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Why Does the Other Line Always Move Faster?: The Myths and Misery, Secrets and Psychology of Waiting in Line
How we wait, why we wait, what we wait for—waiting in line is a daily indignity that we all experience, usually with a little anxiety thrown in (why is it that the other line always moves faster?!?). This smart, quirky, wide-ranging book (the perfect conversation starter) considers the surprising science and psychology—and the sheer misery—of the well-ordered line. On the way, it takes us from boot camp (where the first lesson is to teach recruits how to stand rigidly in line) to the underground bunker beneath Disneyland’s Cinderella Castle (home of the world’s most advanced, state-of-the-art queue management technologies); from the 2011 riots in London (where rioters were observed patiently taking their turns when looting shops), to the National Voluntary Wait-in-Line days in the People’s Republic of China (to help train their non-queuing populace to wait in line like Westerners in advance ofÌý the 2008 Olympics).
Citing sources ranging from Harvard Business School professors to Seinfeld, the book comes back to one underlying truth: it’s not about the time you spend waiting, but how the circumstances of the wait affect your perception of time. In other words, the other line always moves faster because you’re not in it.
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Citing sources ranging from Harvard Business School professors to Seinfeld, the book comes back to one underlying truth: it’s not about the time you spend waiting, but how the circumstances of the wait affect your perception of time. In other words, the other line always moves faster because you’re not in it.
Ìý
208 pages, Hardcover
First published November 17, 2015
13 people are currently reading
502 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 6, 2015
Full of interesting facts, but the lack of references is a little worrisome.
November 8, 2023
wanted the whole book to be like the last chapter. instead, it was boring
August 20, 2017
A fascinating book, both fun to read and eye-opening at the same time. Hopefully you won't have to wait in line to get a copy!
May 6, 2024
What a fantastic little book. I learned that I hate lines because of slip and skip and that there are two concepts of time, monochronic and polychronic. Also, the author uses my favorite word queue extensively and excessively in a good way throughout the book.
September 24, 2016
I won my free copy of this book through a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaway.
I really enjoyed this book. It is a fast read, and not one that requires any specialized background, making it an easy read. At the same time this book takes on some science and math concepts along the way while exploring the social and psychological sides to queues and the behavior of lines in the military, in historical times of scarcity, and in various pop cultural situations like theme parks and fast food restaurants.
I really enjoyed this book. It is a fast read, and not one that requires any specialized background, making it an easy read. At the same time this book takes on some science and math concepts along the way while exploring the social and psychological sides to queues and the behavior of lines in the military, in historical times of scarcity, and in various pop cultural situations like theme parks and fast food restaurants.
August 10, 2017
I thought this would have more insights into how people view standing in line and how to make the experience more tolerable when it's unavoidable. It did that, but that was just a small portion of th book. I was pleasantly surprised to see some mention of how other cultures distribute access to a scarce resource or deal with surges in demand, but it was relatively light also. It also discussed the history of queuing in several countries, and some philosophy on fairness of lines and various ways of bypassing them that seemed to forget the earlier chapter that various cultures view fairness here differently.
I did appreciate the discussion of various commercial attempts to exploit or alleviate long lines with such services as paying for express service or paying others to wait for you. It had some important ethical dimensions to consider, particularly for paid express access to public goods, like access to government officials. This could have important unintended consequences and more broadly could undermine incentives for companies (like airlines) to improve conditions when they can deliberately make you miserable to force you to pay for express service.
But some of the editorializing was non-sequitor and some of it came off as cynical and biased. It also completely omitted an important aspect of waiting lines. I've seen elsewhere how a moderate wait or line is seen by potential customers as a sign that something is popular and hence desirable. How do you feel when you are the only customer at a restaurant when there should be a lot of people at that time of day? This is another thing businesses exploit to make them look better (think popular nightclubs that maintain an air of exclusivity and quality by deliberately maintaining a line visible out front).
I did appreciate the discussion of various commercial attempts to exploit or alleviate long lines with such services as paying for express service or paying others to wait for you. It had some important ethical dimensions to consider, particularly for paid express access to public goods, like access to government officials. This could have important unintended consequences and more broadly could undermine incentives for companies (like airlines) to improve conditions when they can deliberately make you miserable to force you to pay for express service.
