On being a Slacker
So, I first heard about this book, "How to be Idle" on NPR over Memorial Day weekend. Essentially the book is social commentary on our current state of "work". The book also discusses the benefits of being a slacker and rails against the "workaholic" ethos. I need to get this book. Here's the article I just read about it:
http://www.alternet.org/story/22190
The author does mention one of my favorite intellectuals in the article as well. (Hint: take a look at my icon)
One of the reasons I decided to continue my education was so that I could escape the pressures of our current system of 60 hr work weeks. It seems to me that being a professor of something would be much better for me. Since I would only be obligated to teach a few classes (about 6-12 hours of lectures a week), I could use the rest of the time in a manner more suitable to me. This is not to say that teaching at any level is easy, but that I wouldn't be held to the contsraint of sitting at a desk for 8-12 hours a day.
Another person I for his admired for his outlook on work was the British Mathematician, GH Hardy. Hardy had said that he preferred to work on mathematics for about 4 hrs a day, usually in the morning. He spent the rest of his day watching Cricket games. He went on to say that 4 hrs was about the limit when attempting to do creative mathematics.
I suppose my parents would be puzzled by my outlook. My father is the classic workaholic. Having been the owner of a buisness, this should come as no surprise. He would get on my case about my work ethic all the time. I guess I just needed to find a different approach to life. I prefer mine. Anyways, I've probably already written too much. I think I need a nap.....
http://www.alternet.org/story/22190
The author does mention one of my favorite intellectuals in the article as well. (Hint: take a look at my icon)
One of the reasons I decided to continue my education was so that I could escape the pressures of our current system of 60 hr work weeks. It seems to me that being a professor of something would be much better for me. Since I would only be obligated to teach a few classes (about 6-12 hours of lectures a week), I could use the rest of the time in a manner more suitable to me. This is not to say that teaching at any level is easy, but that I wouldn't be held to the contsraint of sitting at a desk for 8-12 hours a day.
Another person I for his admired for his outlook on work was the British Mathematician, GH Hardy. Hardy had said that he preferred to work on mathematics for about 4 hrs a day, usually in the morning. He spent the rest of his day watching Cricket games. He went on to say that 4 hrs was about the limit when attempting to do creative mathematics.
I suppose my parents would be puzzled by my outlook. My father is the classic workaholic. Having been the owner of a buisness, this should come as no surprise. He would get on my case about my work ethic all the time. I guess I just needed to find a different approach to life. I prefer mine. Anyways, I've probably already written too much. I think I need a nap.....