Articles
Making merry with our favourite historian
Tom Hodgkinson | Letter from the Editor
Ronald Hutton’s new online course… Read more
Book of the Week: Stations of the Sun
Ronald Hutton | Books
Prof Ronald Hutton on how the medievals did Christmas… Read more
What a relief: ah, is this not happiness?
Jin Shengtan | Idle Thoughts
The 19th of 33 happy moments from a 17th-century Chinese writer and critic… Read more
Your right to roam: a guide
Nick Hayes | Idle Thoughts
Agitator Nick Hayes on freeing the countryside… Read more
Solutions to the Shavian puzzle
Alex Bellos | Books
1. b) 2. d) 3. e) 4. a) 5. c)
š is the sound āssā… Read more
Charles Handy: the greatest painting in the world
Charles Handy | Comment
Time for a new start… Read more
Book of the Week: The Language Loverās Puzzle Book
Alex Bellos | Books
A cracking conundrum from this entertaining tome… Read more
Thinking, āIf only…ā: ah, is this not happiness?
Jin Shengtan | Idle Thoughts
The 18th in 33 happy moments from a 17th-century Chinese writer and critic… Read more
Books for Christmas: Our Picks
Tom Hodgkinson | Books
The best literature for loafers from 2020… Read more
Adam Buxton gets train rage
Adam Buxton | Books
An awkward moment on the 14.12 to Cambridge… Read more
Book of the Week: Montaigneās Essays
Montaigne | Books
The 16th century philosopher on idleness… Read more
A slice of summer: ah, is this not happiness?
Jin Shengtan | Idle Thoughts
17th happy moment… Read more
Donāt work when youāre ill
Tom Hodgkinson | Letter from the Editor
Matt Hancockās surprisingly good advice… Read more
Book of the Week: There Are Places in the World Where Rules Are Less Important Than Kindness
Carlo Rovelli | Books
Carlo Rovelli on the importance of Aristotle… Read more
Freshly fallen snow: ah, is this not happiness?
Jin Shengtan | Idle Thoughts
The 16th of 33 happy moments from a 17th-century Chinese writer… Read more
Bumbling in the Balkans
Tom Hodgkinson | Letter from the Editor
Tom Hodgkinson on aylyak, the Bulgarian art of doing nothing… Read more
Charles Handy: How young women are changing the world
Charles Handy | Comment
Gen Z females are bringing hope… Read more
Outdoor lolling comes to California
Bernard Marszalek | Comment
Bernard Marszalek on the rise of the parklet… Read more
Book of the Week: The Art of Rest
Claudia Hammond | Books
Finding respite in the modern age… Read more
A home of oneās own: ah, is this not happiness?
Jin Shengtan | Idle Thoughts
The 15th of 33 happy moments from a 17th-century Chinese scholar and writer… Read more
The problem with ukuleles and frugality
Tom Hodgkinson | Letter from the Editor
Tom Hodgkinson’s hobbies cause exquisite agony to his family… Read more
Whatās wrong with laziness?
Will Bynoe | Comment
Philosopher Will Bynoe sits back and relaxes… Read more
Office nightmares
Robert Wringham | Comment
Robert Wringham has 82 good reasons never to go back… Read more
Book of the Week: Broadsword Calling Danny Boy
Geoff Dyer | Books
Geoff Dyer’s hilarious essay on Where Eagles Dare… Read more