When he’s not managing custom-home projects with Buildwell, Martin Brodsky is crafting essays about the art of paying attention. Allow Me To Waste Your Time is a collection of essays about staying grounded in a world designed to keep us scrolling.
The essays, first published on his Substack page, now form the heart of the book, which he describes as “a field guide for anyone trying to stay human in the algorithmic age.” His writing moves between humor and heartbreak, from reflections on getting divorced last year to the quiet, everyday moments that make life meaningful. “It’s become increasingly important to me to talk about things that people shy away from… We try to hide certain truths about ourselves instead of just talking about them and connecting on that level… that’s something I’d like to change,” Brodsky says.
Beyond the content itself, the book is a way to reclaim attention in a world dominated by digital distraction. “The online content machine has already buried these essays in 1s and 0s… This book gives them a tangible life beyond the endless scroll,” he explains, emphasizing the importance of slowing down and engaging with ideas.
Although Brodsky’s day job is in construction, writing has long been an integral part of his foundation. “Writing feels like a compulsion,” he says. He started out with songs, then fiction, and eventually these essays that he describes as “an honest and ongoing quest for personal truth.”
A Boulder resident of twenty years, he says, “I enrolled at CU so I could move to Boulder.” His affection for the city is contagious. Lately, he’s been hosting monthly art meetups around town, gathering local writers, artists and makers to share ideas and community. And when he’s not doing that, he’s looking ahead. “I want to publish the novel I’ve finished,” he says. “And I’ve got a lot more yet to write.”
When asked what he hopes his younger self would think of the book, Brodsky laughs. “Hopefully, I’d want to get a beer with the guy who wrote it and have a good conversation.”
Allow Me To Waste Your Time is out now on Amazon via Petty Thief Press and arriving at local bookstores soon. Visit MartinBrodsky.com to learn more.
Article by Emily O'Brien
Originally published in Cherry Creek Lifestyle