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Momo
The Men in Grey told everyone to save time. Somehow nobody ever had any. ⏳ A 1973 children's book that understood hustle culture before it had a name.
Who it's for
Momo turns burnout into a fairy tale: grey men persuade people to 'save time', and life becomes efficient, grey and joyless.
Feelings it meets
What it is
Michael Ende's 1973 fantasy novel follows Momo, a girl who lives in the ruins of an amphitheatre outside an unnamed city and helps people simply by listening to them. The Men in Grey arrive and persuade the townspeople to 'save time' through a time-saving bank, and life gradually loses its meaningful activities.
Where to find it
In print (McSweeney's, Zwirner translation; older translations appeared under the titles Momo and The Grey Gentlemen) and at libraries. Check for audiobook availability.
Before you start
Heads up: Menacing villains and loneliness.
Age: Ages 9+
When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet, “On Work”
