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mrssnips's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as How to Be Free. Most likely because I couldn't get behind the chapters on smoking or drugs. It also tread some of the same ground as How to Be Free, which is that people seemingly had more idle time and freedom pre-Industrial Revolution. While that may be the case, they had a lot of other things going against them (like no indoor plumbing or advanced medical care). Overall, I agree that we all need more idle time. In Hodgkinson's case, he believes we need to step outside the traditional work roles to gain more autonomy over ourselves and our time. I happen to agree that a lot of the systems and ideas that we hold as "normal" are probably not normal or healthy, and some redefining needs to happen there. Hodgkinson holds up the life of the idler as the way to make a start, and if that's something you're into, this book is an interesting place to start.
liamroush's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
viceabbess's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
The author would definitely benefit from some race, class and gender analysis. The perspective is interesting but very focused on the ideas of wealthy white men who of course can be idle if they choose.
libraryzen's review against another edition
2.0
It started out great but turned really immature with all the drinking talk, trying to glorify smoking and partying. Feel free to skip several useless chapters from 6 pm - 3 am.
loujoseph's review against another edition
4.0
a good read that jolts you out of some of your day to day habits, but also a little fristrating- it would be nice not to sell your time to someone, and 40 hours work weeks are kind of insane, but even not having a car and not buying tons of crap, you still need some money to so anything, pay off school, etc. not to mention health insurance, so in the end it ends up feeling a little depressing, so maybe better to focus on smaller changes you can make..
latebush's review against another edition
How to Be Idle is a book only a man of the petit bourgeoisie could write. This is the type of book for the "I don't dream of labor" types. I'm not interested in investing my time in a book whose philosophy is so contradictory, where one is encouraged to loaf, blow off work, etc. as a way NOT to challenge the system but simply as a lazy F-YOU while basically still complying with the system. Lame.
laila4343's review against another edition
5.0
Just wonderful- although while I was reading it I became very sleepy. This book just confirms my suspicions that I am not cut out for the time-card, work-a-day world.
hexagong's review against another edition
4.0
Very fun, funny, and enlightening. This book could also be called, “what life was like before the industrial revolution” as he makes quite a few references to this, but it was my favorite aspect of the book. It is a book from a very personal and unique point of view, rather than a general how to instructional book.
My biggest criticism is that he is usually talking about men, it’s mostly all he/his pronouns, so it feels like he’s not thinking of writing to everyone. He also doesn’t reference many idle women much less any wise gender non conforming folks.
He uses the word slave quite freely to describe free people that are working in mindless or un-fun jobs, I feel like this is a little outdated and being more sensitive to this term would benefit future publications. But I read it with an open mind and enjoyed the journey.
My biggest criticism is that he is usually talking about men, it’s mostly all he/his pronouns, so it feels like he’s not thinking of writing to everyone. He also doesn’t reference many idle women much less any wise gender non conforming folks.
He uses the word slave quite freely to describe free people that are working in mindless or un-fun jobs, I feel like this is a little outdated and being more sensitive to this term would benefit future publications. But I read it with an open mind and enjoyed the journey.