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The Book of Idle Pleasures Kindle Edition

by Dan Kieran (Author), Tom Hodgkinson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 76 ratings
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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
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  1. Print length
    225 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC
  5. Publication date
    September 14, 2010
  6. File size
    20246 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

 Writer and editor Tom Hodgkinson co-founded the Idler in 1993. He is the author of two books based on this attitude to life: How to Be Idle, published in 20 countries, and How to Be Free, which takes an anarchic approach to the everyday barriers that come between us and our dreams. He lives in Devon, United Kingdom.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005GLMAZG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC (September 14, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 14, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 20246 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 225 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 76 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
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  1. Dan Kieran

    Dan Kieran

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Dan is the author and editor of fourteen books, including the Sunday Times bestseller Crap Towns (the first viral internet phenomenon to turn into a bestselling book), The Idle Traveller (the bestselling Slow Travel: Die Kunst des Reisens in Germany), Three Men in a Float (the story of his journey across England in a 1957 electric milk float also recorded for BBC Radio 4) and Do Start: How to create and run a business (that doesn't run you). A travel writer for the Guardian, The Times and the Telegraph, he has given talks on a range of subjects including publishing, creative writing, fundraising, entrepreneurship and how to have ideas for places like The Idler, The Do Lectures and The European Parliament. He is also the co-founder of Unbound.com, the award-winning crowdfunding publishing platform that brings authors and readers together, and was its CEO for the first eleven years taking it from an idea to profitability. As well as writing books, he now teaches entrepreneurship at University College London (UCL) as part of their Publishing MA.

    @dan_kieran 

    See more on the author's page
  2. Tom Hodgkinson

    Tom Hodgkinson

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Writer and editor Tom Hodgkinson cofounded the Idler in 1993. He is the author of two books based on this attitude to life: How to Be Idle, published in 20 countries, and How to Be Free, which takes an anarchic approach to the everyday barriers that come between us and our dreams. He lives in Devon, United Kingdom.

    The Idler team created the best-selling and widely imitated Crap Towns I and II.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
76 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Tyron
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is nice because the book tells you that what you do ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
This book is nice because the book tells you that what you do all day long, and that is seen by others as loafing, is actually okay to do and very pleasurable, which you knew anyway because you do them all day.

The price is yucky for me, but hey, people gotta eat, yo!
One person found this helpful
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Traveler
4.0 out of 5 stars An Idler's delight
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2014
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I have three Idler books and I have enjoyed reading them all. Idling is a state of mine, an attitude. Even if you don't idle all the time, and who can, you can still be an idler at heart, secure in the knowledge that idleness is close at hand.
3 people found this helpful
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Screaming Nurse
5.0 out of 5 stars Work be Damned!
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2011
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This is a BEAUTIFUL book! I read it in one sitting and I started to practice it that very evening. I send out an idle pleasure to my friends once a week so that everyone can BE IDLE!!! They really appreciate it...especially in this crazy world. Highly recommended!
5 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars the sweet life
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2014
Verified Purchase
This book is another fab Idler must have, in my humble opinion. So glad I ordered it to add to my collection. Will read anything he writes, never been disappointed yet.
3 people found this helpful
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Patricia
3.0 out of 5 stars Love the book but...
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2013
Verified Purchase
I was disappointed in the condition of the cover. It looks like a used book. When the book is closed a black mark is seen across the top of the pages, the front cover is frayed at the bottom, on the back cover it looks like a price sticker was removed (tearing part of the cover and another sticker placed on top), and in general the whole outside of the book looks a bit dirty. I must admit the inside looks clean and probably hasn't been read before. However, considering the appearance of the cover I would never give the book as a gift.
One person found this helpful
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Plumpernickel
4.0 out of 5 stars Calming and brings back memories of childhood
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2013
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Best read when one is stressed and needs to calm down. Brings back memories of childhood when skipping stones across a pond, tree-houses and watching clouds roll by were all as fascinating.
2 people found this helpful
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General King Merchandise
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting & cute.
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2015
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Very interesting and cute book. Good for light reading, or a unique gift.
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Complimentary
5.0 out of 5 stars Great gift for the Retired
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2010
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I like how this book just tells us all to slow down and enjoy what's left of our lives... what more to say?
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Iram
4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book
Reviewed in India on December 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
great book gives good info but of old stock
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allie
5.0 out of 5 stars The way forward
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 27, 2014
Verified Purchase
This should be a compulsory read whatever age you are. Certainly youngsters should read it so that they start off with a more sensible and balanced view of life. This reminds us that we are not meant to be hooked up to work 24/7.
5 people found this helpful
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Atalaya
3.0 out of 5 stars Mittelprächtig
Reviewed in Germany on October 3, 2011
Verified Purchase
Tut mir Leid,wenn ich anderen Rezensenten widersprechen muss. Ich finde das Buch nicht sehr anregend; die Zeichnungen nicht gelungen - und das Ganze ist nicht viel mehr als ein schlechter Scherz. Es gäbe mehr darüber zu sagen, aber jeder Normalmensch kann sich mehr ausdenken als das, was das Buch bietet. Enttäuschung - weil der Einband so nett ist...
2 people found this helpful
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Mrs. L. C. Dowd
4.0 out of 5 stars ... a gift but flicking through it it seemed quite good and I knew that my friend would enjoy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 7, 2014
Verified Purchase
I bought this book as a gift but flicking through it it seemed quite good and I knew that my friend would enjoy it
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Kindle Customer Graham.
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2016
Verified Purchase
All the things you do across a lifetime but rarely notice. I'll be more watchful in the next part of my life
3 people found this helpful
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