In Defense of Dabbling: The Brilliance of Being a Total Amateur

by Karen Walrond

Resist grind culture and discover the joy of dabbling.

From Karen Walrond, author of The Lightmaker's Manifesto and Radiant Rebellion, comes a delightful jaunt into how to be a total amateur--by doing the things you love even if you're not any good at them.

In today's grind culture, hobbies become side hustles. Work creeps into leisure time. Perfectionism reigns. We look up to experts, and we look down on amateurs. And when someone asks us what we like to do, we realize we have absolutely no idea.

But amateur just means "one who loves." So what if being a total amateur is actually a good thing? What if we've been so focused on achieving that we have forgotten how to be interesting?

In her new book, Karen Walrond strikes out to discover the things she loves that demand no excellence--just desire. As she cultivates practices and rituals, without any expectation of success or accolades, she shows us how to do the same. And she helps us learn Seven Attributes of Intentional curiosity, mindfulness, self-compassion, play, zone-stretching, connection, and awe.

Follow Walrond as she dabbles in throwing pottery, swimming laps, playing piano, learning to surf, and photographing the Milky Way ( it doesn't all go well). Listen in on her conversations with other amateurs--and experts too--about how intentional amateurism enhances mental and social health. And to get you started on your own intentional amateurism practice, she also serves up a list of more than two hundred ideas for things to dabble in--ways to discover your own path to being a total amateur.

Walrond reminds us that it's in the living that we create a life, so failure isn't a concern; in fact, it's kind of the point. If we get better at a hobby or a craft, that's simply a byproduct, never the goal. Transcendence What joy might we find if we simply started doing the things we love?

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Personal Development, Creative, Personal Growth

211 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2025

About the author

Karen Walrond is the author of Radiant Rebellion: Reclaim Aging, Practice Joy & Raise a Little Hell, an investigation in how we can resist ageism and live a light-filled life along the way. She is also the author of The Lightmaker's Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy, which beckons readers towards lives of integrity, advocacy, conviction and joy. A leadership coach, activist and attorney, Walrond's writing and coaching have helped thousands of people around the world find meaning and purpose in their lives. By exploring the ways in which our assumptions might be made on false premises, Walrond shows us how we can tap into the lessons of past successes to create futures full of light.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received from Broadleaf Books.

I’ve long said that one of the reasons I became a librarian was because it was a good excuse (or opportunity, I suppose) to know a little bit about a lot of things. I take that approach with my many hobbies, too — I love trying new things, and my enthusiasm for doing so kind of prevents me from becoming an expert at any one thing. My knowledge and my skills are, by and large, broad but shallow.

This book explores that mindset — how being an intentional amateur is good for the mind and the soul. We follow the author has she finds joy in dabbling in new things — sailing, astrophotography, pottery throwing. The text is sprinkled with anecdotes from other dabblers as well as a dive into the psychology behind this approach to life.

A good, quick read, and one that I think will encourage the reader to go out and try something new or rediscover a forgotten hobby, and find the joy of doing something just for the fun of doing it.

[Richard Propes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's most likely not a coincidence that the biggest reason for my 5-star review of Karen Walrond's "In Defense of Dabbling: The Brilliance of Being a Total Amateur" is that I just plain enjoyed it.

Is it the best book I've ever read? Nah, not really. Is it headed toward a Nobel Prize? Probably not. It's a genuinely enjoyable read, a breezy and meaningful journey into Walrond's intentional decision to resist grind culture and to simply discover the joy in dabbling.

While I'm not quite sure I'd consider myself a perfectionist, I do have a tendency to turn just about everything I do into a project, a fundraiser, a source of income, or, if I'm being honest, to take it to the point where I no longer really and truly enjoy it.

This is my second book from Walrond, the first being "The Lightmaker's Manifesto," and it reinforces my appreciation for her relatable, well-informed, and genuinely engaging writing style that shares tremendous knowledge without ever sounding pretentious and teaches without ever lecturing.

