The Idler’s Companion: An Anthology of Lazy Literature - Tapa dura

An anthology of indolence, The Idler’s Companion is the perfect present for the literary loafer in your life.

One of the most pressing quiestions de nos jours is, How are we to adapt our work patterns to a post-industrial society? To which this book responds: Why bother?

An anthology of writers from throughout the ages – from the Bible (’Consider the lilies of the fields, they toil not’) to Boswell, to Burroughs – The Idler’s Companion explores the history, philosophy and sheer luxuriance of indolence. Compiled by the editors of The Idler magazine, the book is divided into 5 sections – The Hermit (covering the spiritual aspects of doing nothing); The Courtier (the intellectual’s endorsement of inactivity); The Epicurean (the hedonist’s route out of a working life); The Unemployed (sometimes uncharitably referred to as skivers); and The Sloth (who makes no apologies for anything).

A stylishly designed gift book, THE IDLER’S COMPANION makes the perfect couch-side companion. Pass us the chocolates...

Tom Hodgkinson and Matthew De Abaitua not only run The Idler magazine but are also two of the Guardian’s brightest young journalists.