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On Doing Nothing: Finding Inspiration in Idleness
In an age of obsessive productivity and stress, this illustrated ode to idleness invites readers to explore the pleasures and possibilities of slowing down. Beloved author and illustrator Roman Muradov weaves together the words and stories of artists, writers, philosophers, and eccentrics who have pursued inspiration by doing less. He reveals that doing nothing is both easily achievable and absolutely essential to leading an enjoyable and creative life. Cultivating idleness can be as simple as taking a long walk without a destination or embracing chance in the creative process. Peppered with playful illustrations, this handsome volume is a refreshing and thought-provoking read.
104 pages, Hardcover
First published April 24, 2018
37 people are currently reading
550 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 6, 2019
Doing nothing has some merits. You can do so much while being idle.
July 21, 2018
If lines like "Although Kafka is rarely cited in matters of wellness and self-care..." tickle you, then you may enjoy this brief diversion.
May 20, 2021
It hasn't been the best of days, or few days, to be honest, particularly in the realm of so-called communication, and the growing limits and judgements made by algorithms and websites, funnily enough sprouting "customer care" and other empty slogans.
This book arrived today and I thought I would try and relax in the evening by reading it, particularly as it looked slim enough to complete in one sitting.
Idleness and doing nothing have always appealed, however defined, and here Roman Muradov takes the reader through the work of various artists and writers (who are artists in a particular way, I suppose), providing examples of nothing.
There's a randomness that appeals and he has a superb description of a flaneur that I wished I had read elsewhere. Cats and cows are mentioned in a kind of whimsical thoughtful prose, which also made my mind drift a bit. It fitted the bill, anyway.
At the end of his introduction, Muradov writes:
"There is no reason to do nothing. But then, there is no reason to fall in love, or gather autumn leaves. Life reveals itself most fulsomely in gaps and intermissions."
What else is there to say?
This book arrived today and I thought I would try and relax in the evening by reading it, particularly as it looked slim enough to complete in one sitting.
Idleness and doing nothing have always appealed, however defined, and here Roman Muradov takes the reader through the work of various artists and writers (who are artists in a particular way, I suppose), providing examples of nothing.
There's a randomness that appeals and he has a superb description of a flaneur that I wished I had read elsewhere. Cats and cows are mentioned in a kind of whimsical thoughtful prose, which also made my mind drift a bit. It fitted the bill, anyway.
At the end of his introduction, Muradov writes:
"There is no reason to do nothing. But then, there is no reason to fall in love, or gather autumn leaves. Life reveals itself most fulsomely in gaps and intermissions."
What else is there to say?
July 14, 2018
Bought Roman's lovely little book today, and promptly inhaled it. Found much here to reinforce, but also expand and invigorate my attitude towards idleness, something that I already engage in with gusto. Looking forward to rereading many times over.
January 10, 2019
"Reading is a way of seeing, and seeing is a way of reading.
It's hard, if not impossible, to find a good writer who is not a good reader. Reading is more than deciphering words into messages. It's an artistic skill, no different from any other."
This book makes a lot more sense when you realize originally this grew out of a lecture, and then was adapted into a book, as some of the points made are a bit jarring in it's lack of coherency, with some paragraphs citing one quote and not really addressing the topic, and skip from one topic to the next. You can see this flowing a lot better in the form of a lecture, rather than that of a book. I can still see this book as being useful to illustrators and artists in academia, and can see this book being referenced in a lot of essays, no matter the topic.
Though, in an age of growing anxiety; this book is reassuring to illustrators and artists that doing nothing can be as productive as making work. Muradov could have just restricted this book to simply the perspective of the illustrator, but this book is both accessible to writers, fine artists and other creatives. Some part of me wanted Muradov to address mental health in relation to idleness and creativity, but I guess that's probably another book for another author to address.
I would say that some passages of the book resonated more to me, than some others, and I think that will be the case for some people. I can tell there's some quotes in this book that I will return to when I'm struggling with my own creative practice.
It's hard, if not impossible, to find a good writer who is not a good reader. Reading is more than deciphering words into messages. It's an artistic skill, no different from any other."
This book makes a lot more sense when you realize originally this grew out of a lecture, and then was adapted into a book, as some of the points made are a bit jarring in it's lack of coherency, with some paragraphs citing one quote and not really addressing the topic, and skip from one topic to the next. You can see this flowing a lot better in the form of a lecture, rather than that of a book. I can still see this book as being useful to illustrators and artists in academia, and can see this book being referenced in a lot of essays, no matter the topic.
