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The Pleasures of Leisure
In today’s crazily busy world the importance of making time for leisure is more vital than ever. Yet so many of us lack a talent for it. We are working longer hours, consuming more than ever before; technology erodes the work–life balance further; increasingly, people feel that only work gives existence meaning. In a world where time is money, what is the value of walking without purpose, socialising without networking, nesting when we could be on our laptops?Robert Dessaix shows, in this wonderfully thoughtful and witty book, how taking leisure seriously gives us back our freedom – to enjoy life, to revel in it, in fact; to deepen our sense of who we are as human beings. He explains how we can reclaim our right to ‘rest well’, and to loaf, groom, nest and play, as he guides us through the history of leisure. The result is a terrifically lively and engaging conversation that reminds us that at leisure we are at our most intensely and pleasurably human.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 20, 2017
Pompous, neglecting a female perspective (Robert when you have to do it all the time it's not 'nesting' it's housework) and unapologetically opinionated (he despises the very idea of yoga, is perplexed by football but can't get enough of learning French), nevertheless I was entertained and enlivened by Dessaix's insights into how we spend our free time if we are lucky enough to have some (and the funds to enjoy it to the full).
March 6, 2018
I'm sorry I'm can't get to hear Robert Dessaix speaking about this book at Adelaide Writers Week this year as I know he would add his inimitable speaking style and dry wit to its presentation. I could 'hear' his voice as I read though and understood that while much was tongue in cheek, and some a little pompous, it was his amusing and erudite take on the idea of leisure.
Dessaix couldn't have written it this way when he was younger, I'm sure. It is an older man's view of the pleasures of leisure including of course home, cooking (and eating), travel and often just doing nothing (well in his case, not really!). I've returned the book to the library so can't give the exact quotes, but I did like his view that reading is doing nothing while doing something (or something along those lines). I also agreed with him that at times we should take a lesson from our dogs - and do a bit of joyful romping before settling down for a long nap.
Dessaix couldn't have written it this way when he was younger, I'm sure. It is an older man's view of the pleasures of leisure including of course home, cooking (and eating), travel and often just doing nothing (well in his case, not really!). I've returned the book to the library so can't give the exact quotes, but I did like his view that reading is doing nothing while doing something (or something along those lines). I also agreed with him that at times we should take a lesson from our dogs - and do a bit of joyful romping before settling down for a long nap.
September 26, 2019
It’s good to delve into any Dessaix’s book. I always find plenty of treasures there – interesting allusions, poetic sentences, witty observations, and sometimes deep ideas. This book too had quite a few of such gems (but not as many deep ideas). My main quarrel with it was that there was simply not enough pleasure in this book… too often it slid into either polemic against how we live today or busied itself with various generalised quasi-anthropological observations of human behaviour. I missed here Dessaix’s usual warm, intimate, more vulnerable and idyosincratic storytelling. I missed learning more from him how to live my own life.
December 13, 2017
Pompous, a bit rambling and sometimes annoying, but interesting, quirky and enjoyable at other times. At least he made the point that we should be striving to better share out the work hours within society to even up access to leisure and culture and it was good to be encouraged to see the enormous range of leisure out there, but this book could definitely be complemented by a good feminist and Marxist critique.
July 12, 2017
This is a slightly odd little book. I've not read any Dessaix before so I don't know whether it's typical of his work. The style is quite casual, a little quirky. Conversational almost. There are facts and references but they're shared in a laidback manner which precludes actual referencing or solidity. The feel is more like a chat with someone very knowledgeable about leisure rather than something written.
Dessaix's writing is most enjoyable. He clearly has a great love of language and I think my favourite parts of the book were where he was considering terminology, and revelling in the minute differences in meaning between similar words. The content is interesting too. He ranges from personal anecdotes through literature, to more analytical and comparative passages. It makes for an interesting, if not life-changing read.
One peculiarity of this book I noticed - mostly because Dessaix draws attention to it - is that its description of leisure is almost entire from a male perspective. Most of the writers he references are male, the examples are mostly men, his anecdotes principally feature his male friends. This obviously is not so very unusual, although I feel that his drawing attention to it perhaps is - he seems aware that this is a one-sided view and wishes to acknowledge that while having no inclination to recitfy it. I was actually OK with that. The acknowledgement made me think quite a bit about what wasn't in the book, and about what a female equivalent of this male leisure-world might look like. Obviously, that's pretty broad on both sides of the equation, but it's definitely been food for thought and made me wonder how leisure figures/has figured in the lives of women through the ages, and to consider what 'leisure' looks like in my own life - for example, writing this review is definitely 'play' for me in Dessaix's leisure categories of 'loafing', 'nesting and grooming' and 'play'. I found the Play chapter the most intriguing because of the wide variety of activities he stretches this apparently simple word to cover - not only games but collecting, learning a languge just for fun, and religious ceremonies (note that he is not dismissive of religious ceremonies through terming them 'play' but that he considers play to be a more complex and elevated activity than in the sense that we usually use the word).