Walrond guides us through the Seven Attributes of Intentional Amateurism - Curiosity, Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, Play, Zone-Stretching, Connection, and Awe. Grounding her journey in these attributes, Walrond dives into her everything from swimming laps to playing piano to surfing, to throwing pottery and into even photographing the Milky Way. She introduces us to other amateurs, a few experts who also dabble in amateurism, and the lessons she learns along the way.

The question is simple - what would happen if we simply did something because we enjoy it or because we love it? What happens if we never get perfect? What if we're godawful at it but it still brings us joy?

Okay. Okay. That was more than one question.

"In Defense of Dabbling" is a spirited, joy-filled read with an abundance of heart, gentle humor, tremendous insight, and lots of relatability. While "In Defense of Dabbling" may not be the best book you'll read this year, it may very well become one you most remember.

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although there was nothing terribly new here, I appreciated a fresh take in a field crowded by experts hawking productivity and self-optimization practices, the worship of the hustle. I also appreciated how the author wasn't an influencer peddling some branded system, but instead offered a journalistic take on the practice of intentional amatuerism as an anti-capitalist act of self-compassion.

She interviewed psychologists and everyday people who have tried new things just to try them without any end goal in mind, as well as embarking on her own journey of knocking off a few things from her life list as part of an 18-month experiment in dabbling.

I too consider myself a dabbler and a jack of all trades but expert in none, so I found this book quite validating to read. I am often dabbling in new things that I'll never be good at or will ever be able to monetize, and I am often filled with a sense of shame for this. Why bother trying things you'll never be good at? Just stick to things at which you are competent. But this book made me feel seen and gave me the safety to explore and play again. Last year my big adventure was getting really into woodworking; this year I've been taking an Argentinian tango class and I may take up fencing as well.

This book gave me a different attitude to take toward our hobbies outside work. Hobbies that can't be monetized, that we can just be bad at and have fun with, have all kinds of spiritual and emotional benefits beyond the need to diminish the bad.

So while this book offered nothing groundbreaking, it was a set of conclusions framed in a way that made me think differently about intentional amateurism. I think I'll even write down my own bucket list of hobbies I've always wanted to try next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Walrond makes a strong case for being a total amateur in the best sense of that word.

Here are some of my notes from the book:

Seven attributes of intentional amateurism: Curiosity, mindfulness, self-compassion, play, stretch zone (moving you out of your comfort zone), connection, and wonder and awe.

The idea of a Life List to create a list of activities that would add more life to your life, remembering that the list is a living document, subject to change.

Seven properties of play: apparent purposelessness, voluntary, fun, losing the sense of time, improvisational potential, continuation desire (not wanting the fun to end).

Eight Wonders of Life (Keltner): moral beauty when we perceive someone exhibiting courage, kindness, strength, or resilience; collective effervescence when we are in a crowd that acts as a collective; nature; art; spiritual awe; witnessing or hearing stories of the beginning or end of life; epiphanies when we suddenly gain an understanding of an essential truth.

Maslow's needs redefined as Russian nesting dolls (Kaufman). Addition of a new need: the need for transcendence, sensing the highest levels of unity and harmony within ourselves and the world. This arises from peak experiences.

[S. H. Gray (FangedLibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Broadleaf Books and NetGalley for an ARC ebook of this.

I found this book interesting and easy to read. I enjoyed the way that the author took you on the journey of finding the things that she likes to do, without the pressure of having to be the best at them.

As someone who is also a bit of a perfectionist who likes to do a wide variety of hobbies, I found this book to be very helpful and eye-opening.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I am doing a thing for National Hobby Month in January and my research lead to this book. I come from a long line of dabblers, tinkerers, and putterers. What I loved about this book was the idea of being an Intentional Amateur. No reason to have a side hustle, just trying new things or rediscover old favorite things is amazing, inspiring and reinvigorating. So many great ideas, wonderful research, and great examples. I loved how she asked her friends about their hobbies and found out new things about them. I loved how she shared about her trials with hobbies new and old. I love that she is accessible and even responds to IG posts! Will look for more of her thoughts and writings!

[CatReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karen Walrond is a writer and speaker; her 2025 book In Defense of Dabbling is part-manifesto encouraging people to dabble in new things for fun and enrichment without the goal of producing perfection or profit, and part-memoir/travelogue as she dabbles in new hobbies, sort of like Alisha Fernandez Miranda's My What If Year: A Memoir but on a more limited budget.

This is a quick read that largely stays breezy and surface level, like the dabbling that Walrond encourages.

My statistics:
Book 315 for 2025
Book 2241 cumulatively

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and sweet read, this book clearly delivers the thesis "try new things, and don't feel any need to be good at them" which is a great message for me personally.

[Rachel Kramer Bussel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Karen Walrond's other work and was curious to know why she's become so passionate about amateurism. Her tone is curious and thoughtful throughout, guiding her from being a Type A go-getter to learning to let go of the very relatable urge to excel at everything she tries and simply appreciate hobbies as hobbies, whether they're things she tries occasionally or they become part of her regular repertoire. I was pleasantly surprised that alongside her personal forays into everything from photographing the Milky Way at night to pottery, swimming, surfing, among other hobbies, she also includes interviews with people who sound totally fascinating, like an avid adult roller skater and a maker of automata (yes, she explains exactly what that is in the book) and research that backs up her claim that dabbling is good for you.

I don't know if I'll try a new hobby myself right now but I appreciated the dozens of suggestions for them she includes at the back, and it's made me want to prioritize my hobbies even if it's just for a few minutes a day. If I learned anything from this book, it's that you shouldn't try to force yourself to partake in a hobby that doesn't call to you, or it'll just feel like a chore. This is a great book for anyone who's tired of hustle culture and wants to explore something new.

[Heaven Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great little book. I don't often read self-help books, but I've been wanting to try to push through my fear of starting new things and this jumped out at me while I was browsing review journals for my library collection.

It had everything I was looking for: pages of citations and discussion of many other published works by various doctors and people of expertise, a simple introduction that gave you all the bare bones tools you needed, then a personal breakdown of each of those tools. It was neat to read not only the author's personal stories, but the stories of other people's journeys and choices that helped them to push through their fears or anxieties to do something that brought them joy.

I think also having the mindset of intentional joy and intention behind trying things out of your comfort zone and being 100% okay being an amateur is a really important message, especially in this day and age where productivity is considered the height of living and doing things for fun rather than profit is looked down upon. A very good stepping stone and reminder that there is a difference between survival and living and it all comes down to intent and creativity!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good! And very short! It covers ideas that have been coming up for me a lot lately (endangered crafts… the Apollo parties I am for sure going to start doing in 2026) and in this time of year for making Resolutions, is particularly timely. Trying new hobbies and giving myself permission to just enjoy them is something that has appealed to me for a while, and it was validating to read about other people who share this impulse. It is also always refreshing when other people push back on hustle culture, that every moment must be productive and every activity monetized. Just tying new hobbies because they seem fun or interesting is worthwhile.

[PAM · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who can easily fall into the trap of perfectionism, this was a fantastic book for me! The idea that I can dabble and try different things and experiences just for fun (and be bad at them!)is such a novel one for me. Normally, if I’m not good at something from the start, I’m not interested. This book tells me why it’s good to do it anyway and enjoy not being great. Just do it for the fun of it! And she talks about all of the joy that can come from dabbling in different areas without the fear of failure. I really enjoyed this book. It’s a quick read and very uplifting.

[Bookguide · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The only way to thrive in a world that is full of challenges and responsibilities is to build rest and leisure into our lives. And just as the seasons turn, the moon waxes and wanes, and the tides rise and fall, rest and leisure should be a rhythmic part of every day.”

