Dan Kieran

I was given her copy of this book, as a Christmas present from a very close but also very distant friend with whom I share much. It is not one I would have bought myself, but now that I have it, refer to it often; have bought her another copy and we have even inserted our own observations which we share.

This is a book for a by-gone age, reminiscent of The Dangerous Book for Boys. This, Book of Idle Pleasures, like TDB4B. indulges in some of those past-times once common, now no longer seem to show more be so; whittling wood, lighting fires and climbing trees to name but three. Other occupations like doodling, catching falling leaves and skimming stones are celebrated for the sheer luxury of just doing not very much, The book makes much of even more indolent activities such as day dreaming, taking a nap and just having a bath.

It's a book for the hassled, time poor, rat-race ruled workaholic that shows there is an alternative and that some of the best things in life really are free. It promotes the simpler things that do not involve electrically operated gadgets or expense.

There are a few lovely vignettes like "Taking a walk with a Toddler" that throw a completely new light on what could otherwise be an irksome experience. The book is a worthy read to just dip into and realise that there are pleasures, idle pleasures, just for their own sake, that make living a more restorative experience. show less

The book is Dan Kieran's take on the art of slow travel. It is well written with a chatty, personal style that works well. Much of what he says is stating the obvious and some of the book felt like he had just pulled together my own way of travelling. However, he has also done some wider research about how the brain engages with travel which is interesting.
To discuss travel he breaks down the issues in to some useful chapters.
Travel don't just arrive is the first chapter and is about the show more journey, not the destination.
Stay at home is about exploring your local area.
Be your own guide suggests that you read novels and biographies from a country, as well as or instead of travel guides to get a better feel for a place. Sometimes I do this instead of even going, which is even more sustainable and idle.
Embrace disaster suggests that it is only when things go wrong are you really travelling.
Follow your instincts is mostly about his trip in the UK on a milk float but goes on to interesting ideas about the conscious and unconscious mind and how travel can re-awaken the unconscious mind. This reminded me of ideas around phenomenology and also how us geographers work to observe.
Lose you mind was more on the mind and travel and discusses the tendency to visit 'must see' sights and have a pre-conceived perception.
The final chapter, Be Epic has some interesting info about pilgrims.
If you are interested in these ideas you will probably enjoy the book. show less

Der Titel und das Cover haben mich fast abgeschreckt - 'schon wieder so ein Ratgeber von jemandem, der meint, es uns allen vorzuleben'. Aber Kieran ergründet das gesamte Feld des langsamen Reisens und macht verständlich, welchen Effekt - auch ohne üübergeordneten Zweck - das Reisen mit bewusst wenig Kontrolle auf einen selbst haben kann. Kieran reist, wie ich es gerne könnte. Zwar bin auch ich ein Verfechter des Alleine-Reisens und heiße möglichst wenig Kontrolle willkommen, doch show more meine Getriebenheit lässt mich natürlich den Geisteszustand, den er als wünschenswert darstellt, nicht erreichen. Rastlosigkeit steht dem therapeutischen Ansatz des langsamen Reisens entgegen, weil ich aus einer langsamen Fortbewegungsart (Trampen, Bergsteigen etc.) zwanghaft Geschwindigkeit generieren will, um möglichst schnell wieder angekommen zu sein.
Gutes Buch - nochmal lesen! show less

Kieran has never 'got' machines, and in this book he describes his journey meeting all types of enthusiast of machines, bikes, cars, boats and planes.

He spends a day on a narrow boat, tries to ride a penny farthing, watches a 12 hour lawn mower race, avoids the gaze of hell angels at a motorcycle meet. He specs a couple of data with steam enthusiasts from the Great Dorset Steam Fair to the and working as a fireman with the guys on the Watercress line. A day tank driving and one dancing with show more diggers and he is ready to overcome his fear of flying, or is he?

And does he get it in the end? Youu'll have to read it to find out, but he does get a greater insight as to why these men, and is is almost exclusively men, do this and what they gain from it. show less