Several parts of The Pleasures of Leisure sparked new trains of thought for me, and I think that's the really enjoyable part of this book - not just for the writing and the content but for how it prompted me to think more deeply about things that were missing or only lightly touched on.
Dessaix's writing is most enjoyable. He clearly has a great love of language and I think my favourite parts of the book were where he was considering terminology, and revelling in the minute differences in meaning between similar words. The content is interesting too. He ranges from personal anecdotes through literature, to more analytical and comparative passages. It makes for an interesting, if not life-changing read.
One peculiarity of this book I noticed - mostly because Dessaix draws attention to it - is that its description of leisure is almost entire from a male perspective. Most of the writers he references are male, the examples are mostly men, his anecdotes principally feature his male friends. This obviously is not so very unusual, although I feel that his drawing attention to it perhaps is - he seems aware that this is a one-sided view and wishes to acknowledge that while having no inclination to recitfy it. I was actually OK with that. The acknowledgement made me think quite a bit about what wasn't in the book, and about what a female equivalent of this male leisure-world might look like. Obviously, that's pretty broad on both sides of the equation, but it's definitely been food for thought and made me wonder how leisure figures/has figured in the lives of women through the ages, and to consider what 'leisure' looks like in my own life - for example, writing this review is definitely 'play' for me in Dessaix's leisure categories of 'loafing', 'nesting and grooming' and 'play'. I found the Play chapter the most intriguing because of the wide variety of activities he stretches this apparently simple word to cover - not only games but collecting, learning a languge just for fun, and religious ceremonies (note that he is not dismissive of religious ceremonies through terming them 'play' but that he considers play to be a more complex and elevated activity than in the sense that we usually use the word).
Several parts of The Pleasures of Leisure sparked new trains of thought for me, and I think that's the really enjoyable part of this book - not just for the writing and the content but for how it prompted me to think more deeply about things that were missing or only lightly touched on.
October 11, 2018
I thought this book would be an interesting read, it turned out that the pleasure of leisure is more pleasurable than reading about it, certainly in this case anyway, as the book was quite dull and realistically fairly pretentious. There was some nice use of language, but once one got over that, there was pretty much nothing at the core of the book. It was an elongated essay, padded out to book length with very little to say.
December 30, 2023
2.5, rounded down as I wouldn’t recommend it.
I’m not sure what the book is “about”. I’d summarise it as the musings of an old man with a lot of time on his hands.
He certainly is well-travelled and well-read (and makes sure you know that, by quoting all sorts of books, and philosophers and adding phrases in various languages, and using lots of unnecessarily big words…).
It’s not an easy read. And also not exactly enjoyable. Not what I’d consider “pleasure”.
For the most part reading this book was dragging on and took way too long. His opinionated and mostly arrogant sounding views on all sorts of activities (or other authors’ views) get a bit tiring, but every now and then there is a tiny bit of humour or wit coming through, which is surprising and thus a nice little touch.
The second half (on nesting, grooming and play) is slightly better but the first - oh-so-long - part (on loafing and his very nuanced albeit not interesting definitions thereof) was extremely painful.
Good one if you struggle to get to sleep though, it might help.
Overall, I assume he summarised how he sees us spending time outside of work: and that there should be more of our leisure time spent “well”, pleasurable, guilt-free with “play” (hobbies, travelling, and all sorts of examples).
And that capitalism (and the commercialisation of all things “leisure” like yoga or camping or professional sports or tourism overall…) and our modern ways in the Western world mean that we are not actually enjoying the freedoms we have gained in the last centuries.
A few quotes below that were somewhat nicer, from a lyrical point of view, and that I agree with…, as a taster to see whether you really want to embark on this book… It’s a journey I wouldn’t recommend!
On travelling…
“I am also cheating time - of which I am not master at home, or not completely. At home, at some level I serve, I am under orders. In the end time will win, I know that, but meanwhile, when I’m far from home, and the hours are not measured out one after the other in a strand, but lie pooled here and there around me, both shallow and deep. I can cheat. When I’m away on my travels my time is not so easily commandeered by others, not so split up into separate compartments by everyday demands - that’s the essence of it.”
…
“I prepare inwardly - is that a safe word? - to abandon reason for intuition, as worshippers must, and intellect for feeling.