Though, in an age of growing anxiety; this book is reassuring to illustrators and artists that doing nothing can be as productive as making work. Muradov could have just restricted this book to simply the perspective of the illustrator, but this book is both accessible to writers, fine artists and other creatives. Some part of me wanted Muradov to address mental health in relation to idleness and creativity, but I guess that's probably another book for another author to address.
I would say that some passages of the book resonated more to me, than some others, and I think that will be the case for some people. I can tell there's some quotes in this book that I will return to when I'm struggling with my own creative practice.
April 27, 2020
کتاب آرشیوی بود از اینکه هنرمندان و نویسنده های معروف، چه کارهایی رو در روزمرگی زندگیشون انجام دادن که به نظر میومده در واقع کار مفیدی انجام نمیدن، اما در نهایت همین کارهای به ظاهر بی اهمیت تبدیل شدن به کارهای با ارزش
نویسنده با آوردن مثال از آدم ها و کارهای معروف تلاش داره بگه میشه در زمان های بیکار بودن و یا بطالت هم از زمان به شکل مثبتی استفاده کرد و حس نکرد که زمان رو داریم بیهوده هدر میدیم.
اما مثال هایی از اینجا و اونجا آوردن کتاب رو صرفا تبدیل به آرشیوی از نقل قول ها کرده که ارزش افزوده ای برای من شخصا نداشت.
نویسنده با آوردن مثال از آدم ها و کارهای معروف تلاش داره بگه میشه در زمان های بیکار بودن و یا بطالت هم از زمان به شکل مثبتی استفاده کرد و حس نکرد که زمان رو داریم بیهوده هدر میدیم.
اما مثال هایی از اینجا و اونجا آوردن کتاب رو صرفا تبدیل به آرشیوی از نقل قول ها کرده که ارزش افزوده ای برای من شخصا نداشت.
July 7, 2019
Was it easy to read: Medium. Some sentences are rather complex and takes some thinking.
What I liked about it: How little cute and relaxing it is. Read it on a Saturday afternoon in a couple of hours. And it really set the right mood for the rest of the evening.
What I disliked: The number of literature references. Most of it is based on some author saying this and that in some book. Which is sometimes hard to follow when you are not familiar with most of those works.
Ideas/ Quotes:
“Without a starting point and a goal, the available space expands into infinity.”
“The most common experiences are often the most under-explored, and it’s a measure of patience and curiosity to find in them something new.”
“Our originality is in direct proportion to the diversity of books on our reading list.”
“We get easily attached to what has previously affected us. While perfectly natural on its own, this attachment can cloud our judgement on both the unknown and the familiar. The latter can become an addictive source of short-term comfort, even when we have fallen out of love with it.”
“A mindless pursuit of new experiences can only further our sense of boredom. It doesn’t take much to be taken by the extraordinary, and it’s much harder to find inspiration in the everyday – still, it;s worth the effort: not only does the everyday become more palatable, but new experiences also become acutely felt when we approach them with a sharpened perception.”
“The frightening volume of identical tourist photos shows that the greatest wonders of humankind can turn into anonymous points of reference, while a humble cow, approached with patience and curiosity, can be endless source of inspiration.”
“We have as much control over artistic output as we have over bowel movements. Our work depends a great deal more on the quality and quantity of art consumed and life examined than on the manner of their eventual excretion.”
“Setting impossible standards and admonishing ourselves for falling short of them can lead to pure misery. On the other hand, setting low standards allows for minimal challenge and growth. It takes courage to pick an impossible goal, fully aware that we will never make it, and to appreciate the result soberly.”
What I liked about it: How little cute and relaxing it is. Read it on a Saturday afternoon in a couple of hours. And it really set the right mood for the rest of the evening.
What I disliked: The number of literature references. Most of it is based on some author saying this and that in some book. Which is sometimes hard to follow when you are not familiar with most of those works.
Ideas/ Quotes:
“Without a starting point and a goal, the available space expands into infinity.”
“The most common experiences are often the most under-explored, and it’s a measure of patience and curiosity to find in them something new.”
“Our originality is in direct proportion to the diversity of books on our reading list.”
“We get easily attached to what has previously affected us. While perfectly natural on its own, this attachment can cloud our judgement on both the unknown and the familiar. The latter can become an addictive source of short-term comfort, even when we have fallen out of love with it.”
“A mindless pursuit of new experiences can only further our sense of boredom. It doesn’t take much to be taken by the extraordinary, and it’s much harder to find inspiration in the everyday – still, it;s worth the effort: not only does the everyday become more palatable, but new experiences also become acutely felt when we approach them with a sharpened perception.”
