About
The Idler is a bi-annual, book-shaped magazine that campaigns against the work ethic.
It was founded in 1993 by Tom Hodgkinson and his friend Gavin Pretor-Pinney.
The title comes from a series of essays by Dr Johnson, published in 1758-9 in the Universal Chronicle.
The intention of the magazine is to return dignity to the art of loafing, to make idling into something to aspire towards rather than reject.
As well as providing a radical and thought-provoking read, the Idler is also very funny.
Editor Tom Hodgkinson has written two books which develop this attitude to life. The first, How To Be Idle, has been published in 20 countries and has so far become a best-seller in the UK, Italy and Germany.
His second book How To Be Free takes an anarchic approach to the everyday barriers that come between us and our dreams.
The current edition of the Idler is a joint project with those marvellously polite revolutionaries, the men from QI, John Lloyd and John Mitchinson. It has been typeset by Christian Brett of Bracketpress.
i've found this website to be EXTREMELY useful, fun, thought provoking, and overall enthralling. i love the idea of alternative lifestyle, living the way you want to, not according to how you're supposed to.
there is also a blog connected to the Idler, called 'early retirement extreme'. this blog basically teaches you how to cut your spending ridiculously to help prepare for early retirement, or just not having to spend as much money/not have to work as hard. because really, if working hard is just going to get me whatever hot new phone is out, i dont want it. material possessions are out of hand these days, this really helps put things in perspective.
Early Retirement Extreme: — written by Jacob Lund Fisker, Freelancer
LIVE LIFE. BE HAPPY!
Back to top
Sign In
Create Account