But some of the editorializing was non-sequitor and some of it came off as cynical and biased. It also completely omitted an important aspect of waiting lines. I've seen elsewhere how a moderate wait or line is seen by potential customers as a sign that something is popular and hence desirable. How do you feel when you are the only customer at a restaurant when there should be a lot of people at that time of day? This is another thing businesses exploit to make them look better (think popular nightclubs that maintain an air of exclusivity and quality by deliberately maintaining a line visible out front).
July 7, 2017
This is a bite sized thought provoking book on one of the most ubiquitous features of modern life that we both hate and take for granted. There is apparently enough to be said about lines to fill a book.
It's a blend of philosophy, art, science and history centered around lines. After reading this, you will both appreciate more the short lines we deal with today (or entirely lackthereof) and have something to think about while just standing there.
It's a blend of philosophy, art, science and history centered around lines. After reading this, you will both appreciate more the short lines we deal with today (or entirely lackthereof) and have something to think about while just standing there.
January 27, 2017
What a bizarre book but I loved it. I was expecting a huge dissertation on the line - It wasn't so much the psychology of lines but a mixture of psychology, economics and history. I found it an enjoyable and educating read. Nothing terrible useful in my day-to-day life (I don't know too much Russophiles) but definitely information I won't be forgetting anytime soon.
June 25, 2019
Interesting topic. Some sections were more enjoyable than others. I liked the analysis of Seinfeld and the Soup Nazi and how McDonalds has taught the Russians and Chinese how to behave in a line. It is impossible to write about lines with mentioning the master, Disney World.
December 23, 2017
This book could have been half the length and still worked.
January 6, 2018
insightful on behaviors, cultures and creative ways to solve problems. #goodread
December 31, 2018
Interesting
Little snippets of jeopardy knowledge
Not a bad vacation read
Little snippets of jeopardy knowledge
Not a bad vacation read
March 20, 2020
Quick and interesting
I found this an interesting study in lines. Worth the read. I did not know there was a difference between lines and queues.
I found this an interesting study in lines. Worth the read. I did not know there was a difference between lines and queues.
November 15, 2020
An interesting read without being in depth so it is a short read - I was amused about the airport observations.
June 17, 2021
Interesting nuggets of history surrounding lines and queues, from boot camps to the USSR to Disney World.
June 7, 2017
Fascinating.
Offers information about waiting and about the language around waiting that is super intriguing and also prompts one to challenge the perspective offered. Funny, too.
Offers information about waiting and about the language around waiting that is super intriguing and also prompts one to challenge the perspective offered. Funny, too.
October 9, 2016
Who would have thought that the psychology of standing in lines would be so fascinating? Bravo to the author. I really enjoyed this read and I think any psych nerd, or curious mind, would enjoy.
November 10, 2017
A fast-paced book. Simple, yet easy to understand. Wish David Andrews offers more references to add more to this,this book still much to offer.
January 8, 2017
The title of the book is misleading since it doesn't really address the topic. However, this little book does a terrific job looking at how the idea of waiting in line developed over time and how waiting differs in other cultures.
October 21, 2015
Did you know the concept of waiting in line didn't occur to Englishmen (and therefore Americans) until 1837? Apparently while heads were rolling in France, those classy citizens waited in queues for their bakery orders.
The first bit of this book focuses on different types of lines from the author's experiences: boot camp (which gave me bittersweet memories if ROTC), American lines, and Jordan lines in Amman. There wasn't too much of an emphasis on the 'why' aspect of our distaste of lines
As we got more into the history of things and away from personal anecdotes, references would have been great. But a simple Google search for most of the sources won't kill anyone who really really wants to be an expert on lines.
The author explains when lines started and the different types and evolutions of lines. This is awesome information! I didn't realize I was such a fan of lines until I read this book!
So when my coworkers asked me what I was reading today, I said "it's a book about waiting in line." Naturally they thought it sounded boring, but the glory of a talented author is that even this boring, menial subject that few care about was made interesting. I liked reading this. I recommend it for doctor and dentist offices, post offices, and DMVs. Any place with a waiting room, really.
