Particularize Books As In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays
Original Title: | In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays |
ISBN: | 0415109248 (ISBN13: 9780415109246) |
Edition Language: | English |
Bertrand Russell
Paperback | Pages: 192 pages Rating: 4.08 | 4338 Users | 426 Reviews
Rendition Supposing Books In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays
I would seriously love to become more idle. That is, at this moment, my highest aspiration. Right now I sort of just want to shoot myself in the throat because I feel like all I do is go to work, and stay late at work, and then feel terrible at times like this one because I should be catching up on work before I go to bed, but actually I just got back from work, plus I gotta get up soon and go back to work, and in any case I'm starting to feel like quite the dull girl and all this work work work work is really kind of just totally destroying my body and crushing my spirit.... Do you guys remember when I didn't even HAVE a job, and all I did was lie around all day long reading novels and eating bonbons and writing book reports? God, those were the days. I mean, they really were. I honestly used to think that I had something called a "work ethic," and that I actually did enjoy working, provided it was the right sort of job, but since then I've discovered the truth, which is that I'm an essentially lazy person, and if I had my way, I'd have nothing to do with this depraved institution called "earning a living."Anyway, if Bertrand Russell has got some suggestions on how I can create and maintain a life of blissful indolence, I would love to hear them. Of course, the predictable irony here is that there's no way in hell that I will ever find the time to read this book. Yeah. Ugh. Somebody call the wah-mbulance.
Declare Out Of Books In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays
Title | : | In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays |
Author | : | Bertrand Russell |
Book Format | : | Paperback |
Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 192 pages |
Published | : | January 1st 1985 by Routledge (first published 1935) |
Categories | : | Philosophy. Nonfiction. Writing. Essays. Politics |
Rating Out Of Books In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays
Ratings: 4.08 From 4338 Users | 426 ReviewsWrite-Up Out Of Books In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays
I would seriously love to become more idle. That is, at this moment, my highest aspiration. Right now I sort of just want to shoot myself in the throat because I feel like all I do is go to work, and stay late at work, and then feel terrible at times like this one because I should be catching up on work before I go to bed, but actually I just got back from work, plus I gotta get up soon and go back to work, and in any case I'm starting to feel like quite the dull girl and all this work work workIn this outstanding collection, Russell reflects upon the economic status of the modern world. Capitalists, in Russell's view, have obstinately refused to share the benefits of science, which could easily reduce the working hours of all people to 4 hours a day (in our day it is most certainly closer to 1 or 2), if only people were given the chance to control their own productivity; on top of that, capitalists have destroyed the aesthetic splendor of cities and towns. No age in history has had
A enlightened view on the self propagating inefficiency of the current economic paradigm. Reminder to the people that money is a means of resource allocation to ensure that everyone can live as comfortably as possible rather than this mindless pursuit of the impermenant that is prevalent today. Well worth the read. Succinct.
I didnt mind his writing style, so perhaps the essay is better than 1 star. For me, the hurdle was my fundamental disagreement with his overarching ideas that:1. Theres far too much work being done in the world, and2. Immense harm is caused from believing work is virtuous.I struggled to see the benefits in praising idleness. In the context of 1932, when the book was published, his points may have been more relevant, particularly because long workdays were the norm (even for children) and people
The first essay won me over !!Well it was the reason why I picked this up. Weird how I've never thought of reading it earlier, since I appreciate "Laziness". Anyway, It took me a long time to finish this collection of essays. I didn't like everything I read but I enjoyed reading most of them.It has been a good read.
I have decided that this essay changed my life.
So far, I've only read the title essay, "In Praise of Idleness", but I must say that it rings as true (if not truer!) today than it must have in 1932 during the Great Depression.The value and virtue of "hard work" and the vilification of "idleness" is indeed a dual construct of the upper (leisure) class and the puritanical (right-wing) religious origins of our country. Must keep those working-class lackeys occupied so they don't revolt! Or fall to drinking, gambling, and crime!There is nothing
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.