useful uselessness: an invitation

why this publication exists

The name “useful uselessness” emerged from a love of oxymorons—those linguistic paradoxes that place contradictory terms in illuminating proximity. I initially considered naming this publication “Oximoron,” drawn to how these contradictions reveal truths that logical consistency obscures. It is also a homage to Nuccio Ordine, whose book “The Usefulness of the Useless” has been an important reference.

Oxymorons create moments of productive dissonance—brief suspensions of our love for thinking with dichotomies—allowing fresh understanding to emerge. When we encounter “useful uselessness,” our minds must temporarily relinquish their organizing principles and enter a space of creative uncertainty.

Our contemporary world increasingly demands immediate utility, measurable outcomes, and linear progression. Yet the most transformative ideas often emerge from spaces that resist such categorization—moments of apparent uselessness that yield unexpected enlightenment.

For a more comprehensive exploration of this concept, readers are invited to explore the essay "The Utility of Uselessness: Time, Work, and Combating Stupidity," which examines how our relationship with productivity has shaped our perception of value.

This publication stands as an invitation to inhabit these productive contradictions. The essays collected here aim explore the fertile terrain where attention transforms into distraction, where doing nothing or, even better, being still becomes profound activity, where negative thinking yields positive change, and where casual conversations reshape entire organizations.

the language of thought

I typically write in Portuguese—my mother tongue remains my primary vehicle for thought and expression. You can find my Portuguese writings at the Way Beyond website and with Link to Leaders.

This English publication emerged from a space of contemplative wandering—a recognition that language itself shapes not only how we express ideas but how we conceive them. The slight displacement that comes with writing in a non-native language creates a productive tension—a cognitive distance that sometimes reveals what familiarity conceals.

The decision to publish in English represents not an abandonment of Portuguese but an expansion of dialogical possibilities. Like stepping slightly sideways from a familiar path, this linguistic shift offers perspectives that might remain inaccessible from my usual vantage point. The subtle constraints and freedoms of navigating between languages becomes itself a form of useful uselessness—an apparent inefficiency that paradoxically enriches understanding.

what this publication is for

This English-language platform serves as a dedicated space where exploration can unfold at it’s natural pace. Having approached publishing a book in English twice without bringing it to fruition, this space serves both as a canvas for wider reach and as a gentle compulsion to write more consistently.

Also, having surprisingly won the 2024 iA Writing Award, with the essay "On the Beauty of Distraction", somewhat manifested as boost in motivation to write more in English, and it also brought me awareness that my thinking and writing could be appreciated beyond my closest circles.

In the spirit of transparency, if this exercise generates sufficient resonance—measured both in reader engagement and potential income—it would signal that my book project might be reactivated with renewed purpose and, let me continue to be honest, validation.

In an era where attention is increasingly fragmented, where we measure our worth through productivity metrics, and where distraction has been commodified, these essays offer a deliberate counterpoint. The contradiction inherent in “Useful Uselessness” reflects the paradoxical nature of our most meaningful pursuits—those activities that appear useless by conventional standards yet offer profound enrichment to our intellectual and emotional lives.

who is joão sevilhano

I am a psychologist and learning experience designer specializing in human development and organizational transformation. Marcel Kampman once called me an 'archaeologist of the mind,' and Tim Leberecht—perhaps with affectionate exaggeration—occasionally refers to me as 'the Fernando Pessoa of business writing.'

As Co-CEO and co-founder of Way Beyond, I lead strategy and innovation in creating meaningful learning and transformational experiences. My background in clinical psychology and psychoanalysis brings, I hope, a unique perspective to organizational development, with specialization in Work, Social, and Organizational Psychology.

I collaborate frequently with leading academic institutions including Porto Business School and NOVA Doctoral School, centering my approach on meaningful conversation as the cornerstone of human development and organizational change.

Fatherhood and family life for me are far from a sentimental, "instagrammable" postcard. It's a fertile ground of constant paradox and contradiction. Here, I'm continuously challenged to practice coherence—not as an ideal, but as a living, breathing practice. Every day offers an opportunity to confront the gaps between what we say and what we do, between our intentions and our actions. If one is willing to stay present and attentive, family becomes an unparalleled learning environment, rich with complexity and unexpected insights.

access pathways

This publication offers three levels of engagement:

contributing voices

For now, this publication has a single author. Who knows if in the future we'll expand the team. The singular perspective currently offered reflects one person's exploration of these philosophical territories—but these territories are vast, with many possible paths through them.

If you recognize your own questioning in these writings, and if you believe your writing could contribute to The Useful Uselessness, don't refrain from reaching out.

This invitation remains open—not as a conventional call for submissions, but as an acknowledgment that meaningful exploration sometimes requires multiple voices engaged in the same conversation.

support this contemplative, useless space

Your support transforms abstract ideas into tangible reflections. Each subscription and contribution creates a sanctuary where thoughts can unfold without the immediate pressure of utility—a rare counterbalance to our efficiency-driven world.

subscription pathways

Subscribe today to receive full access to the website and thoughtful notifications when new content emerges. Your recurring support establishes a sustainable foundation, allowing useful uselessness to continue its paradoxical existence—both vital and seemingly superfluous, perhaps the most meaningful contradiction of our time.

I have a special tier for close friends and family who want to subscribe and contribute. Reach out to take advantage, if you fit the criteria.

one-time contributions

For those who prefer to participate without regular commitments, one-time donations offer an opportunity to contribute to this philosophical ecosystem. Like moments of insight that arrive unexpectedly yet leave lasting impressions, these contributions create ripples of possibility without demanding constancy.

In supporting this work, you're not merely funding content—you're helping preserve a space where ideas can breathe before being subjected to the metrics of immediate utility.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​