Idler 111, Aug/Sept 2026
Alexander McCall Smith’s two hour workday, slow skateboarding in Memphis Tennessee, why Stephen Bayley
Idler 110, July 2026
Featuring Stuart Maconie on the contrasting work ethics of John and Paul, Henry Eliot
Idler 109, May/June 2026
Featuring Analogue Economy: A Guide to Breaking Free of the Tech Bros, Glenn Tilbrook
Idler 108, March/April 2026
Featuring Ai Weiwei on AI, why the Stoics were idlers, how to manage your
Idler 107, Jan/Feb 2026
Delve into our wool special, featuring Patrick Grant, John Lewis-Stempel, Joe Corré plus shepherds,
Idler 106, Dec 2025
Look who’s coming for Christmas! Featuring Stewart Lee, Alice Lascelles, Mary Killen, Luke Wright
Idler 105, Oct/Nov 2025
Starring Emma Thompson plus your guide to making a speech, the art of retreat and Griff Rhys Jones on why he hates superhero movies
Idler 104, Aug/Sept 2025
Featuring Tim Key, the AI con, narcissists and how to avoid them, Art Flâneur
Idler 103, July 2025
Michael Palin, park bench special, dumb phones guide and a visit to the Yellow Bittern
Idler 102, May/June 2025
Featuring cats, dogs, Miranda Sawyer on the liberating power of The Prodigy, plus wild
Idler 101, March/April 2025
Our tyrants special, featuring Ferdinand Mount’s how-to guide for autocrats, plus the truth behind
Idler 100, Jan/Feb 2025
Sink into the 100th edition of the Idler magazine, featuring an illuminating and entertaining discussion of sin between Rowan Williams and Jesse Armstrong, plus your almanac for 2025 and novelist Paul Theroux on how he learned to slow down.
Idler 99, Nov/Dec 2024
Featuring Dominic West on why evil characters are boring, a week without wifi for
Idler 98, Sept/Oct 2024
Step into paradise. In our gardens special, we meet author Olivia Laing and discuss
Idler 97, July/August 2024
Meet musician Richard Hawley, a great pub philosopher who has come to pop stardom late in life with a hit West End musical. If you’re wondering whether to quit your job, our “escape” guide might help (it says, yes, you probably should). Design guru Stephen Bayley writes on the beauty of keeping it simple, while Clare Pollard takes us back to 17th century Paris where a group of free-spirited women brought about a revolution in literature. Plus Stewart Lee’s music choices, a defence of peasants and a history of fanzines.
Idler 96, May/June 2024
Relax into our Sleep special. You’ll meet nap revolutionary Tricia Hersey and learn about her mission to get the world to exercise their right to rest. Editor Tom Hodgkinson presents his expert guide to getting a good night’s kip, and we’ve got top pyjamas too. Paul Theroux wonders just what “Orwellian”means, Griff Rhys Jones is hating eating outside, and James Parker says yes, yes, yes. Plus columnists Stewart Lee, Virginia Ironside, Arthur Smith and Georgia Mann.
Idler 95, March/April 2024
Idler 95 features a highly amusing chat with Giles and Mary from Gogglebox. Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams dispenses wise words on the positive uses of anger. We visit a commune in the north, Arthur Smith offers his recipes for happiness, and Tim Richardson visits Colchester. Plus music tips from Stewart Lee and Georgia Mann.
Idler 94, Jan/Feb 2024
In which Will Hodgkinson meets Arthur Brown, the God of Hellfire; Stephen Bayley attacks the idea of fun; we look at the surprising history of the chaise longue, and visit Britain after the Romans left (it was wild and free). Plus Georgia Mann, Stewart Lee, Virginia Ironside, Peter York and how to spot a psycho.
An Idler’s Manual
An Idler’s Manual is a short guide to the idle life. It comprises of 24 chapters, each giving an idea on how to slow down, have fun and live well. Illustrations by Alice Smith.
Idler 93, Nov/Dec 2023
We meet Rupert Sheldrake, mystic and heretical scientist. Guy Standing shows us how to take back our time. John-Paul Flintoff improves our creativity with his guide to mind maps, and Griff Rhys Jones explains why he hates fireworks
Idler 92, Sept/Oct 2023
Cory Doctorow explains how we can reduce the power of big tech and Mark Vernon advises against getting worried about AI. We meet entrepreneur Cath Kidston and learn about her journey from small to big to small again. Plus Stewart Lee’s music roundup, joys of the typewriter and Murray Lachlan Young on the sad demise of the fluffer.
