Tom Hodgkinson
Idolised by fellow idlers and despised by 9-5ers, Tom Hodgkinson is a modern day God – albeit one of lazy pleasures and idle pursuits. Editor of the The Idler, a bi-annual cult magazine – heaven forbid he and co-founder Gavin Pretor-Pinney should raise their pens the other ten months of the year! – Tom has also written several books on the art of lazing. At this year’s festival he’ll be talking about idle parenting and generally revealing the secrets of an idle life.
Establishing The Idler in 1993, the magazine quickly gained a cult following for its blatant dismissal of working life and set about distorting the British work ethic of ‘live to work’ by offering an idle lifestyle and combining work with play. The magazine features the idle musings of an eclectic cast including Jonathan Ross, Damian Hirst and Patrick Moore. Tom has also written three books: How to be Idle – a bestseller in the UK, Italy and Germany – How to be Free (titled The Freedom Manifesto in the states) and The Idle Parent. Last but by no means least, he’s also a mean ukulele player…
In 2006 Tom created National Unawareness Day, which is celebrated on 1 November – although in Tom’s world, every day is 1 November. Encouraging us all to find our own little paradise in a world of encircling hells, Tom’s writing is witty, intelligent and provocative which, rather ironically, sedulously campaigns against hard-labour, watching your life flash before your eyes and offers inspiration to the dream-chaser in us all. Pull out the sun-lounger, pour some wine and raise a glass to idleness.
“One of the most provocatively entertaining, creatively subversive and, frankly, essential manifestoes of this or any moment.”
Time Out
“An inspiring collection of historical references and intriguing socio-cultural comment for those of us who yearn to cast off our corporate and consumer shackles.”
Psychologies
Links:
- Interview with Tom Hodgkinson
- Tom Hodgkinson’s advice on long weekends in Britain
Video:
Tom Hodgkinson on idleness:
