Articles
Jubilee and the Spirit of Merry England
Tom Hodgkinson | Comment
It’s a time for liberty, festivity and serious idling… Read more
In Praise of the Vyshyvanka
Julia Lasica | Comment
Julia Lasica on why this traditional Ukrainian garment symbolises so much… Read more
Book of the Week: Good Pop, Bad Pop
Jarvis Cocker | Books
Jarvis Cocker on being a slowcoach… Read more
Coleridge Talks Treason in a Beautiful Garden
Tom Hodgkinson | Comment
Tom Hodgkinson on a Romantic revolution… Read more
Ukrainian Poppy Seed Cake with Elderflower and Strawberries
Olia Hercules | Food
An early summer treat from Ukraine… Read more
Book of the Week: Smoke Hole
Martin Shaw | Books
Martin Shaw on how ancient stories help us… Read more
Do You Really Want to Win the Lottery?
Tom Hodgkinson | Letter from the Editor
You don’t have to be a millionaire to be rich, says Tom Hodgkinson … Read more
Charles Handy: What does “fair” mean?
Charles Handy | Comment
It’s a question that’s at the heart of the choices we make… Read more
Book of the Week: Portable Magic
Emma Smith | Books
How a biography of Victoria helped win the war. By Emma Smith… Read more
New: The Idler Guide to Investment with Edward Chancellor
Tom Hodgkinson | Online course
Or how not to lose a lot of money… Read more
The Pure Joy of Playing in Bands
Tom Hodgkinson | Letter from the Editor
Jarvis’s new memoir provokes nostalgia for Tom Hodgkinson… Read more
What’s Important to Italians
Charles Handy | Comment
Charles Handy says the serious stuff can wait… Read more
Book of the Week: Careering
Daisy Buchanan | Books
An extract from Daisy Buchanan’s new novel… Read more
Roll Up for the Idler Festival
Tom Hodgkinson | Letter from the Editor
8, 9 and 10 July, Fenton House & Garden, Hampstead NW3… Read more
How to Swear in French
Viv Groskop | Idler Magazine
From the Idler No.84 (May-June 2022) – out now… Read more
The Surrealists’ War on Work
Abigail Susik | Idler Magazine
From the Idler No.84 (May-June 2022) – out now… Read more
Tea With Margaret Drabble
Tom Hodgkinson | Idler Magazine
Tom Hodgkinson meets a literary legend… Read more
Book of the Week: The Trespasser’s Companion
Nick Hayes | Books
Nick Hayes declares war on the law… Read more
Joys of Old Comedy
Tom Hodgkinson | Letter from the Editor
How laughter unites, from Aristophanes to The Fast Show… Read more
Charlie Higson: A Greek Tale
Charlie Higson | Stories
Teenage trauma on a 1970s holiday, with ouzo involved… Read more
Book of the Week: Whatever Gets You Through the Night
Charlie Higson | Books
Reflections on psychopaths from Charlie Higson… Read more
Secrets of the Money-Saving Amateurs
Tom Hodgkinson | Comment
How to spend less on the boring things and more on the fun ones… Read more
Book of the Week: The Odyssey by Lara Williams
Lara Williams | Books
A brilliant satire on working life… Read more
Why You Should Make Your Own Sandwiches
Tom Hodgkinson | Comment
Embrace autarkia and ataraxia in one simple creative act… Read more