The first bit of this book focuses on different types of lines from the author's experiences: boot camp (which gave me bittersweet memories if ROTC), American lines, and Jordan lines in Amman. There wasn't too much of an emphasis on the 'why' aspect of our distaste of lines
As we got more into the history of things and away from personal anecdotes, references would have been great. But a simple Google search for most of the sources won't kill anyone who really really wants to be an expert on lines.
The author explains when lines started and the different types and evolutions of lines. This is awesome information! I didn't realize I was such a fan of lines until I read this book!
So when my coworkers asked me what I was reading today, I said "it's a book about waiting in line." Naturally they thought it sounded boring, but the glory of a talented author is that even this boring, menial subject that few care about was made interesting. I liked reading this. I recommend it for doctor and dentist offices, post offices, and DMVs. Any place with a waiting room, really.
January 17, 2016
Why Does the Other Line Always Move Faster? by David Andrews is a free NetGalley ebook that I read shortly after the onset of Daylight Savings Time and in the light of an incredibly sunny morning.
Absolutely terrific and enlightening to read! I love Andrews' light, yet awestruck, astounded, perturbed, and informative tone; for not one moment does the book slog along or have a weak spot. I found great takeaway quotes on nearly every page, including:
Stanley Milgram:
On the mindset of those waiting in line - "The acceptance of non-involvement, impersonality, and aloofness in everyday life"
"The inability to identify most of the people he sees daily, his screening of sensory stimuli...and his selectivity in responding to human demands."
The Onion, during a global economic recession:
"Nation Instinctively Forms Breadline"
Absolutely terrific and enlightening to read! I love Andrews' light, yet awestruck, astounded, perturbed, and informative tone; for not one moment does the book slog along or have a weak spot. I found great takeaway quotes on nearly every page, including:
Stanley Milgram:
On the mindset of those waiting in line - "The acceptance of non-involvement, impersonality, and aloofness in everyday life"
"The inability to identify most of the people he sees daily, his screening of sensory stimuli...and his selectivity in responding to human demands."
The Onion, during a global economic recession:
"Nation Instinctively Forms Breadline"
May 15, 2016
This book was interesting. There's so much psychology and culture and sociology, even history, that goes into standing in line. This book discusses everything about line standing, how it works, why it works, and how it effects us. Seems like a boring topic--totally not boring. The only things that annoyed me were a) the complete lack of citations and b) the weird placement of the asides that didn't allow me to easily transition away from the main text and back again. Little things, but still annoying. Definitely a quick, worthwhile read.
December 29, 2015
Interesting Read
Not sure I will ever understand why I am always in the slowest line, but very interesting book! But I must say because I feel lines have become such an issue, and the lack of common courtesy in "line" I love ordering on line and having it shipped to me.
Win win for me! But did enjoy the book!
Not sure I will ever understand why I am always in the slowest line, but very interesting book! But I must say because I feel lines have become such an issue, and the lack of common courtesy in "line" I love ordering on line and having it shipped to me.
Win win for me! But did enjoy the book!
March 24, 2016
This book was fascinating. Not only can a 300 page book be written about standing in line, there is an entire field of study devoted to it. The author presents some interesting concepts and theories but the lack of references is a little disappointing.
April 7, 2016
This book answered one of those philosophical questions that I've always wanted to ask, and it did so brilliantly. There is also an interesting case study of queue management at Disney World and some insights into our choices in life.
February 2, 2016
really interesting. fast read.
July 14, 2016
Interesting, slim book on the psychology, sociology and history of lines. I found the chapter on the impact of queues on the Communist Bloc very interesting.
August 11, 2016
Good:
* Some interesting facts about queuing.
Bad:
* Some of the topics are boring, for example: the origin of queuing.
* No source/reference.
* Some interesting facts about queuing.
Bad:
* Some of the topics are boring, for example: the origin of queuing.
* No source/reference.
March 13, 2016
Very interesting!!
May 1, 2017
I agree with some of the other readers. The title of the book is a little misleading. I got the book because of the title. I always find myself standing in the slowest line at the grocery store. The book never however addresses this question. The book did not come across as scholarly work. It seemed more like a perspective of the author than factual data or research. There were some interesting things in the book that I did not know before. They made the book readable. The chapters towards the end are better written and more interesting than the first few chapters. I like others here also found the liberal use of side notes distracting.
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