How to Be Idle: A Loafer's Manifesto – A Witty Antidote to Modern Work Culture

Everyone who is too busy at times needs to read this book, just as a way of NOT feeling guilty for taking things down a few notches when and if they need to. Well written and witty, I thoroughly enjoyed it and unlike my other kindle books which I usually remove from my device after completing, I'm keeping this one around to remind me to take things more easy and be a little kinder to myself. You may not agree with all sections of the book (such as recommending staying up late or sleeping in until late morning, neither of which I do) but you will find things that resonate with you. At least I did. Fantastic section about how the Industrial Revolution stole our free time from us and, combined with the Puritan Work Ethic, helped turn us into the stress and overwork monsters we are today.

If we were to advise someone to live an idle life we would most probably be met with a strange, if not a comical, look. Hard work and a disciplined life has been so ingrained in our minds it is difficult to imagine living in a different mode. We have been trained to get up early, rush to work, do a meticulous job, finish quickly and drive back home through mad traffic, seeking peace and quietude. It is hectic, but we have been used to it. The author of this book, Mr Hodgkinson, wants us to reverse this pattern and to go back to our old, relaxed and leisurely life, i.e. before the car and the telephone. That was when we worked at our own pace, had long lunch breaks, took a nap in the afternoon and played with the children out in the fresh, uncontaminated atmosphere. People in farming, herding, weaving, mending ...did not understand what work anxiety was about.When exactly did we switch to our modern, hectic lifestyle? Sociologists differ, but most agree on industrialisation being the main culprit. When machines arrived and mass production started in 17th century, the world took a turn and with it just about everything changed. In one sense, it was a blessing. People were now guaranteed a steady income at the end of the month; products became more available and amenities more affordable and enjoyable. At the beginning there was excitement and all looked well. But with time, life was becoming more stressful and tedious, and anxiety levels shot up. Working 10-12 hours a day at a factory 6-7 days a week was strenuous, if not exhausting. People's leisure time disappeared and fatigue set in. Employer's pressure to produce more was relentless. In fact workers started to realise that, sadly, they were being owned and enslaved by their companies. Employers started a psychological campaign to uplift morals using expressions like; Work is heathy, idleness is for the lazy; hard work brings health, wealth and wisdom, and so on. But the few intellectuals. who refused to be enslaved, realised what was going on: it was all a selfish effort to increase the wealth of the few, rich owners.So, how does the author suggest we get over this ingrained philosophy of hard work intended only to enrich the capitalists in our society? "It's time to say No to jobs and Yes to fun, freedom and pleasure. It's time to be idle " says the author. Taking all this seriously, he established the Idler Magazine to help people start their idle life. He launched a comprehensive effort to romanticise the good old days before industrialisation. Why be a slave to a schedule we did not choose? Why rush in the morning? Rising early is unnatural. "No! early risers are not healthy, wealthy and wise - they are often sickly, poor and stupid" . The best ideas have come from idle people and not from those hampered by excessive routines. And, look at our eating habits: long gone is the leisurely lunch with wine and good friends; see now how it has been reduced to a dry sandwich eaten alone, in order to rush back to work.. What about our afternoon nap - our "inalienable right" which has been taken from us by the agents of industry. Winston Churchill and Thomas Edison, to mention only two great men, took a nap every day! The author bemoans too, the death of the afternoon tea, a calming ritual which to many was absolutely sacrosanct. After all it was the drink of poets and philosophers. It was mostly abandoned - it retarded production.What are we to make of all this? Should we go ahead and join the Idlers? Or, is our modern life, hectic as it is, more beneficial and, at least, ensures our financial security? We obviously need a compromise, one that will ensure our security as well as provide us with the peace of mind and the will to bring back the fun and joy of the old idle days.Fuad R QubeinFeb., 2017

This book contains a lot of great ideas which inspired me. There are, however, some chapters which I don't agree with (e.g. how to avoid going to work, smoking). The kindle version has unfortunately quite some typos (ci becomes repeatedly d). But overall this book is a good read.

Being a 20 something now, the thing you hear most often is "get a job". That was easy enough in my grandfather's day; work your way up the corporate ladder, pop out some kids, work a little more, get a good pension, feel some good old-fashioned pride. Things were good. Now it's like, work for 8-10 hours, pop in a microwaved meal, think about paying off some student loan debt, stare at the computer, get 4 hours of sleep and do it all the next day. How To Be Idle is exactly what it sounds like: it's a run through of a possible alternative to the work 'til you drop ideology. For starters, the idea that a person doesn't have to wake up by 8 o'clock to be productive could be an eye opening concept for some. Think of how much time you waste just 'thinking' about doing work. Could it be that your procrastination is actually helping you in the long run? Thinking of procrastination as strategy that could propel ones work is a strange and yet perfect idea. When you're ready to work, you'll know it.How is it a good idea to drink an extra large coffee, that gives you the shakes and gut rot and only the illusion of productivity. Fear not- Idling doesn't mean sitting around like a new age bum, although that would be perfectly acceptable should you choose that option. It means taking control of your day, and not letting work (especially the bureaucratic busy work) run your life. Take time to drink a cup of tea. It's ritualistic and more conscious than a gallon of coffee. We learned this already, slow and steady wins the race,I read this in Florida visiting my grandparents and they, and all the other seniors by the pool seemed to look at the cover as some sort of communist manifesto. I think for them, working was a profitable, well respected and attainable prospect. It seems today that the precarity of existing in a society that constantly puts up obstacles, leaving a person in a constant state of anxiety makes any alternative of thinking a helpful or even life saving option. If you're sick and tired of being sick and tired, this is really the book. Sleep in, have a cup of tea, a smoke, sex, drink, and a good conversation all while getting your work done. Imagine that.