“The frightening volume of identical tourist photos shows that the greatest wonders of humankind can turn into anonymous points of reference, while a humble cow, approached with patience and curiosity, can be endless source of inspiration.”
“We have as much control over artistic output as we have over bowel movements. Our work depends a great deal more on the quality and quantity of art consumed and life examined than on the manner of their eventual excretion.”
“Setting impossible standards and admonishing ourselves for falling short of them can lead to pure misery. On the other hand, setting low standards allows for minimal challenge and growth. It takes courage to pick an impossible goal, fully aware that we will never make it, and to appreciate the result soberly.”
June 18, 2019
"Reading is a way of seeing, and seeing is a way of reading.
It's hard, if not impossible, to find a good writer who is not a good reader. Reading is more than deciphering words into messages. It's an artistic skill, no different from any other.”
It's hard, if not impossible, to find a good writer who is not a good reader. Reading is more than deciphering words into messages. It's an artistic skill, no different from any other.”
December 8, 2019
Didn’t know what to expect from this book when I purchased it. All that I knew is that I’m terrible at doing nothing, and I try to read books that will help me improve things I’m terrible at. This book ended up being far more literary than I expected.
I once tried to read a Haruki Murakami book about running. Every time I’d pick it up, I’d tire of reading it after a few sentences because it gave me an undying urge to run. I didn’t finish the book, but I did do a lot of running that year. I thought this book may have the same affect on me: it would sound nicer to do nothing than to read the book.
Rather, doing nothing is more things than I expected: going for walks, rearranging items, housework, seeing art in things you wouldn’t otherwise. To Muradov, ‘doing nothing’ is more so paying attention to what isn’t doing nothing around you. It’s taking notice, no matter what you’re doing.
Nice, thoughtful and quick read.
I once tried to read a Haruki Murakami book about running. Every time I’d pick it up, I’d tire of reading it after a few sentences because it gave me an undying urge to run. I didn’t finish the book, but I did do a lot of running that year. I thought this book may have the same affect on me: it would sound nicer to do nothing than to read the book.
Rather, doing nothing is more things than I expected: going for walks, rearranging items, housework, seeing art in things you wouldn’t otherwise. To Muradov, ‘doing nothing’ is more so paying attention to what isn’t doing nothing around you. It’s taking notice, no matter what you’re doing.
Nice, thoughtful and quick read.
August 21, 2018
“Reading is a way of seeing, and seeing is a way of reading. It’s hard, if not impossible, to find a good writer who is not a good reader”
.
“Everything has been done, so it’s worth doing it again, differently. Luckily, it’s not that difficult - in fact, it’s much harder to do the same thing twice”
.
“Without self-criticism, good ideas may never reach their full expression”
.
“Everything has been done, so it’s worth doing it again, differently. Luckily, it’s not that difficult - in fact, it’s much harder to do the same thing twice”
.
“Without self-criticism, good ideas may never reach their full expression”
November 5, 2018
The author's thoughts were not easy to follow (lack of coherence).
June 22, 2025
Somehow I stumbled across this thin volume, only 3/8 inches thick, wedged between regular-sized books in my local library. Based on the title, I thought it might be a nice way to while away an hour or so of an afternoon. Instead, I found myself reading it in snatches over the course of two days, much in the way the author confessed he wrote this piece in snippets and fragments of notes that he revised and rearranged. The whimsical illustrations provide moments of pause and cohesion to a rather rambling narration.
After reading it, I thought the title should be revised to “On Doing Something While Taking a Lot of Time Doing It.” A warning to the casual reader. If you’re like me, you’ll probably expect the book to discuss the virtue of aimless, mindless, directionless moments that accumulate in everyday existence. Or maybe you would expect the author to expound upon the Taoist concept of “not-doing” with perhaps a chapter devoted to meditation. However, the practice of meditation makes only a brief one-paragraph honorable mention in the third of five chapters.
The majority of the book is a rather high-brow academic discourse on the creative process overloaded with references to artists, novelists, poets, cartoonists, lyricists, etc., most of them avant garde, from James Joyce’s Ulysses to George Herriman’s Krazy Kat. To paraphrase Seinfeld, not that there’s anything wrong with this approach. It’s just that it narrows the audience to creative types who may appreciate the occasional directive to embrace procrastination, quietude, and downtime as avenues to the unconscious. This may limit its value to the rest of us who want to be reassured that our time spent in idle moments mindlessly scrolling Tik Tok and YouTube isn’t going to waste.
