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Waiting for the Weekend
Discusses the origin of the week, the observance of the Sabbath, and the development of the weekend, describes weekend behavior, and examines the modern preoccupation with leisure time
260 pages, Hardcover
First published August 19, 1991
About the author
Witold Rybczynski
61 books186 followersWitold Rybczynski was born in Edinburgh, of Polish parentage, raised in London, and attended Jesuit schools in England and Canada. He studied architecture at McGill University in Montreal, where he also taught for twenty years. He is currently the Martin and Margy Meyerson Professor of Urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also co-edits the Wharton Real Estate Review. Rybczynski has designed and built houses as a registered architect, as well as doing practical experiments in low-cost housing, which took him to Mexico, Nigeria, India, the Philippines, and China.
(From www.witoldrybczynski.com)
(From www.witoldrybczynski.com)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 14, 2010
Despite the title, and despite the fact that much of this book tells the story of how the weekend as we know it came into being, Waiting for the Weekend isn’t just about Saturday and Sunday and how they got that way. It also examines larger questions of leisure: what is leisure, anyhow? And how do work and leisure and recreation and play interrelate? To start with an answer: leisure, as Rybczynski defines it, is not “an antidote to work”—that would be recreation, which “carries with it a sense of necessity and purpose” (p 224). Leisure, following the ideas of GK Chesterton, is the freedom to do nothing, but above all the freedom to think and to reflect. So if leisure is the freedom to do nothing, where does leisure fit into the modern weekend, the regularly-scheduled two-day break many of us have, into which we often try to cram as many activities as possible?
In writing about what leisure is and how free time came to be parceled out into Saturdays and Sundays, Rybczynski writes a lot about the history of the week and the history of the weekend, all of which is really interesting precisely because it’s the sort of thing that many tend to take for granted. He talks about the (dim) origins of the seven-day week, the irregular working hours of the 18th-century, the practice of "keeping Saint Monday" (i.e. taking Monday off work - sometimes to recover from Sunday drinking), and the push for reform that led to Saturday being granted special half-holiday status in Britain. From there, it's not a big jump to the weekend as we know it, though the adoption of the two-day weekend has varied in timing and motivation from country to country.
After focusing mainly on the UK and the US at first, Rybczynski shifts the discussion to the adoption of the two-day weekend elsewhere, including Solidarity-era Poland, Fascist Italy, and Japan. He talks, too, about pastimes and about weekend “retreats,” country campgrounds/trailer parks where working-class families go for the weekend in the summer, and the long heritage of the idea of an escape from the city—from Pliny’s countryside villas to Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon. These last chapters sometimes feel like they’re not so well-connected to the ones that came before, but that’s a small criticism for a book that, on the whole, is pretty pleasing.
In writing about what leisure is and how free time came to be parceled out into Saturdays and Sundays, Rybczynski writes a lot about the history of the week and the history of the weekend, all of which is really interesting precisely because it’s the sort of thing that many tend to take for granted. He talks about the (dim) origins of the seven-day week, the irregular working hours of the 18th-century, the practice of "keeping Saint Monday" (i.e. taking Monday off work - sometimes to recover from Sunday drinking), and the push for reform that led to Saturday being granted special half-holiday status in Britain. From there, it's not a big jump to the weekend as we know it, though the adoption of the two-day weekend has varied in timing and motivation from country to country.
After focusing mainly on the UK and the US at first, Rybczynski shifts the discussion to the adoption of the two-day weekend elsewhere, including Solidarity-era Poland, Fascist Italy, and Japan. He talks, too, about pastimes and about weekend “retreats,” country campgrounds/trailer parks where working-class families go for the weekend in the summer, and the long heritage of the idea of an escape from the city—from Pliny’s countryside villas to Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon. These last chapters sometimes feel like they’re not so well-connected to the ones that came before, but that’s a small criticism for a book that, on the whole, is pretty pleasing.
September 18, 2014
OK, I found this book a little dry & unengaging. Yet, its slow-moving approach fits the topic of leisure appropriately. And, I don't know where else you'll find some of the cultural history tidbits in this volume. When & how did everyone decide that Saturday/Sunday was the weekend? Good question, but apparently it's harder to pin down than you'd think. Working seven days a week without a day off in the Industrial Age didn't work so well, for example, because of absenteeism, especially on Mondays. Various countries have tried a variety of approaches, including a 10-day work week with three weeks per 30-day month and a shared holiday at the end of the year to even it up with the lunar year. Didn't take. And, as six-and-a-half-day work weeks were whittled down to five, people had to find other stuff to do -- before there were malls. And, yes, that leisure time had something to do with launching the film industry, which had to happen before we could go to movies on our weekends.
