Save the World by Being Lazy – Recommended Reading

 
December 21st, 2006 by Editor, Pick The Brain

The purpose of machines is to do work so we don’t have to, correct? This makes sense logically, but as technology advances we find ourselves working more. In truth, we could meet our basic needs working a few hours a day. Most people don’t like working, so why does this culture of overwork persist? Why is work glorified and leisure deemed wasteful and immoral?

Nobel Prize winning philosopher Bertrand Russell answers these questions and pleads for reform in his remarkable essay, In Praise of Idleness. Russell’s writing style is superb. He makes his case with logic and historic examples. Whether you agree or not, this essay will make you reexamine work and its role in your life.

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe via RSS feed or email updates because fresh content is posted daily.

10 Comments

  1. Alex Becker on 21.12.2006 at 22:33 (Reply)

    I hope in the future we get to purchase a robot that will do our work for us. Think about that. You can travel the world while your robot does your job.

  2. John Wesley on 22.12.2006 at 05:21 (Reply)

    That sounds good Alex, unfortunately it seems more likely your employer will purchase a robot and put you out of work. :(

  3. Alex Becker on 22.12.2006 at 23:23 (Reply)

    Well i was thinking of something were theres no employer. Every one has their own share of things.

  4. John Wesley on 23.12.2006 at 13:44 (Reply)

    Yeah that would be the ideal situation. Also, I read your post on the real estate guy, pretty funny he got banned from Adsense.

  5. Ashish Mohta on 26.12.2006 at 09:02 (Reply)

    I disagree to the point that we make smart machines so wen be lazy…We make machines smart so we can do other smarter things.There is no point for wasting time to digg with hammer when a powerfull machine can do it.We better look wether the place we dig is right or wrong

  6. Migoinvoila on 19.12.2008 at 14:36 (Reply)

    Excellent web pages Successes and prosperity to you!

  7. Адам on 17.06.2009 at 19:15 (Reply)

    Занятно! Нет ну правда, просто слов нет! :)

  8. Virtex on 04.07.2009 at 21:46 (Reply)

    Пожалуй, это один из интереснейших блогов, которые я когда-либо читал :) . Отличные статьи, Отличные комментарии. Так держать! :)

  9. Cell Phone blogger on 09.07.2009 at 04:40 (Reply)

    A side note, people not being lazy is hurting this country tremendously as well. What I mean is for example, the largest employer in my town is a company that has 1500 VOLUNTEERS. My mom “works” for this company for free as well, and when I tell her that she is doing for free a job others could be paid to do, she says she is just bored sitting around the house. Yes, the lack of laziness is causing job loss, so you are right, we need more in this country.

  10.  Что случилось в мастерских?  спросил КонэЭль.

Leave a comment