After reading it, I thought the title should be revised to “On Doing Something While Taking a Lot of Time Doing It.” A warning to the casual reader. If you’re like me, you’ll probably expect the book to discuss the virtue of aimless, mindless, directionless moments that accumulate in everyday existence. Or maybe you would expect the author to expound upon the Taoist concept of “not-doing” with perhaps a chapter devoted to meditation. However, the practice of meditation makes only a brief one-paragraph honorable mention in the third of five chapters.
The majority of the book is a rather high-brow academic discourse on the creative process overloaded with references to artists, novelists, poets, cartoonists, lyricists, etc., most of them avant garde, from James Joyce’s Ulysses to George Herriman’s Krazy Kat. To paraphrase Seinfeld, not that there’s anything wrong with this approach. It’s just that it narrows the audience to creative types who may appreciate the occasional directive to embrace procrastination, quietude, and downtime as avenues to the unconscious. This may limit its value to the rest of us who want to be reassured that our time spent in idle moments mindlessly scrolling Tik Tok and YouTube isn’t going to waste.
December 22, 2024
This was a pick during a random loiter of the library; the introduction felt like a wry smile inviting me to bring it home.
By the time I get to the end of the book, I am asking myself, what is Muradov's definition of "Doing Nothing"? Is there or isn't there a productivity ethos behind it all?
Across the six chapters, Muradov introduces typical elements that lead us to consign the activity-inactivity in question with the label of 'doing nothing': being aimless / waiting / being slow / repeating / consuming or "copying" / fulfilling our need for expression without goals / making meaning and sense / pausing / being contrarian or different for the sake of it / being playful / exploring / embracing and celebrating accidents / being quiet / reflecting ...
Evidently, doing nothing is not doing nothing at all, according to Muradov. He is somewhat convincing and tries to give us hope by making it clear that that many we regard as artists are people who are well-versed in this brand of doing nothing, and that doing nothing is essential to living artfully.
I would be curious now to gather a group of self-professed 摆烂 or 躺平 peoples and have them in conversation with Muradov - would their definitions of doing nothing match?
===
https://twitter.com/vermeecello/statu...
By the time I get to the end of the book, I am asking myself, what is Muradov's definition of "Doing Nothing"? Is there or isn't there a productivity ethos behind it all?
Across the six chapters, Muradov introduces typical elements that lead us to consign the activity-inactivity in question with the label of 'doing nothing': being aimless / waiting / being slow / repeating / consuming or "copying" / fulfilling our need for expression without goals / making meaning and sense / pausing / being contrarian or different for the sake of it / being playful / exploring / embracing and celebrating accidents / being quiet / reflecting ...
Evidently, doing nothing is not doing nothing at all, according to Muradov. He is somewhat convincing and tries to give us hope by making it clear that that many we regard as artists are people who are well-versed in this brand of doing nothing, and that doing nothing is essential to living artfully.
I would be curious now to gather a group of self-professed 摆烂 or 躺平 peoples and have them in conversation with Muradov - would their definitions of doing nothing match?
===
https://twitter.com/vermeecello/statu...
April 21, 2021
This novel/book is for "my children" in The Netherlands: Holland, Somaliland/Somalia, USA, Britain. Spain and Germany.
" The T-shirt "sleep all day", or "Nothingness" on sunny days are amazing, judging children because t-shirts have calm, relaxing messages, cruel minded. Zen, Satori: " Chopping Wood And Carrying Water". " This is a 24 hour economy": Zen Monk in a Zen meditation classes: Aurora center: Vijzel Straat near the Carlton Hotel in Amsterdam the Netherlands.
" I am Indian Actress with White Parts": A religious experience of an omened nature does not need to bring a Priests to my house to exorcise children, nor take them to the physician to diagnose them. Mental Illness: exercise, good diet, vacations, hobbies, best Day Cares, Primary, Elementary, High School education, piggie bank promises etc, fame, dance classes, soccer, football basket ball, baseball etc.
Resting, sleeping: A compassionate day, evening, night wherever you are in the world or Universe is a good lifestyle for " My Children". 71 Children who are devotionally in Josephine Baker.
" The T-shirt "sleep all day", or "Nothingness" on sunny days are amazing, judging children because t-shirts have calm, relaxing messages, cruel minded. Zen, Satori: " Chopping Wood And Carrying Water". " This is a 24 hour economy": Zen Monk in a Zen meditation classes: Aurora center: Vijzel Straat near the Carlton Hotel in Amsterdam the Netherlands.
" I am Indian Actress with White Parts": A religious experience of an omened nature does not need to bring a Priests to my house to exorcise children, nor take them to the physician to diagnose them. Mental Illness: exercise, good diet, vacations, hobbies, best Day Cares, Primary, Elementary, High School education, piggie bank promises etc, fame, dance classes, soccer, football basket ball, baseball etc.
