How to Be Idle

From long lunches to the art of the nap-all the inspiration you need to take a break from your fast-paced, overworked life.Yearning for a life of leisure? In twenty-four chapters representing each hour of a typical working day, this book will coax out the loafer in even the most diligent and schedule-obsessed worker.From the founding editor of the celebrated magazine about the freedom and fine art of doing nothing, The Idler, comes not simply a book, but an antidote to our work-obsessed culture. In How to Be Idle, Hodgkinson presents his learned yet whimsical argument for a new, universal standard of living: being happy doing nothing. He covers a whole spectrum of issues affecting the modern idler-sleep, work, pleasure, relationships-bemoaning the cultural skepticism of idleness while reflecting on the writing of such famous apologists for it as Oscar Wilde, Robert Louis Stevenson, Dr. Johnson, and Nietzsche-all of whom have admitted to doing their very best work in bed.It''s a well-known fact that Europeans spend fewer hours at work a week than Americans. So it''s only befitting that one of them-the very clever, extremely engaging, and quite hilarious Tom Hodgkinson-should have the wittiest and most useful insights into the fun and nature of being idle."In this beguiling book, [Hodgkinson] persuasively advocates idleness as the way to gain access to the creativity of the subconscious mind, or at least to enjoy a few beers." -The Spectator"Irresistible . . . a true literary gem." -USA Today"Excellent." -The New York Times Book Review"A joyful tribute to how we could live." -The Providence Journal