I defy you to get to the end of this book without at the very least making a mental list of all the things you want to do. Not a bucket list, which implies rushing to complete items before our time runs out, but a list of pleasurable or exciting activities and hobbies you would like to try, without any pressure to improve or learn all about it. The point is to pick things you might like or feel might be slightly challenging (though the challenge is not the point) and to have a go. Always wanted to throw a pot? Find somewhere you can take part in a workshop, a short course, a day with a potter. Want to learn surfing? Take a short break and find a surf school. These are both examples of activities the author herself tried.

Although there are many examples of activities Karen Walrond has sampled while working on her hypothesis about trying new things, this wasn’t really as motivating for me as I had expected. This is probably because she approaches the subject in a rather academic way, analysing why we should make more time for dabbling in new activities and backing it up with research and quotations from other experts. There is also an extensive bibliography at the back. For the people who need to be convinced this is perhaps the right approach; they might be convinced after reading all the evidence. I, on the other hand, need no convincing; for me, this is a way of life as a lifelong low achiever in many fields and someone who loves to have a variety of hobbies.

I have to admit, she’s preaching to the converted in my case because I’ve never been particularly good at any sport or craft or musical instrument. That doesn’t stop me from enjoying them, though. That’s exactly why I requested a digital ARC of In Defense of Dabbling from NetGalley. I’d never heard of Karen Walrond, but apparently she’s friends with Brené Brown and has appeared on Oprah and is much in demand as a speaker. She mentions interviewing various friends who all happen to be experts and authors of self help type books, though how well known they are I can’t judge.

In any case, it was extremely interesting to read Karen Walrond‘s seven principles of dabbling or intentional amateurism. She presents evidence and quotes from experts for each of the principles, then gives examples of how they fit into the activities she dabbled in. She also talks to her own friends about how they feel when they try something new. One particular story stuck in my mind: the woman who inexpertly creates 1970s-style woven wall hangings. Her first one fell apart, but that just gave her the opportunity to do it all over again. The end result isn’t the point; the point is to enjoy doing something that makes you feel happy. Any expertise or improvement you gain during the process is an unimportant byproduct; if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t matter.

In a world full of hustle culture and monetising creative pursuits, finding time to relax and pursue hobbies may feel like wasting time. Just as many people say they don’t have time to read, many people believe that they are so busy and so exhausted when they do have downtime, that they don’t make time to take up things they used to enjoy doing or to try something new. The author mentions that the modern ideal follows an apprenticeship model of traineeship (the learning phase), mastery, then mentorship (passing on knowledge). However, many of us will switch jobs, do jobs that don’t fit into that mould or simply attain mastery in nothing specific.

Intentional amateurism

Having pursued several careers, including being a lawyer, Karen Walrond realised that, in her older years, she didn’t feel a master of anything, and decided to explore new activities without the aim of achieving mastery. The word amateur is often used in a negative and even scathing way (if something is described as amateurish, that’s never a good thing), but why is there such a pressure to become an expert in everything? She decided to explore intentional amateurism and wondered if slotting such relaxing pursuits into our lives in a deliberate, repeated way could be a type of spiritual practice to build resilience as a buffer shielding us from the stresses of everyday life and responsibilities. Normally I veer away from anything that claims to be a spiritual practice, beyond organised religion, where I appreciate the music, the ritual, the history, the social cohesion. But this practising of something physical is also something I can understand, though I don’t see it as spirituality or ‘food for the soul’. If spirituality means becoming a better person, then I’m all for it.

Seven Attributes of Intentional Amateurism
- Curiosity
- Mindfulness
- Self-compassion
- Play
- Stretch your comfort zone, just a little
- Connection
- Wonder and awe

In all, this book was a slight disappointment to me, who already believes in the premise, but it may be just the thing to convince high flying checklist productivity types to take the time to rediscover their inner child and potter about more often, exploring avenues old and new.

[Elizabeth Boquet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Even if you are already an unapologetic dabbler and an anti-perfectionist, as I am, this book offers ways of thinking about this mindset and acting on it—admittedly more of the positives than of the negatives. As I read, I thought of Tricia Hershey’s REST IS RESISTANCE, and the author does reference this work. If you’re looking to be reminded of the value of openness at a time and in a world that keeps trying to close us down, this book is a good choice.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found someone who put into words my feelings about curiosity, awe and fun. I have always been an amateur “whatever,” I will try something to try it, and I may make it a part of my life or I might just be satisfied having the experience. One thing I appreciate about this book is the author’s research into the psychology (and even the philosophy) of dabbling. Enjoy this book as a break
from heavy literature and to justify your willingness to experience new things.

[cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love dabbling - doing things that I am not good at and have no desire to master, but simply to enjoy. Someone asked me once, when the last was that I had really, thoroughly learned a new skill, and it made me realize that I hold a very complicated both/and around things like practicing for mastery, rather than for joy. Sometimes I have wondered if that is a character flaw, the desire I have to be just good enough at things that I want to do, in order to do them, and not have a burning need to continue getting better and better at them. Then I randomly found this delightful book, In Defense of Dabbling by Karen Walrond. Below are some of the ideas that resonated for me in her book:

1. "Self-compassion is the antidote to perfectionism. When we practice self-compassion, we cultivate emotional resilience, motivation, and growth. Dr. Kristin Neff, professor at the University of Texas and author of the book Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, has found that self-compassion is an even more powerful deterrent to perfectionism than high self-esteem. According to Neff, research shows that that since high self-esteem often inherently involves ranking ourselves against others, when people try to maintain that sense of elevated self-esteem, they fall into traps like narcissism, self-absorption, self-righteous anger, prejudice, dis-crimination, and more."

2. "Dr. Kaufman brings to light Maslow's unfinished theory of transcendence. First, Kaufman sets straight some of the myths surrounding Maslow's work: He asserts that viewing the hierarchy of needs as a pyramid is misinformed. The reason? The allegory of the pyramid was never created by Maslow in the first place. "[Researcher) Todd Bridgman and his colleagues examined in detail how the pyramid came to be," writes Kaufman. "[They] concluded that Maslow's pyramid was actually created by a management consultant in the sixties. From there, it quickly became popular in the emerging field or organization behavior."

Dr. Kaufman posits that a better analogy to describe the interrelationship among Maslow's needs would be that of Russian nesting dolls. Our survival needs, like connection and safety, don't vanish when we work on our intellectually-oriented needs. Instead, much like each Russian doll nests wholly in the next larger one, those needs become integrated into our meaning and purpose. Moreover, Dr. Kaufman reveals that at the time of his death, Maslow was working on a new theory-effectively the largest nesting doll-the need for transcendence. Maslow viewed transcendence as going beyond the individual growth indicated in self-actualization, even beyond health and happiness. Transcendence allows for sensing the highest levels of unity and harmony within ourselves and the world. Dr. Kaufman writes: "Transcendence is a perspective in which we can view our whole being from a higher vantage Point with acceptance, wisdom and a sense of the connectedness with the rest of humanity."

3. "In other words, transcendence is the evolution from our individual bests to our collective bests. I's about moving from our autonomous physiological and spiritual health to the health of the human collective. "Healthy transcendence is an emergent phenomenon resulting from the harmonious integration of one's whole self in the service of cultivating the good society," Dr. Kaufman writes. "In a nutshell: healthy transcendence involves harnessing all that you are in the service of realizing the best version of yourself, so that you can help raise the bar for the whole of humanity."

And to be clear, the "best version" of ourselves in this scenario doesn't mean wealthiest, or most prestigious, or without flaws. This isn't about perfectionism. What it does mean is increased mental health. A reduced fear of death. And a greater sense of purpose and altruism."

4. As far as how we get to self-transcendence, Maslow had an answer for this, too: He believed that the fulfillment of transcendent needs comes from peak experiences, which he defined as those that result in feelings of being more powerful, strengthened, and even transformed. Peak experiences are those that inspire "wonder and awe, the loss of placing in time and space... [and] finally, the conviction that something extremely important and valuable had happened."

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: In Defense of Dabbling: The Brilliance of Being a Total Amateur by Karen Walrond
Rating: 4.7/5

Public Health Perspective & Thematic Analysis
Karen Walrond’s In Defense of Dabbling offers a timely critique of grind culture’s impact on mental health, framing amateurism as an act of resistance against productivity-driven burnout. Through her Seven Attributes of Intentional Amateurism (curiosity, mindfulness, self-compassion, play, zone-stretching, connection, and awe), Walrond constructs a public health argument for leisure as preventive care. Her research aligns with studies linking unstructured play to reduced stress and improved cognitive flexibility, though she extends this by centering adult dabblers—a demographic often excluded from leisure research.

The book’s strength lies in its interdisciplinary approach, weaving psychology (e.g., mindfulness as being like water) with social ecology (e.g., connection as an essential vitamin). However, its avoidance of systemic barriers to leisure access (e.g., socioeconomic constraints) limits its universal applicability.

Emotional Resonance & Personal Reflection
As someone keenly aware of academia’s publish-or-perish culture, Walrond’s celebration of failure as fascinating (Chapter 3) felt like permission to breathe. Her anecdote about photographing the Milky Way—where technical failure yielded unexpected beauty—mirrored my own fraught relationship with perfectionism. The chapter on Toilet Roll Mermaids (Chapter 6) particularly disarmed me; its whimsical defense of childlike play sparked nostalgia for pre-professional joy.

Yet, the book’s relentless optimism occasionally clashed with my public health training. For example, her claim that awe dissolves stress (Chapter 9) oversimplifies trauma recovery, neglecting neurobiological complexities.

Constructive Criticism

Strengths:
-Evidence-Based Joy: Validates amateurism with neuroscience (play’s role in dopamine regulation) and sociology (communal awe’s health benefits).
-Structural Critique: Exposes how capitalism co-opts hobbies into side hustles, a rarely addressed public health stressor.

Weaknesses:
-Accessibility Gaps: Overlooks how poverty or disability may restrict dabbling opportunities.
-Repetition: The seven attributes occasionally blur together, diluting their distinctness.

How I would describe this book:
- A Burnout Manifesto for the overachiever era—Walrond prescribes play as public health intervention.
- Turns Freud’s ‘work and love’ on its head: here, love is the work.
- Forget ‘self-care’—this is self-joy, the radical act of doing nothing well.

Gratitude & Final Thoughts
Thank you to the publisher Augsburg Fortress Publishers for the Edelweiss review copy. Walrond’s work resonates deeply amid rising global mental health crises; I’ve already recommended Chapter 5 (We’re Not Beethoven) to my overworked colleagues. While its privileged lens warrants critique, the book’s core thesis—that amateurism fosters resilience—is a vital corrective to our exhaustion epidemic.

Rating: 4.7/5 (Docked slightly for structural gaps but elevated by its compassionate, evidence-backed rebellion against grind culture.)

[Jacqueline Nyathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm definitely a dabbler; curiosity drives me to try lots of things. I got to thinking about what all those things have been: making and selling chocolate cake slices with my sister many years ago (was a lot of fun); crochet (small business for a while, until my hands got sore); knitting socks (failed); exploring all kinds of art media (ongoing); coding (never got started); graphic design (actually made money) and illustration; making zines (starts, and stops, and I’m still fascinated); braiding hair (my sister was a beneficiary); playing squash (lasted one semester); gel printing and linocut; and on, and on.

(And then there are all of the things I want to try, which I won't list here—in the spirit of keeping my motives pure—to make sure it’s for me, and not for social media.)

In this book, Walrond takes us on a journey through amateurism by sharing all of the things she tried on her own journey to becoming the best amateur she could be in stuff she put on a list, with the help of community—friends, family and advisors—along the way. As she says, the point is how all of the things you try will expand your life, whether you get great at them or not. And in the process, you learn so much about yourself and your place in the world. She’s put her money where her mouth is and recorded it all in the book: from paddle boarding/surfing to sailing, pottery to scuba diving, and more. Walrond also gathers here excellent stories from other people, as well as the opinions of a variety of experts to support her theories.

What a delight! It's not a book that feels like it takes itself too seriously, and is wonderfully commonsensical. It's also frequently funny (Walrond has a wry sense of humour). *In Defense of Dabbling* should inspire you to pick up that thing again that you got so discouraged about, or to try that other new thing that’s been intimidating you. It’s doing so for me: I’m thinking all the time now about stuff to put on my own new Dabble List, and I’m excited.

Refreshing, and very highly recommended for anyone who wants a new way of looking at their life.

Many thanks to Broadleaf Books and Edelweiss for early DRC access.

[Ariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the concept of "intentional amateurism" is deceptively simple, capitalist pressures in society to be efficient, productive workers have us overlook the value of having a hobby. This book puts hobbies and other non-work experiences in a new perspective, revealing their worth to an individual's health and happiness even when it is not done to reach a monetary goal.

I am someone who transformed a creative hobby into full-time freelance work. In doing so, I had to let go of practice as my hobby and sacrifice the time that I would have spent enjoying it in a slow, pointless way in order to be efficient and productive to earn pay. I am happy to do work I love, but I've had to develop other hobbies to explore my creativity where I do not plan to make a dime as a side-hustle. Why? This book elaborates on seven positive attributes as to why, all relating to the author's experiences but also referencing others as well.

I admit I didn't enjoy the writer's style -- it felt less grounded and more conversational, much like a podcast. But in the end, this book will stay with me and I see myself referencing it for years to come. The concept of "hey, go dabble in something" may not seem deep, but the more I read, the more I thought about all of the things I was interested in trying but had put off because I thought I would not be good at it. If I'm dabbling, then I never have to be good at it -- I could simply try it out and see. It's inspiring me to broaden my horizons and I'm grateful for that.

[HeloReads98 · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Defense of Dabbling is not, to me, a self-help book like the others, and yet, I think it may be one of the most genuinely helpful ones I have read. Karen Walrond shares her own journey of self-discovery, beginning with the premise that it is neither necessary (nor perhaps even desirable) to strive to be an expert in every field. That there is great value (perhaps even brilliance) in embracing amateurism.

Alongside giving herself permission to try different activities, and to accept the possibility of not being particularly “good” at them (since leisure is not supposed to be a performance), Walrond also gathers the testimonies of many friends who, in one way or another, have embarked (sometimes consciously, sometimes not) on this same path of embracing amateurism. These stories are not only engaging but also deeply inspiring.

As someone who tends to have many passions but often becomes easily demoralised or discouraged when I feel I’m not “good enough”, I found this book particularly meaningful. Too often I equate dissatisfaction with the result as proof that the journey has no worth. Walrond’s words reminded me that joy can be found in the doing itself, regardless of mastery, that the simple act of exploring is worthwhile.

An excellent, inspiring and motivating read, one I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who has ever felt the pressure to excel at everything, or who simply wishes to rediscover the joy of trying for the sake of it.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Broadleaf Books for allowing me to review an ARC of this book.

[sunandareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In Defense of Dabbling" explores seven aspects of being an intentional amateur and how this perspective on life opens one up to a more joyful lived experience. This book is part memoir and part journalistic as the author weaves in her own experience with interviews and research.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I appreciated the author's vulnerability in sharing her own journey towards embracing this mindset. The seven principles felt intuitive, resonated, and I appreciated that they were each supported by research and interviews with experts within each area.

At times, the conversational style of writing wasn't for me, but it did add to the personal feeling of the narrative, as this isn't a purely academic look at the topic. I found some of the later chapters were the stronger arguments in the book and wished the author had spoken to some of those ideas (like transcendence and awe) sooner.

Overall, this was an interesting and enjoyable quick read for anyone who is looking for a framework to structure their own experimental mindset.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher — I received an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book much more than I did. I had to break it down into small sections and make myself read a bit every day.

The premise was intriguing and the title was awesome. There were too many buzzwords that I'm a bit too old to immediately grasp the meaning of. I spent a lot of time on Google trying to figure out the intent. There's a lot of name dropping of authors and books and podcasts. It's good of the author to give credit to others, but it got to a point where I was mumbling to myself, "Okay, you know a lot of famous people. Move on."

To be fair, there were moments when I thought, "Ah, okay. Yes!" They were only brief. This book was not for me. I'm sure others have found it very enriching.

[dv · Rating 3 out of 5]

È un classico libro "motivazionale" all'americana (capitolo iniziale riassuntivo, declinazione puntuale dei temi nei capitoli successivi, con i consueti riferimenti alla letteratura psicologica), anche se a rigore il tema - quello del "dilettantesimo" - dovrebbe distaccarsi proprio da questo tipo di libri, caratterizzati da un approccio performativo che qui viene messo in discussione. In parte, i contenuti riescono a far questo e risultano in più casi apprezzabili (c'è molto buon senso fra le pagine), ma la gabbia resta rigida. Non siamo purtroppo dalle parti di The Amateur di Andy Merrifield, studioso inglese di urbanistica e marxismo, il cui approccio eclettico genera un libro molto più riuscito su questo stesso tema.

[Cyrambo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a digital ARC from Broadleaf Books and once its published, I want to buy a copy for just about everyone I know. I learned about the original meaning of amateur as a lover of something in a college photography class, and it's one of the most important takeaways from my college years. I take pride in being an amateur and exploring a new skill or activity just because I take joy in it and not for any other reason or to please any other person, and it is truly freeing. I hope everyone who reads this book is able to grasp that concept and goes on to find joy in doing something simply because they love it.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few good takeaways: instead of a bucket list, make a life list. In other words create a list of activities to do that would add more life instead of a list of things you do to check off before you die.A menu so to speak that brings light to one’s life.

The author states”Practicing intentional amateurism allows us to take more control into bringing joy into our lives”.

I love the original definition of amateur which meant a lover of art or collector. Someone who practiced art for pleasure, not to sell.

That’s about it. She does outrageous things that cost a LOT of money which I couldn’t relate to, though I got the gist. My list will be much more simpler.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I jumped into this one the same day I turned the last page of “We Need Your Art” by Amie McNee, a wildly encouraging springboard for any type of creative (even a dabbling one). I expected as much from “In Defense..” but it felt bland in comparison. It was as if I’d eaten a decadent dessert before the obligatory veggie dish. Fair to say, it was completely circumstantial so don’t be afraid to give “Dabbling” a try…

[Heather Samson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I really feel like I know Karen through her IG and Substack posts and her previous books. This book was quite enjoyable too and well laid out with terrific insights in dabbling in activities. I am a watercolour amateur and started a swim practice and got on a trail bike this past summer for the first time in forever! … so it was fitting to read how important new things can be!
“With so much darkness in the world, we owe it to ourselves to create light in our lives wherever we can….”

[William Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book for anyone feeling stuck or burned out and wants to reignite that joyful creative spark inside of themself again. Sometimes you need to be told things that sound obvious after the fact. Sometimes you need someone to sit down and tell you to just try. Sometimes you just need to see someone else doing something and having such a positive experience in order to motivate yourself to do it too.

[Melania · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great, approachable way to add interest and adventure to my life. This was a very quick read that left me with a lot to think about- what can I add to my life just for the sake of learning, growing and fun.

[Sara G · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Defense of Dabbling is a must-read, whether you already pursue hobbies or do not. If you already have a hobby in your life, then this book gives you the reasons and tools to continue dabbling. If work, family, and/or life tasks dominate your schedule, this book has the wisdom to help you make some shifts towards intentional amateurism that will enrich your life and likely the lives of others. The author’s enthusiasm for and research into this topic are apparent from the beginning of the book. Even though I mainly read fiction, this book held my attention and was an enjoyable read from start to finish.