Reviews

How to Be Idle by Tom Hodgkinson

karenreads1000s's review against another edition

5.0

Great read. Lots of reminders of life before consumerism was the God of the day. I enjoyed the writing style. Well researched with lots of references to historical idlers. Multiple pages of Further Reading too.

charlie548's review against another edition

funny relaxing medium-paced

2.5

The author has some good ideas, but he makes a lot of claims that he doesn't bother to give any evidence for. For example, he claims that some homeless people are homeless by choice, and gives nothing to back it up; not even an anecdote. 

kb_208's review against another edition

5.0

This is a book that everyone should sit down and read. I don't agree with every idea presented here, but the overall theme of the book is a good life lesson. To me this book is about enjoying the good things in life and not to get bogged down by things that take those away. People get so obsessed with working and making money, which is very stressful and ends up killing you much faster in the end. The author labels these people as "botherers", and rightfully slow. He presents the notion that we should not feel ashamed for taking things easy and not being caught up in the money world. Enjoy life.

edlee3's review against another edition

challenging funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

tofumeow's review against another edition

3.0

I love being idle. On the many days I have off, I don't do anything productive, and I don't feel guilty lounging around. So you would think I would love this book!

Some of the chapters in this book were great, like the one on the stupidity of holiday. I have never really understood the desire to blow wads of money traveling around the country on days off. Just stay at home and relax. Also, the quotes and passages from philosophers, poets and writers were very good and made parts of this book a gem.

Yet...other things rubbed me the wrong way. The chapters on smoking, raves and drinking were a bit much. As was his mocking of going to the gym or jogging. Spending an hour exercising, then laying on the couch puts me in a much better mood than if I never got off the couch to begin with. His worries (then dismissal) of wondering if he was an alcoholic made me a little suspicious of the joys of all these vices. Not to mention, a lot of the poets he was idealizing had a very short life expectancy. Give me the more austere life of a contemplative hermit, than the hard partying hedonist.

mr_llama's review against another edition

4.0

I liked the sentiment of the book, and the message, however, Hodgkinson meanders all over the place before he gets to the point, making this a difficult read.

sallyjofrench's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

2.0

ameliasbooks's review against another edition

I think I already get the point. Parts of it are entertaining, but I have the feeling this topic is stretched out a bit to much for the sake of this book. It is also quite dated in its language and from a quite priviledged perspective. Which is weird, because the whole point of this is very anti-capitalistic.

sashshearman's review against another edition

5.0

This book changed my life. Really, I am not kidding.

I am lazy and always felt deeply guilty about it. Now I don't.

I am an avid reader and Tom's manifesto inspired the only fan letter I have ever written. That's how much I loved his book.

Read it, it might change your life too.

vireogirl's review against another edition

3.0

I almost gave up on this, but I was too busy loafing to make the trek to the bookshelf to grab a different book. There’s nice variety in the chapters, but the content felt forced to me (maybe I missed some of the British humor?). And some of the quote sources had me scratching my head.

I heard the author on a podcast and enjoyed him on it. I was expecting a more scientific book, but this is not it.