November 2, 2009
Nonfiction view at the evolution of our 5-and-2 pattern of days; leisure versus hobbies; reading versus watching tv. The chapter on "Pastimes" was quite interesting. Is leisure time a time to work at play? Or to do nothing, a kind of personal freedom? The book became a little slow during the historical recountings of how weekdays were developed, but made up for it in the other chapters. Worth reading.
March 28, 2019
4.5 stars
Yet another great book on how one thing effects change all over. The concepts of time, weeks, leisure, and schedules are all discussed here, in surprising ways. I loved it.
I can't stop thinking about this book. Every time it got a bit too dry, I took a break and came back, with tea in hand, refreshed and ready to learn more.
Because of my varied work life, my disabilities, and my retiring from 'active duty' many times, I find that my perspective on time, work, and leisure is slightly different from the norm that has been disappearing for some time now. WalMart is the largest employer in most of the states now, and those poor blokes don't get to enjoy weekends.
It is a rereader, for sure. There's so much information packed in here, next time, I'll read it instead of listening. I'd like to quote it, but I type really slowly.
Yet another great book on how one thing effects change all over. The concepts of time, weeks, leisure, and schedules are all discussed here, in surprising ways. I loved it.
I can't stop thinking about this book. Every time it got a bit too dry, I took a break and came back, with tea in hand, refreshed and ready to learn more.
Because of my varied work life, my disabilities, and my retiring from 'active duty' many times, I find that my perspective on time, work, and leisure is slightly different from the norm that has been disappearing for some time now. WalMart is the largest employer in most of the states now, and those poor blokes don't get to enjoy weekends.
It is a rereader, for sure. There's so much information packed in here, next time, I'll read it instead of listening. I'd like to quote it, but I type really slowly.
November 13, 2018
Excellent in the Rybczynski way. A thoroughly enjoyable stroll through the topic of how, why and when we spend our leisure time.
Although written almost 30 years ago, the points and subtle illuminations are still, and possible more, relevant today.
I think that Rybczynski would be happy if one spent a leisurely Sunday afternoon enjoying a wander through this easily read essay on the weekend.
Although written almost 30 years ago, the points and subtle illuminations are still, and possible more, relevant today.
I think that Rybczynski would be happy if one spent a leisurely Sunday afternoon enjoying a wander through this easily read essay on the weekend.
June 21, 2013
Being a study in that instrument of leisure time, the weekend.
Starts with history: how the week came to be, with the Jewish Sabbath and the planetary week coming into play -- plus attempts by the French Revolution and the Soviet Union to "reform" it -- and leisure time in the forms of holidays throughout the world and history. the differences and similarities between sacred time and taboo time.
The increase in such leisurely things as parks, consuming coffee, tea, and tobacco, and the novel. Popular sports (including some quite bloody ones) and drinking.
"Saint Monday": -- the English habit of taking Monday off as long as you had money enough. Pious souls introducing the half-holiday Saturdays in hopes of getting people to take their leisure then and then go to church on Sunday; factor owners endorsing it in hopes of getting their workers there reliably. In the US, the reduction was first pushed by the labor movement and then cemented by the Great Depression, in hopes of spreading the work around. And other places -- the slow increase of two-day weekends in Israel (where the Orthodox support springs from hopes people can then use the day to get the stuff they now do on the Sabbath done), Japan where leisure time is much less, Poland where, unusually, leisure time was demanded in the absence of entertainments to fill the hours. How the decline of working time stopped.
And what you do in it: country retreats for the weekend. Reading, TV, and gardening, and what leisure will mean, in the future.
Starts with history: how the week came to be, with the Jewish Sabbath and the planetary week coming into play -- plus attempts by the French Revolution and the Soviet Union to "reform" it -- and leisure time in the forms of holidays throughout the world and history. the differences and similarities between sacred time and taboo time.
The increase in such leisurely things as parks, consuming coffee, tea, and tobacco, and the novel. Popular sports (including some quite bloody ones) and drinking.
"Saint Monday": -- the English habit of taking Monday off as long as you had money enough. Pious souls introducing the half-holiday Saturdays in hopes of getting people to take their leisure then and then go to church on Sunday; factor owners endorsing it in hopes of getting their workers there reliably. In the US, the reduction was first pushed by the labor movement and then cemented by the Great Depression, in hopes of spreading the work around. And other places -- the slow increase of two-day weekends in Israel (where the Orthodox support springs from hopes people can then use the day to get the stuff they now do on the Sabbath done), Japan where leisure time is much less, Poland where, unusually, leisure time was demanded in the absence of entertainments to fill the hours. How the decline of working time stopped.
