The Idler

Quote for the Day

Here is a thought from Masanobu Fukuoka’s The One-Straw Revolution, the great bible of “do nothing” farming:

“The more people do, the more society develops, the more problems arise. The increasing isolation of nature, the exhuastion of resources, the uneasiness and disintegration of the human spirit, all have been brought about by humanity’s trying to accomplish something. Originally there was no reason to progress, and nothing that had to be done. We have come to the point at which there is no other way than to bring about a ‘movement’ not to bring anything about.”

Therefore to save the world, just do nothing.

A Country Diary 83

MAY HAS come at last, the merry month of May, and I have bought a copy of Thomas Tusser’s One Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, first published in the 16th century. Tusser himself was rather a comical and even sad character. (more…)

The New Idler: Smash the System

We’re pleased to announce that the new Idler is now at the printers and will be released on 17 June. Apologies to those who were expecting the book on the previously advertised launch date of May 1.

Idler 42: Smash the System is a 350 page hardback book bound in cloth and printed on high quality stock. The editor is Tom Hodgkinson and the typesetter is Christian Brett. Our aim has been to collect together the UK’s best radical voices and to explore real alternatives to the neoliberal programme, which has so clearly failed us. Contributors include Alain De Botton, Jay Griffiths, Clare Pollard, Paul Kingsnorth, Andrew Simms, Oliver James and Penny Rimbaud. There are illustrations from Gee Vaucher, Paul Ryding, Alice Smith and Bronwen Jones.

Individuals can order the book by clicking on the right. All orders from the Idler Shop will be accompanied by a letterpress bookmark.

Alternatively, ask your local bookshop to order it.

Bookshops or other shops who would like to stock it should contact our distributor, Central Books, on 0845 458 9911.

Idler 42: Smash The System

The new cloth-bound 350 page annual Idler, a collection of radical essays with contributions from Alain De Botton, Penny Rimbaud, John Mitchinson, Jay Griffiths, Paul Kingsnorth, Oliver James. Published 17 June 2009. Pre-order now for £18.99.