A reflection on the importance of slow productivity in an achievement society.
One of my favorite quirks in comic books is the sheer number of PhD degrees some characters supposedly hold. For example, Bruce Banner (the Hulk) is credited with seven doctorates, while Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) boasts no fewer than eighteen. Comic book writers use these exaggerated credentials to signal extraordinary intelligence. In reality, however, accumulating that many PhDs would be neither practical nor impressive within academia. In fact, it would suggest a worrisome lack of focus. A genuinely ambitious researcher would be better off completing a couple of postdoc positions and securing a permanent academic post.
Obviously, comic books are fantasy. Still, I was reminded of these improbable collections of degrees when I came across a real-life parallel at Wageningen University. The university’s internal magazine, Resource, recently profiled a student who is on track to earn six MSc degrees in just a few years. He is currently enrolled in MSc programs in Mechanical Engineering, Plant Sciences, Tax Law, Management, and Econometrics at different Dutch universities. While this might sound impressive at first glance, I was struck by how uncritically the magazine celebrated the achievement. The tone felt like an endorsement of hustle culture. Valuing efficiency and productivity over quality, depth, and true expertise.
Achievement Society
At a time when students, lecturers, and researchers are increasingly grappling with mental health issues and burnout, it feels misguided to celebrate individuals who maintain overloaded schedules through sheer force or clever “hacks”. This kind of narrative reflects what some scholars call the achievement society, in which “we suffer from an internalized pressure to achieve: to do more, to be more, to have more.” In the interview, the student even asserts that “you can do more than you think” (which is also the title of the article). I find this mindset troubling. High-quality work demands sustained attention and adequate time. When we rush through tasks or take on far more than we can reasonably handle, we undermine not only our well-being but also the integrity and depth of our work.
Luckily, we are witnessing the rise of a countermovement that challenges hustle culture and the relentless chase for achievements. Books such as The Slow Professor (by Maggie Berg and Barbara Seeber) and Slow Productivity (by Cal Newport) advocate a more deliberate approach to work and study. An approach that values reflection, balance, and well-being. Cal Newport distills this philosophy into three core principles:
- Do Fewer Things
- Work at a Natural Pace
- Obsess over Quality
These ideas stand in stark contrast to the message promoted in the article, which encourages taking on more commitments, maintaining a frantic schedule, and focusing on completion rather than quality work. I hope that the university magazine will engage with this perspective, as it provides a much-needed counterpoint to the unhealthy obsession with productivity and achievements.
Lack of Respect
Beyond the glorification of hustle culture and the achievement society, I was also struck by the lack of respect for education in the article. The student openly advises to “go to as few lectures as possible” and to call in sick to skip workgroup sessions that conflict with other commitments. Such behavior is profoundly disrespectful, not only toward fellow students but especially toward the teachers who dedicate substantial time and effort in creating engaging learning experiences. It is surprising that a university magazine would reproduce this advice without criticism, particularly while praising the high-quality education offered at Wageningen University in other articles. To me, that is the very definition of hypocrisy.
The only piece of advice in the article that I agree with is that being hungover is a waste of time. But I worry that this student may soon experience a mental hangover if he continues at this frantic pace. It feels like a burnout waiting to happen. He may believe that he is racing from one imaginary finish line to the next. But as James Clear noted in one of his newsletters: “The important stuff has no finish line.” We need a sustainable, slow pace to keep producing quality work.