Resting, sleeping: A compassionate day, evening, night wherever you are in the world or Universe is a good lifestyle for " My Children". 71 Children who are devotionally in Josephine Baker.
August 11, 2025
Despite the slim size of this little book, and its unassuming, "easy read"-coded illustrations, there are some surprisingly hefty references throughout. I enjoyed learning about all the little tidbits Muradov collected for this work, but I didn't always see the connection between what he was saying and what he was supposedly expounding on (specifically: finding inspiration in idleness). Many of the examples he cites don't seem to fit the particular point he is making--though I suppose repetition and tedium can be stand-ins for idleness?--and the overall journey through doing nothing felt surprisingly industrious. So, while I enjoyed the read, and I appreciate the sentiment behind the premise, I felt that this little tome didn't quite hit the intended trajectory in a helpful way. I did very much enjoy Muradov's style, though, and he is clearly well-versed, so there was lots of interesting information to sift through.
September 1, 2019
What this book lacks in physical dimension, it more than makes up for in intellect, wit, and inspiration. I found it so inspiring for my inner artist. It's especially cool that I read this while vacationing in Europe, 22 years after I was a single flâneur in the very same region. I found myself spending a lot more time on the trip observing, noticing, and taking it all in. Muradov inspired me with a list of times in my life when, despite feeling busy, I can find decent stretches of idleness to "do nothing." If you're interested in finding out how you can do nothing - and do it rather well - look no further.
July 13, 2021
This book has some interesting lines and for that I'm grateful. There are some inspiring ideas, but overall it felt like the author was rambling, going off on an idea per chapter. Nothing really felt too profound or novel. The writing style and structure wasn't the most accessible sometimes and left me wondering why I was reading this. I felt like this could have been a more motivational, enlightening book, but it comes up short. Still, there are some notable ideas that one should incorporate in their work and lifestyle (get lost mindfully, seek inspiration in the mundane near me, get away from the work, be okay with being "lazy" at times, repeat motifs).
January 21, 2025
I like how every chapter and major paragraph starts with a wise observation. However, much of the book is a collection of anecdotes that describe a famous artist's or writer's idiosyncratic work habits. The author clearly knows many of such stories to be able to reference them all, though I suspect many readers (including myself) have no clue who some of these creatives were, and how they worked. As readers who are not students of literary and art history, we can only read these anecdotes like fables with a moral lesson.
May 16, 2019
You've got to love a book that tells you to screw around, goof off, do a little, then rest. I think this book is more about Time, and appreciating time, letting it sit without always having to DO and MOVE and be busy, than anything else. We're so concerned about doing there's no room for being, no room to let our thoughts settle. A great argument for the efficiency of doing nothing, rather than the useless busy work we applaud these days.
March 25, 2020
A look at how "doing nothing" has had a significant impact on the art world, particularly in literature. The book is mostly example after example of works of art that were crafted using distance, repetition, silence, long walks, etc. as sources of inspiration or contemplation. It's a little highbrow, but comes off more playful than pretentious. I will probably use the bibliography to greatly expand my "Want to Read" section of Goodreads.
December 26, 2019
I enjoyed this book though I gave it a slightly lower rating just because it was complexly written and sometimes had to be reread so that I could understand the words. I truly enjoyed this different book but wish I knew more of the purpose and intent of the author. To me, that could have been made clearer.
December 5, 2018
Breezy easy short read with some humour and interesting perspectives on idleness!
E.g. considering idle as delay - a process rather than stagnation; and how delay translates into finding balance between patience and urgency (time concepts) by first acknowledging immediacy.
E.g. considering idle as delay - a process rather than stagnation; and how delay translates into finding balance between patience and urgency (time concepts) by first acknowledging immediacy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2021
Took until the second chapter to really fall into and enjoy the meditations on idleness. Generally enjoyed the exploration and introduction to all sorts of interesting artistic works I would never come across on my own.
August 8, 2018
The antithesis of doing nothing.
November 25, 2018
A meandering, thoughtful, and thoroughly enjoyable stroll through the philosophy of slowing down and the value of idleness to artistic expression.
Read
May 28, 2019:) A short, whimsical, and beautiful quasi-literature-review of the benefits and wonders of idleness in art, writing, and life.
November 27, 2019
Finally read this book on the first day of a vacation, and I think I will go back to this book many times in the future. Really delightful.
February 13, 2020
Freaking brilliant and essential reading.
April 27, 2020
For a book about doing nothing, it was a little all over the place but it did have some thought-provoking moments. Plus, the illustrations are cute.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews