The Book of Idle Pleasures

By Dan Kieran and Tom Hodgkinson

From a founder and editor of The Idler, a gentle guide to goofing off—and finding stolen moments of contentment amid the madness of the world.

In this inspiring book, expert Idlers Tom Hodgkinson and Dan Kieran stand up for the simple pleasures in life . . . by lying down for a nap. With its tongue firmly in its cheek, The Book of Idle Pleasures renounces our world of ever-growing consumer overload in favor of the timelessly true adage that the best things in life really are free.

In its reflections on 100 simple pastimes—among them slouching, skipping stones, staring out the window, doodling, looking at maps, learning the names of trees, and, natch, taking a nap—The Book of Idle Pleasures is a charming celebration of simple pleasures for the sake of pleasure itself, making it a soothing antidote for our nonstop culture and an ideal restorative against the costly confusion of our daily existence.

Praise for Tom Hodgkinson’s How to Be Idle

“A true literary gem . . . irresistible.” —USA Today

“A joyful tribute to how we could live . . . lovelyto be savored.” —Providence Journal

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Sep 14, 2010
• ISBN: 9781449400224

Book preview

The Pleasures …

Taking a Bath

In a world of power showers and invigorating pick-me-up gel products for the modern striver, it’s good to remember the simple pleasures of a long, relaxing bath, preferably taken at eleven a.m. when everyone else is toiling in the mills and you have phoned in sick. Follow the medieval tradition and fill your bath with spices and rose petals. Invite your lover to join you. Linger in the bath too long and add hot water by twisting the taps with your feet, because you are too lazy to sit up and use your hands. Lie there and stare at the ceiling, almost — but not quite — drifting into the land of Nod, perfectly at ease, as the steam rises around you and the workaday world recedes into the realm of unimportance.

TH

Poking the Fire

Once you’ve got a roaring fire going, indulge yourself in the simple pleasure of giving it a good poke. The poker is not just there to help revive a dying fire. It is best used when the flames are threatening to set fire to the chimney and you are having difficulty getting close enough to the grate to place it amid the burning embers. Use it then to swiftly reposition any lumps of coal that are slightly out of position or marginally off-center, fashioning a red-hot cradle for the final touch, a nice, dry evergreen log. Preferably with a dusting of frost, ice, or snow still on it, as this damp coating will help add a pleasant variety to the smoke coming from the conflagration and may also provide a satisfying hissing sound. Before you lean back in the cozy armchair to take another long pull on that delicious twenty-five-year-old malt whisky that you have been saving for just such a moment, thrust the poker into the heart of the fire and leave it there. After a few minutes the poker will be red-hot; remove it from the fire and plunge it into a bucket of cold water. Now enjoy the shuddering sensation as it immediately cools and acrid fumes rise from the bucket.

JS

Slouching

Ninety-five percent of communication is nonverbal and your body has a language all of its own. Stop slouching! cried your mother and your teacher, but slouching is the posture of calm rebellion. It’s a leisurely thumbing of the nose to the productive classes. It has its downsides, though, and is cited as a cause of decreased alertness and varicose veins—making it undoubtedly the smoking of

Reviews for The Book of Idle Pleasures

[fliss88_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I borrowed this book from my local library, then left it on the coffee table without looking at it for nearly 2 weeks, perhaps an Idle Pleasure in itself! When I did pick it up to have a look, I read it from cover to cover in one sitting. It's a sinful delight to read, and I was pleased to find that I already, unwittingly indulge, in many of these Idle Pleasures.