 a.m. club
  • Switch from multitasking to monotasking
  • Perform a Busyness Detox
  • Create your Daily Dos
Smarter is a system that harnesses how your brain actually works to get more out of your time. By identifying and embracing your talents, creating consistency, and naming what you really want “to do,” you can live your life fully, while achieving your most ambitious goals. 

  • "Smarter is the productivity guide that every woman needs."
    Roxie Nafousi, bestselling author of Manifest
  • “An essential toolkit for anyone who wants to live fully, with more success and less stress. In her clear, no 'BS' style, Austen offers practical tools for avoiding burnout, reclaiming time, and focusing on what matters.”
    Alison Fragale, author of Likeable Badass
  • "Burnout is not a badge of honor. Smarter is your no-BS guide to rewriting what success looks like... without sacrificing your sanity. Emily Austen delivers honest, practical steps that help you protect your energy, define your own version of “making it,” and actually enjoy the journey. Ambitious women, this one’s for you. Let’s stop surviving and start leading—smarter, not harder."
    Andrea Owen, author of How To Stop Feeling Like Sh*t
  • “Written by an overachiever for overachievers, author Emily Austen reframes the idea that more is more when it comes to energy spent at work. Fail to control your time and your time will control you is the clear takeaway here. Follow her practical and totally doable tips for consciously managing your time and you’ll find relief as you become a human being rather than a human doing.”
    Lois P. Frankel, PhD, author of Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office
  • "Smarter is the book that every budding entrepreneur, woman and soul should have."
    Metro UK
  • "In a post-#Girlboss world, Emily Austen manages to cut through clichés to offer women a sharp, fresh and engaging guide to having it all. Without condescension, she speaks to women in a way that feels simultaneously motivational and reassuring, using her extensive experience to encourage others in a positive, uplifting way. For those exhausted and disappointed by the endless Instagram mantras, empty hashtags and patronizing tropes which are consistently used to discuss women in the work environment, this is the perfect antidote."
    Grazia UK
  • "A new, practical guide and empowering manifesto for those ready to break free from burnout and redefine what it means to thrive... This book will be your blueprint for leveraging your strengths, boosting your productivity, and achieving lasting success on your own terms." 
    Vanity Fair (UK)

Emily Austen

About the Author

Emily Austen is the founder and CEO of EMERGE, an award-winning PR agency based in London, working with global brands, including Huel, Spanx, Red Bull, Castore, The Birley Clubs, Lick, PE Nation, Abercrombie & Fitch, Fitflop, and more. The 26-strong team was started by Emily in 2012, at the age of 22, after she graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Criminology and Criminal Law. She has guest lectured at Harvard University and has been featured in ‘300 Years of Leadership and Innovation’. Emily is a Strategic PR advisor to UN Women UK, tackling challenging conversations such as domestic violence and gender inequality, and works with the General Assembly to effect change. She is also a Strategic Advisor to ESI Media Group. And a descendant of Jane Austen.

Learn more about this author