And what you do in it: country retreats for the weekend. Reading, TV, and gardening, and what leisure will mean, in the future.
May 18, 2014
Fascinating work on how time is defined by the two day week end, and why it has come to be. Really the cultural history of recreation - citing GK Chesteron's definitions of "leisure": "The first is being allowed to do something. The second is being allowed to do anything. And the third (and perhaps most rare and precious) is being allowed to do nothing." Rybecynski writes of the increasing structure of free time and how likely that the commercialization of leisure time turns free time into another form of work time.
In the moments of reflection while reading Waiting for the Weekend, I think of William Stafford's beautiful and liberating poem, You Reading This, Be Ready. His first line is: "Starting here, what do you want to remember?" and his last: "What can anyone give you greater than now, starting here, right in this room, when you turn around?" Every word in between is exquisite and reminds me why I'm not waiting for the weekend.
Lots of references for more reading, and there's also Rybczynski's other work to be read, Home.
In the moments of reflection while reading Waiting for the Weekend, I think of William Stafford's beautiful and liberating poem, You Reading This, Be Ready. His first line is: "Starting here, what do you want to remember?" and his last: "What can anyone give you greater than now, starting here, right in this room, when you turn around?" Every word in between is exquisite and reminds me why I'm not waiting for the weekend.
Lots of references for more reading, and there's also Rybczynski's other work to be read, Home.
June 19, 2014
In this small volume, Rybcznski gets us to thinking about an everyday aspect of life we may never have given much thought to in the past. What is the weekend and why do we have it?
In examining the relationship between work and leisure, he recounts the evolution of the seven day week, its historic roots in the Babylonian calendar and then the later more recent development of the two day weekend. In doing so he explores the history of leisure and the concept of time off from work, starting first with “taboo days”, and later with the Industrial Revolution the habit of keeping Saint Monday as a day at home away from work. It is this practice which eventually evolved into the modern weekend.
Rybczynski also raises some interesting points about specialization and automation in the work force and the fact that we may now require greater skills in our leisure pursuits than in our jobs.
Well researched with extensive notes, but at the same time very readable.
Makes you think about a man made phenomenon that we take for granted and which is still evolving.
In examining the relationship between work and leisure, he recounts the evolution of the seven day week, its historic roots in the Babylonian calendar and then the later more recent development of the two day weekend. In doing so he explores the history of leisure and the concept of time off from work, starting first with “taboo days”, and later with the Industrial Revolution the habit of keeping Saint Monday as a day at home away from work. It is this practice which eventually evolved into the modern weekend.
Rybczynski also raises some interesting points about specialization and automation in the work force and the fact that we may now require greater skills in our leisure pursuits than in our jobs.
Well researched with extensive notes, but at the same time very readable.
Makes you think about a man made phenomenon that we take for granted and which is still evolving.
July 8, 2008
This is a surprisingly in-depth study of the history of our current work-week (and, of course, the weekend). It dragged a little during some of the detailed examples of different cultures that had a hand in inspiring the 7-day week, but I think it would be worth reading again.
It also discusses leisure and freetime and hobbies briefly--I would have liked to hear more on these subjects, although he references plenty of books on the subject, like "A Civilized Guide to Loafing" (Hilarious!)
It also discusses leisure and freetime and hobbies briefly--I would have liked to hear more on these subjects, although he references plenty of books on the subject, like "A Civilized Guide to Loafing" (Hilarious!)
August 6, 2008
Way better than I initially thought...this is a quick history of our calendar and an exploration of where in the world the concept of the weekend came from. Despite my having to look up a number of words in the first couple chapters, it's super easy to read. I read it in a flight from tx to the east coast, maybe with a delay on the runway. It's so interesting to think about what forces have come together to shape the way we shape our time. Happy Friday & have a great weekend!
February 13, 2010
Rybczynski is a great chronicler of the way we live and this work examines the origins and evolution of the idea of the weekend...there is much culture, religion, economics and history spread through this exploration of an idea that has seized the western imagination. In addition to a mass of fact and interpretation the work is well written and witty.
November 8, 2017
A lot of good info and speculation on the origins of the weekend. At times it seems as though the author himself is unsure of what conclusions to draw and, in exasperation, ends up regurgitating collected dates and events that seem relevant. I ended up drawing my own timeline from all the dates but ultimately the origins of the weekend remain unclear.