Idler 91, July/August 2023
Irvine Welsh reveals his writing techniques, plus Clare Pollard on Richard Scarry, idlers in fairy tales, and the secrets of efficient work by Rachel Kelly
Idler 90, May/June 2023
Satrring Rachel Weisz, plus Griff Rhys Jones, the art of the sabbatical, anarchy in
Idler 89, Mar/April 2023
Featuring pop misfit Lawrence, our good jobs survey, David Graeber on pirates, your guide
Idler 88, Jan/Feb 2023
Featuring Richard Coles on living by the sea, coping with bereavment and not being
Idler 87, November/December 2022
Idler 87 features Blur’s Graham Coxon on the disappointments of getting what you want,
Idler 86, September/October 2022
The punk issue featuring Youth’s interview with punk legend Gina Birch, an essay on the
Idler 85, July/August 2022
Featuring Jarvis Cocker on how to be creative, a guide to mudlarking, Will Hodgkinson
Idler 84, May/June 2022
The surreal issue, featuring an insight into the surrealists’ war on work, tea with
Idler 83, March/April 2022
Meet the producer of The Crown, learn about healing herbs in history, discover Britain’s best cherry blossoms, plus Arthur Smith, Milton, Virginia Ironside, Stewart Lee and Lindsey Bareham
Idler 82, Jan/Feb 2022
Meet punk band Big Joanie, the sisters doing it for themselves. PLUS our guide to quitting your job, the shocking brutalities of the American “work ethic camps”, plus Arthur Smith, Virginia Ironside and Stewart Lee.
Idler 81, Nov/Dec 2021
Featuring Nish Kumar, Colin Tudge on how the work ethic destroys the planet, Simon Petherick on the world of the ghost writer, plus Charles Handy’s thoughts on death, Virginia Ironside’s problems page, and behind the scenes on Clarkson’s Farm
Idler 80, Sept/Oct 2021
Idler #80, published Sept/Oct 2021, features tech guru Jaron Lanier on how and why
Idler 79, July/August 2021
Featuring Jessie Cave, secrets of the tortoise, return of the chill out room, Virginia Ironside, Stewart Lee’s pop picks, glories of the Swiss Army Knife and why you should cancel your gym membership now
Idler 78, May/June 2021
Featuring Sindhu Vee on humour and Hinduism; the anchoresses of the Middle Ages; Stewart
Idler 77, Jan/Feb 2021
Back Issues
Pilgrimage special, featuring Guy Hayward on the healing power of devotional walking, plus Stewart
Idler 76, Jan/Feb 2021
Back Issues
Meditation with Sister Jayanti, Michael Palin dines with God, Dickens meets a hermit and
Idler 75, Nov/Dec 2020
Back Issues
Our 75th issues features…
• an “at home” with artist, comedian and birdspotter Vic Reeves
•
Idler 74, Sept/Oct 2020
Back Issues
Features…
Adam Buxton: ‘I reached enlightenment the other day’
The Magic of Mushrooms by Merlin Sheldrake
Rise
Idler 73, July/August 2020
Back Issues
Features…
• lessons in self-sufficiency from editor Tom Hodgkinson
• interview with comedy genius Armando Iannucci
•
Idler 72, May/June 2020
Back Issues
Click above to read the whole of Idler issue 72, featuring:
Will Hodgkinson on how
Idler 71, March/April 2020
Back Issues
Damien Hirst: “I lost control”
Slow Boat: Return of the sailing ship
Proper Job: Meet the
Idler 70, Jan/Feb 2020
Back Issues
Rowan Williams: Read. Sleep. Pray. Repeat. Life lessons from a former archbishop
Sick of working?