The point is that you don’t just lob into a shrine. What precisely, by the way, in these days of disenchantment, is a shrine? It’s whatever makes you gasp with wonder, the place where you are ravished with a transfiguring astonishment - and you deserve to gasp with wonder at least once every time you leave home.”
And ending on this one:
“And speaking of Europe’s furthest reaches, it was the Scottish writer, Alexander Trocchi who warned in 1962 that this maxim for keeping the masses in their place might one day work its way back up the social pile to enslave the masters. Hugh MacDiarmid called Trocchi “cosmopolitan scum”, And in a way he was, but he also turned out to be right. Just over five decades later, our masters, along with the rich, are chained to their desks for as many hours a week as the working classes are to their machines, if not more, often having more to lose by choosing idleness than peasants and labourers do. Something has gone very wrong with leisure. Each one of us has the opportunity now to try to put it right.”
I’m not sure what the book is “about”. I’d summarise it as the musings of an old man with a lot of time on his hands.
He certainly is well-travelled and well-read (and makes sure you know that, by quoting all sorts of books, and philosophers and adding phrases in various languages, and using lots of unnecessarily big words…).
It’s not an easy read. And also not exactly enjoyable. Not what I’d consider “pleasure”.
For the most part reading this book was dragging on and took way too long. His opinionated and mostly arrogant sounding views on all sorts of activities (or other authors’ views) get a bit tiring, but every now and then there is a tiny bit of humour or wit coming through, which is surprising and thus a nice little touch.
The second half (on nesting, grooming and play) is slightly better but the first - oh-so-long - part (on loafing and his very nuanced albeit not interesting definitions thereof) was extremely painful.
Good one if you struggle to get to sleep though, it might help.
Overall, I assume he summarised how he sees us spending time outside of work: and that there should be more of our leisure time spent “well”, pleasurable, guilt-free with “play” (hobbies, travelling, and all sorts of examples).
And that capitalism (and the commercialisation of all things “leisure” like yoga or camping or professional sports or tourism overall…) and our modern ways in the Western world mean that we are not actually enjoying the freedoms we have gained in the last centuries.
A few quotes below that were somewhat nicer, from a lyrical point of view, and that I agree with…, as a taster to see whether you really want to embark on this book… It’s a journey I wouldn’t recommend!
On travelling…
“I am also cheating time - of which I am not master at home, or not completely. At home, at some level I serve, I am under orders. In the end time will win, I know that, but meanwhile, when I’m far from home, and the hours are not measured out one after the other in a strand, but lie pooled here and there around me, both shallow and deep. I can cheat. When I’m away on my travels my time is not so easily commandeered by others, not so split up into separate compartments by everyday demands - that’s the essence of it.”
…
“I prepare inwardly - is that a safe word? - to abandon reason for intuition, as worshippers must, and intellect for feeling.
The point is that you don’t just lob into a shrine. What precisely, by the way, in these days of disenchantment, is a shrine? It’s whatever makes you gasp with wonder, the place where you are ravished with a transfiguring astonishment - and you deserve to gasp with wonder at least once every time you leave home.”
And ending on this one:
“And speaking of Europe’s furthest reaches, it was the Scottish writer, Alexander Trocchi who warned in 1962 that this maxim for keeping the masses in their place might one day work its way back up the social pile to enslave the masters. Hugh MacDiarmid called Trocchi “cosmopolitan scum”, And in a way he was, but he also turned out to be right. Just over five decades later, our masters, along with the rich, are chained to their desks for as many hours a week as the working classes are to their machines, if not more, often having more to lose by choosing idleness than peasants and labourers do. Something has gone very wrong with leisure. Each one of us has the opportunity now to try to put it right.”
August 30, 2017
This wasn’t really my type of book. I heard Robert speak at a local bookshop about this book and I was under the impression that it would be his musings on how to better enjoy leisure time. I thought he was going to talk about how ‘busy’ everyone is and how to get past that and enjoy life. And perhaps that what some people got out of it – but it didn’t hit the mark for me.
It was extremely wordy, precocious and loquacious to an extreme degree. So much so that I had to look up several words and translate his smatterings of french (for example, otium, quotidian and Eucharist to name a few), now maybe I have a smaller vocab than some people but this didn’t add to my enjoyment at all.
Dessaix talks about leisure by breaking it up into loafing, nesting and grooming and play. Its clear he has read a lot on the topic quoting both fiction and non-fiction on various aspects of leisure. “Loafing is fun and nesting is deeply satisfying, but playing is leisure at its finest”. He gives half of the book to the discussion on loafing though, and it felt pretty drawn out in my opinion.