September 3, 2010
As a society the more we change the more we remain the same. We often forget the meaning of the weekend and take for granted what we have in life without remembering how any of it came about, and how much we as humans like to fool ourselves.
March 8, 2013
A fun and whimsical history of leisure and the weekend as we know it, as well as a plea for treating savoring of leisure as time to do nothing at all. The history of our seven day week was neat - never heard anything about it before,
September 6, 2016
Interesting history of where the two day weekend came from, including the custom of going to the countryside, gardening. Intellectuals worrying commonfolk would use it to get drunk. A little discussion about the meaning of leisure & why don't people just do things for fun anymore.
February 23, 2020
Meh. I like the concept of this book, but the execution didn't get me there. It really fizzled quickly as there was too much explanation, of things you should know (religions have a sabbath). I liked the authors older books so I wanted to like this one. Oh well.
September 24, 2007
The subject was interesting, but the writing style did not grab my attention and hold it.
July 14, 2008
Fun, fun, fun!
July 12, 2009
This is a highly enjoyable history of leisure time in western civilization.
July 24, 2011
I found this book to be a thoughtful, thought-provoking, investigation of the weekend. It raised questions I had never thought about before and was brimful of fascinating facts.
January 9, 2013
Very interesting book, but avoid the audiobook - the reader is a woman, although Rybczynski speaks self referentially often ("my boyhood....").
March 6, 2013
A good history of our working/leisure life.
January 1, 2015
I will read anything and everything this man writes. He is a marvelous thinker, researcher, synthesizer and writer.
August 4, 2015
Everybody's working for the weekend!
This book tries to understand why we do that exactly.
This book tries to understand why we do that exactly.
January 25, 2016
This book was assigned for a class and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Learning about the evolution of the weekend and how it relates to the development of leisure was very intriguing.
April 22, 2016
Funny, insightful and full of interesting facts about leisure and the development over the ages of how we use our free time. "We work to have leisure." ~ Aristotle
May 16, 2017
Interesting stuff.
March 24, 2022
I ordered this book on a recommendation from Austin Kleon, I believe.
Though the topic may sound boring, it was actually quite interesting. There is a lot of history in these pages and I learned many new facts. I remember thinking while watching Downton Abbey that it was so funny the Dowager had no idea what a week-end was. I had originally thought it was because they were so wealthy and lived a life where the days of the week just didn't matter. This book set me straight. You'll have to read it to find out why.
The author, being Canadian, does put much of his attention on North America. Overall though, I enjoyed this book as it is quite different than the ones I usually read.
Though the topic may sound boring, it was actually quite interesting. There is a lot of history in these pages and I learned many new facts. I remember thinking while watching Downton Abbey that it was so funny the Dowager had no idea what a week-end was. I had originally thought it was because they were so wealthy and lived a life where the days of the week just didn't matter. This book set me straight. You'll have to read it to find out why.
The author, being Canadian, does put much of his attention on North America. Overall though, I enjoyed this book as it is quite different than the ones I usually read.
April 27, 2025
Rybczynski traces the evolution of leisure through European history.
Why I started this book: Purchased this audio book during my spree about Sabbath books... only to find that it was a history of the weekend not necessary about Sabbath.
Why I finished it: Fascinating history and I will be thinking about the shift from an irregular but accepted Monday off at the employee's discretion to a consistent half Saturday off for the employer's convenience at the start of the Industrial Revolution. Standardized time off for a mechanized work place. Plus the weeding out of Saint days and market days into a smaller amount of holidays in modern times.
Why I started this book: Purchased this audio book during my spree about Sabbath books... only to find that it was a history of the weekend not necessary about Sabbath.
Why I finished it: Fascinating history and I will be thinking about the shift from an irregular but accepted Monday off at the employee's discretion to a consistent half Saturday off for the employer's convenience at the start of the Industrial Revolution. Standardized time off for a mechanized work place. Plus the weeding out of Saint days and market days into a smaller amount of holidays in modern times.
November 10, 2022
While the payoff comes a little slow in this one, the "takeaway" is worth it. This is my fourth Witold Rybczynski book, with eight more impatiently waiting on my shelf, and I am convinced that whatever he writes is worth reading—and contemplating. If you are interested in city planning, architectural design, and community building, read Rybczynski. Essentially, if you want to learn more about the intersection of the built form and the human experience on this lovely planet we share, read Rybczynski. Date him. Take him out to lunch. Listen. Then think. You won't be disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews