The Idler and Tom Hodgkinson

[The Idler]

Anyone read the Idler and Tom Hodgkinson's books? They seem like a good anti-capitalist critique and like a continuation of Paul Lafargue's The Right to be Lazy essay. A lot of Marxists seems to venerate "Work".

[The Ungovernable Farce]

Anyone read the Idler and Tom Hodgkinson's books? They seem like a good anti-capitalist critique and like a continuation of Paul Lafargue's The Right to be Lazy essay. A lot of Marxists seems to venerate "Work".
How To Be Idle is a pretty lifestylist text. It does presume a certain amount of class privilege - I don't think you can really live the lifestyle it recommends just on the shitty benefits you get from the state. Still, it is positive in its refusal of the work ethic, and parts of it are really fun. As long as you don't confuse it with a serious political text, I'd say it's pretty good.

[The Idler]

He seems to advocate Guild Socialism in How to be Free and The Freedom Manifesto. The Idler often reproduces large articles about work, money etc. perhaps from a middle to upper class perspective but also with a sense of humor.

[bcbm]

How To Be Idle is a pretty lifestylist text. It does presume a certain amount of class privilege - I don't think you can really live the lifestyle it recommends just on the shitty benefits you get from the state.

One of the main points he makes, especially in How to be Free, is moving away from needing so much money in the first place by getting rid of things like TV, internet, etc so I don't think it really presumes much of a class background. I've had long stretches of idling and probably will again and I certainly don't have money... you just have to prepare for it a bit.