In his chapter on play he relates men’s competitive nature to war which “leaves him cold” and relates winning to a hormonal rush of testosterone but completely discounts women having any competitive streak. I understand competitiveness to be a human trait rather than a gendered one. He does seem to have a very one sided male view of things – some of reviews clearly point out the nesting topic of cleaning being a bit skewed (just housework for us humble females clearly).
In the Final Word, there was a note on time which I enjoyed. Dessaix views time as “splodges”, reminiscent of the cover design, pausing in a puddle here or there. There was also a few moments of humour but that was pretty much the extent of my enjoyment.
It wasn’t compulsive reading for me, if I didn’t have to review it for work I wouldn’t have finished it. It has also put me off reading his other book, I was first interested in his memoir “What days are for” after seeing in a shop a year or two ago but I don’t think I’ll pick it up now.
It was extremely wordy, precocious and loquacious to an extreme degree. So much so that I had to look up several words and translate his smatterings of french (for example, otium, quotidian and Eucharist to name a few), now maybe I have a smaller vocab than some people but this didn’t add to my enjoyment at all.
Dessaix talks about leisure by breaking it up into loafing, nesting and grooming and play. Its clear he has read a lot on the topic quoting both fiction and non-fiction on various aspects of leisure. “Loafing is fun and nesting is deeply satisfying, but playing is leisure at its finest”. He gives half of the book to the discussion on loafing though, and it felt pretty drawn out in my opinion.
In his chapter on play he relates men’s competitive nature to war which “leaves him cold” and relates winning to a hormonal rush of testosterone but completely discounts women having any competitive streak. I understand competitiveness to be a human trait rather than a gendered one. He does seem to have a very one sided male view of things – some of reviews clearly point out the nesting topic of cleaning being a bit skewed (just housework for us humble females clearly).
In the Final Word, there was a note on time which I enjoyed. Dessaix views time as “splodges”, reminiscent of the cover design, pausing in a puddle here or there. There was also a few moments of humour but that was pretty much the extent of my enjoyment.
It wasn’t compulsive reading for me, if I didn’t have to review it for work I wouldn’t have finished it. It has also put me off reading his other book, I was first interested in his memoir “What days are for” after seeing in a shop a year or two ago but I don’t think I’ll pick it up now.
December 21, 2017
So of course I read Robert Dessaix's book just at the start of a completely indulgent holiday break. And it is absolutely the best time to read it. He talks about everything. From doing absolutely nothing - like lying in bed all day not moving (which I have done some of), to doing "something while doing nothing" which is all about reading, really. Which is my gig, of course! (else why else would I be on Goodreads?). He seems to hate baths (I have to disagree violently) but love views (I agree absolutely).
Of course he pins it - we don't have a definition of "leisure" at all in our modern society. He makes an excellent point that we cannot think, create or even "be" without the space to do so. I talk often about the importance of "slow time" - days and days when you can slow life down so you can process your thoughts. I doubt that any of humanity's creativity and ingenuity happens without this facility. So this is an excellent book to focus on all these things. But please, please, don't give up on the baths!!
August 18, 2019
After watching a segment on the ABC's The Book Club, where Marieke Hardy went into raptures about this book, I just had to read it for myself. In many reviews it's described as being a lively conversation - and it is. Robert Dessaix could be sitting, talking with me and the words would be exactly the same. I wish I could write like this! Pleasure in leisure is something, he says, we don't enjoy enough and he feels we have all lost the wherewithal, the desire even, to indulge in idleness for the sheer pleasure of it. We have hobbies, we take holidays, we play games but Robert Dessaix shows how these are not the same thing. If you want to know how to get pleasure from leisure, how to be blissfully idle -read this and listen to an expert.
August 28, 2017
This book discusses the sociological aspects of leisure in modern lives. It questions why leisure is frowned upon in today's society especially in the city. Dessaix provides references to his holiday in Darjeeling and to the movie 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' while he places himself as the observer. He divides leisure into 3 categories - loafing, nesting and play. His writing is thought-provoking and conversational. I expected more in depth research drawing examples from various literature and movies. However, Dessaix's writing is largely based on his experiences, personal life and the lives of people he knows.
April 15, 2018
It is such a pleasure to read the writing of Robert Dessaix.
He diverges often but he is so entertaining that I forgive the meanderings.
Robert is a great traveller which is one of his favourite forms of leisure.
'As far as I am concerned travelling eclipses all other forms of leisure'.
His recollections from Darjeeling are memorable and I am now longing to go there.
I also had the pleasure of listening to Robert read from this book at Adelaide Writers' week 2018.
