Book #35 for 2023: Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time by Sheila Liming
Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time by Sheila Liming
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book at all; it was a complete blind read on my part. Across seven chapters, Sheila Liming presents essays on the different ways that we spend our time. Subjects range from parties, to work and even surfing the internet, and the book seems to indicate that there is an inherent need to connect with others in some way.
I'll start with the negatives; I found each chapter a little too long-winded, with not as much to say about the psychology of human behaviour as I expected. A lot of the time, Liming seemed to be illustrating her main points by setting out the plot to a book or film. One chapter was all about "jamming" music, which feels like something that would be more of interest to those who are musically talented (I'm not).
This book wasn't dreadful, but I didn't feel that I got a lot out of it. The three star rating is mainly because I could tell that she had done a lot of research; the footnotes indicated that she had used a number of sources, including Ibid, which many writers turn to, and which I really need to have a look at; it intrigues me.
She did make a few good points along the way; for example, a party can feel like a hostage situation, you feel that you have to attend, but you're often not sure how to behave. She sums the situation up easily by mentioning a time when a friend asked why she was at a particular party, to which she replied: "Because you invited me". She also notes that conferences are often just an excuse to avoid work, which is probably true.
Another positive is that Liming uses a lot of anecdotes about her life, allowing the reader to really get to know what she is like, and any struggles that she has had (many were identifiable).
The conclusion felt more like a self-help book, with one of the key messages being not to let opportunities pass you by; as she notes: "Time, risks, opportunities, care, and heart: five varieties of action that set the grand machinery of humanity into motion and, with a little effort, might just keep it all humming along."
Overall, this book is probably worth dipping into; just don't expect any profound reflections about why we behave how we do.
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