Anyone who has had the opportunity to tour Ernest Hemingway’s house outside of Havana, Cuba, will find that the author’s work area was not the typical office. One of the most noteworthy differences is the absence of a traditional desk. For years, Hemingway essentially placed his portable typewriter atop a bookcase so he could stand up as he typed. That’s how he liked to work.
Hemingway was not the first person to find working while standing more productive. Thomas Jefferson is famous for working at a stand-up desk, which he referred to as his “tall desk.” And Winston Churchill invariably worked at an upright desk, which allowed him to stand as he reviewed his paperwork. These luminaries preferred to stand at work because they found they could concentrate better, and it helped get their creative juices flowing.