He has a fierce intellect that has been channelled into this discourse on all types of leisure.
I was already a convert to leisure and in particular, travel.
But even more so now.
Thank you Robert.
He diverges often but he is so entertaining that I forgive the meanderings.
Robert is a great traveller which is one of his favourite forms of leisure.
'As far as I am concerned travelling eclipses all other forms of leisure'.
His recollections from Darjeeling are memorable and I am now longing to go there.
I also had the pleasure of listening to Robert read from this book at Adelaide Writers' week 2018.
He has a fierce intellect that has been channelled into this discourse on all types of leisure.
I was already a convert to leisure and in particular, travel.
But even more so now.
Thank you Robert.
July 25, 2017
Without leisure, a civilised life is impossible. Without leisure we are sunk in barbarism - this is the conclusion of Robert Dessaix' ponderings on leisure.
Robert is clever with words and a delight to read as he works through the most common forms of leisure and some that are a little less frequently practiced. TV is given the definite thumbs down while books, walking and traveling are amongst his ... and my favourites.
Robert is clever with words and a delight to read as he works through the most common forms of leisure and some that are a little less frequently practiced. TV is given the definite thumbs down while books, walking and traveling are amongst his ... and my favourites.
June 22, 2018
Had to get hold of this book after Dessaix was described by Marieke Hardy as 'Human Champagne". This work made me realise that we all need to sit back and take a look at our lives and step out of the craziness once in a while. We need to give ourselves permission to just do nothing and enjoy it. I have taken great pleasure in sharing this nugget of gold with my friends who are feeling stressed and overworked and finding it hard to find time out.
March 21, 2024
My enjoyment of this book started out optimistic, dipped in the middle then was at its highest at the end. Some interesting thoughts on the things we do for pleasure, but can’t say I’ll be rushing to explore the topic further.
I also hope the author is vegetarian because of his thoughts on angling and hunting. He royally missed the mark on those.
I also hope the author is vegetarian because of his thoughts on angling and hunting. He royally missed the mark on those.
April 23, 2019
Reading this one was both a pleasure and leisure! It's astounding to me how much time I've been neglecting for myself because "I'm busy with work." It's important to love and invest yourself, for real.
October 16, 2021
DNF. Concept is interesting but a long form article was really where this book should have stopped. My leisure time is precious and there are many books in the world to read so I read a 1/3, flicked through the rest and put it down.
February 20, 2022
I loved reading this book. It is witty and thoughtful and written in a conversational style that I found easy to read and ponder over. I suppose it is always enjoyable too, to have one's own feelings on a subject reflected in someone else's elegant prose.
April 16, 2022
I love Robert Dessaix and I really enjoy reading whatever he writes, but this book felt a bit forced, and that he was just filling up pages because he had to. Perhaps this was better off being a long form article versus a book.
April 8, 2024
A beautifully written ode to the joys of leisure. This book made me rethink my priorities and embrace the value of slowing down. The perfect antidote to our culture of busyness. Reading this book felt like a breath of fresh air for the soul.
August 11, 2017
Great observations, marvellous pauses for thought, lovely splodges... 😊
October 18, 2017
Gave me a lot to think about, but didn't tell me to *do* anything. I liked that.
April 22, 2018
I found reading this book more enjoyable and less snobby than Robert Dessaix sounded talking about at Adelaide Writers Week. It’s a witty, erudite reflection on leisure, I loved it.
February 21, 2021
Enjoyed the book. Some thought provoking concepts. While interesting I prefer some of Robert’s other books. Wonderful writing style as always. Hard concept to bring together.
March 14, 2022
DNF but a good book for dabbling in.
October 21, 2024
Wry enjoyable meditations on the concept of leisure.
April 14, 2025
Interesting, though at times rambling and honestly at times beyond me but occasionally laugh out loud moments. Would have really valued a bibliography.
October 1, 2025
A few pearls of wisdom but really just a very personal ramble around the 'not working'.
I'll expose my prejudice: if you can't see pleasure in sport, I don't have time for you.
I'll expose my prejudice: if you can't see pleasure in sport, I don't have time for you.
February 12, 2018
I've read a few comments by others on this book and agree with those who say that it's pompous and self indulgent. Like at least one other, I read it whilst on holiday but unlike that reviewer I found it rather tedious. I hate to give up on a book and have learnt from experience never to judge until you have read it in entirety. I adopted the strategy of reading a few pages before transferring to a book I was enjoying and thus made my way through. I have discovered several gems that way that started boringly but ended excitingly. Unfortunately that was not the case with this book.
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October 3, 2018Meh.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews