How to be Idle, by Tom Hodgkinson
July 21, 2010 11:58 am book reviewsUS readers can order from Amazon US
UK readers can order from Amazon UK
Marks out of ten: 10/10
Tom Hodgkinson’s How To Be Idle
I’ve always thought that being idle was just about doing nothing and achieving nothing, but Hodgkinson argues that doing nothing can actually be very productive. Doing nothing, having conversations with others, and resting allows you time to think and be creative.
Our time has been controlled by others since the industrial revolution, when strict rules about when to start work and how long to work for where put in place. Before that time, people worked ad hoc hours, completing tasks as and when necessary, and took time to rest when they needed it.
Being truly idle is about gaining your life back, having a balance between work and play and not feeling guilty. Since reading this book I’ve bought a teapot and loose tea, so that I can slowly brew a perfect cuppa, I no longer feel guilty about taking a hour for lunch and have stopped using my alarm clock. These are all small changes, I know, but can make a big difference to how you feel (and yes I still wake up when I need to).
This book may change your life, or if it merely describes what you do already, you will feel less guilty about it.
Readers in the US can order from Amazon US
Readers in the UK can order from Amazon UK
Paula504 :
Date: July 21, 2010 @ 1:50 pm
I feel like I could have written this book! Sounds great to me. I have never felt guilty about being idle, even when it is outright skiving, lol!
Diane :
Date: July 23, 2010 @ 7:57 am
I’m sure you managed to do more interesting things when you were “skiving”. I’ve known people write books when they were at “work”!