In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays

About “In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays”

This is a collection of essays by Bertrand Russell, first published in 1935. The 1932 essay "In Praise of Idleness" suggests that people should work a maximum of four hours per day to allow time for thinking and socializing. Other essays cover topics such as sociology, philosophy, and economics, as well as architectural issues examined within a social context. The collection includes pieces on the ancestry of fascism, the comparison of communism and fascism, the case for socialism, and reflections on Western civilization. Additional essays discuss education, mental health, and the nature of the soul. The work also includes pieces on comets and youthful cynicism. The original edition includes a preface and essays written between 1928 and 1933.