The best things to see, do, read and hear this month in Toronto

Amil Niazi's bracingly honest essays on work and motherhood (“The Mindfuck of Midlife” comes to mind) have made her a cult favourite in certain corners of the web.

- BY ANTHONY MILTON

A book for burnt out careerists

Life After Ambition: A "Good Enough" Memoir by Amil Niazi Out January 6

The Toronto writer and New York Magazine columnist is now a mother of three, and her new memoir builds on her confessional oeuvre. Life After Ambition chronicles her experience of grinding toward a higher salary only to run head first into the pandemic, reevaluate her life and say farewell to ambition altogether. With her trademark humour and wit, Niazi writes about her journey out of striving and into life itself. We caught up with her to talk about letting go of the pageantry of professionalism.

What was the genesis of this book? Eight years ago, I was working full time at the BBC in London. It was a great job, and I remember feeling that this was supposed to be the pinnacle of my success. Yet I didn't feel connected to either my work or my family life. There were still remnants of girlboss and lean-in culture, and women were all, I want to work all the time! I never want to be offline! I started to imagine what my life could be if I leaned out instead.