The Importance of Being Lazy

In Praise of Play, Leisure, and Vacation

Al Gini

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2004
• ISBN:
  9781135948931
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Geschichte
• Subtopic: Weltgeschichte

Drawing upon in-depth case studies of vacation habits and the observations of philosophers, writers, and sociologists such as Aristotle, Mark Twain and Thorstein Veblen, Al Gini argues why vacations are so venerated and why 'doing nothing' is a fundamental human necessity.

From shopping sprees and extreme sports to the ultimate vacation - retirement - The Importance of Being lazy demonstrates that without true leisure, we are diminished as individuals and as a society.

Index

Ackerman, Diane, 31–32

addicted organizations, 144

adulthood:

first, 136;

second, 130–31, 136, 139–40

advertisements:

American culture and, 91;

cult of, 90, 92;

goal of, 91–92;

industry, 91

advertising:

modern, 91;

money spent on, 92–93;

outdoor, 92;

sports events and, 107–108;

television, 92, 107–108

affluenza epidemic, 94, 96;

test for, 97–100

age:

old, 139;

perception of, 125, 126, 137–38, 141;

wisdom and, 137

aging:

American population, 13 2–3 3;

baby boomers (see baby boomers);

life stages of, 127–28, 139;

Medicare and, 133;

myths about, 134;

pension plans and, 134–35;

perceptions of, 125–26, 134, 137–38, 141;

retirement and, 126, 133–34, 135–36

( see also retirement);

second adulthood and, 130–31, 136, 139–40;

Social Security and, 126, 133, 134

airline industry, 49;

Sept. 11, 2001 and, 10

Allen, George, 106

American:

Automobile Association, 45;

culture, 91;

economy, 82;

production, 83

American Dream, 53, 82;

con- sumerism and, 91,94

American(s):

average work weeks per year of, 6, 16;

busyness of, 4,21;

consumer culture of, 85–89;

love of travel by, 49;

middle class, 51, 75;

play and, 49;

popular culture, 14;

Puritan heritage of, 49–50

vacations time taken by, 25

amusement, 36, 50

Anderso...