Richard King is the author of the acclaimed How Soon Is Now? a history of independent record labels. His latest book Original Rockers was published by Faber earlier this month to rave reviews. He took the time to answer the Idler questionnaire below.

1. Are you happy? 

I think Mary Margaret O’Hara answered this question best by giving a song the title When You Know When You’re Happy.

2. What are you reading at the moment? 

Cigarettes by Harry Mathews, who is a wonderful writer and mystifyingly his books are largely only available as imports in this country. Cigarettes is the story of  Cheeveresque characters in New York State  placed in a Maguerite Duras or Perec narrative structure. I suppose you could call it a ‘Great American Nouveau Roman’ although it’s far more interesting than that.

3. What was your worst job? 

One summer aged 19 I worked nights in an enormous cold storage warehouse on an industrial estate adjacent to the Severn Bridge. There was a heatwave and the warehouse temperature was fixed at about minus six degrees, life felt quite disorientating.

4. How many hours do you work each day?

 Haven’t a clue.

5.  Town mouse or country mouse? 

Country mouse, harvest mouse specifically.

6. Does love bring happiness or misery? 

You’ll need to have had a healthy dose of both to understand you’ve found the real thing.

7. Mp3 or vinyl, real or e book?

 Er…

8. What are your three greatest pleasures? 

1. Family 2. Music 3.  I take immeasurable pleasure in being able to live within the landscape of rural Wales.

9. Do you believe in the nap? 

Hell yes.

10. What advice do you have for young people? 

That we’re in their hands and if they could create an orthodoxy to counter neoliberalism the world be a much happier place. Also, all those nerves that can make life fractious in youth become something much more receptive and pleasurable over time.

Richard’s latest book Original Rockers is our Idler Book of the Month, we have exclusive signed copies available to buy through the shop by following the link to the right.