Idler 69, November/December 2019
Back Issues
Emma Thompson: ‘Fame is the most toxic thing’
Commons People: Restore our ancient rights, says
Idler 68, September/October 2019
Back Issues
Featuring rockers Sleaford Mods, documentarian Louis Theroux and Helen McCrory of Peaky Blinders
Idler 67, July/August 2019
Back Issues
Featuring Aisling Bea, an attack on Yuval Noah Harari and Michael Palin
Idler 66, May/June 2019
Back Issues
Featuring surrealist Gavin Turk, Paul Mason on how to smash the system and Philippa Perry on parenting
Idler 65, March/April 2019
Back Issues
Featuring Gary Kemp, a surprising history of puppets and a guide to building your own website
Idler 64, January/February 2019
Back Issues
Featuring Suede frontman Brett Anderson, an attack on driverless cars and a pyjamas fashion special
Idler 63, November/December 2018
Back Issues
Featuring Nell Hudson, Michael Palin and an essay on the idle ways of the Bloomsbury Group
Idler 62, September/October 2018
Back Issues
Featuring Jordan Peterson, Jaron Lanier and a guide to making the most of your lunch break
Idler 61, July/August 2018
Back Issues
Featuring Michael Pollan on psychedelics, film maker Adam Curtis and Joe Mellen on the bliss of cricket
Idler 60, May/June 2018
Back Issues
Featuring Sara Pascoe on sex and laughter, David Graeber on bullshit jobs and canal living
Idler 58, January/February 2018
Back Issues
Featuring an essay on why the KLF burned a million pounds, Michael Palin on minimalism, winter with the Vikings and interview with Geoff Dyer
Idler 57, November/December 2017
Back Issues
Featuring an interview with actress and Howards End star Hayley Atwell, plus a gruelling account of
Idler 56, September/October 2017
Back Issues
Featuring an interview with comedy genius Sally Phillips, plus prof Ronald Hutton on witches,
Idler 55, July/August 2017
Back Issues
Featuring an interview with Lee “Scratch” Perry, life lessons from a Buddhist monk and
Idler 54, May/June 2017: Julian Barratt on Mindhorn
Back Issues
We meet Mighty Boosh star Julian Barratt and discuss the making of his new
Idler 52, The Trees Issue
Ider 52: the Trees Issue features essays by William Boyd and Bill Drummond, plus
Idler 51, Nov/Dec 2016: Terry Gilliam
Back Issues
Featuring a fabulous interview with the crazed Terry Gilliam, plus a slow cycling story,
Idler 50, August 2016: Dominic West
Back Issues
Featuring an inspiring philosophical chat with the actor Dominic West, plus essays on the
Idler 49, May 2016: Cerys Matthews
Back Issues
Featuring a great interview with Cerys Matthews, plus Joel Morris, Seaford Mods and tips
Idler 48, February 2016: Louis Theroux
Back Issues
The first edition of our new look, featuring an interview with Louis Theroux, a
Idler 47, 2014: Cultivate Yourself
Back Issues
Our education issue, featuring interviews with Jeremy Paxman and Tim Burgess, plus essays from
Issue 46: Free Spirits
To celebrate our 20th anniversary, we put together over fifty interviews from the Idler
Idler 45: The Utopia Issue
Back Issues
Another luscious collection, featuring interviews with Louis Theroux and Oliver Bernard, and essays from
Idler 44, 2011: Mind Your Business
Back Issues
A special Idler themed around small business. Essays by David Boyle, Sophie Poklewski-Koziell, Toby
Idler 43, 2010: Back to the Land
Back Issues
Our nature and land politics issue, featuring David Hockney interview and original sketches, Paul
Idler 42, 2009: Smash the System
An issue dedicated to work and politics, with contributions from Alain de Botton, Penny
The Idler 41: The QI Issue
Back Issues
A loving collaboration between John Lloyd and John Mitchinson of QI and the Idler.
Idler 13, January 1996: Kids issue
Back Issues
Featuring interview with Dexter Brierley, aged four; plus Chinese loafer Lin Yutang, Stan Lee
Idler 12, Nov 1995: Chill
Back Issues
Interview with Bruce Robinson, plus Alex James on pebbles, Zed Nelson photo-story and essay
Idler 10, July 1995: Damien Hirst
Back Issues
Interview with Damien Hirst; art from Sarah Lucas and Gavin Turk; Will Self gets
Idler 09, May 1995: Shagged Out
Back Issues
Suzanne Moore on idle sex, Rob Newman on John Gray and a conversation with
Idler 08, Feb 1995: Viva Cantona
Back Issues
Rob Newman salutes Eric Cantona, a conversation with Jeffrey Bernard, plus Toby Young has one
Idler 05, July 1994: Slack Summer
Back Issues
Starring Douglas Coupland, William Leith on the dangers of hard work and Jerome K
