Work and our Discontents

Back from my play-care utopia with the kids and other loved ones... and back to a harvest of (not surprisingly) meditative articles on work:

William Dietrich from Seattle Times (appropriate locale) ruminating on America, work and dissatisfaction

Love of Leisure, and Europe's Reasons Perplexed but fair article from International Herald Tribune wondering why Europeans are so militant about their holidays, and free time in general (the writer is also judicious in her reportage of current anxieties about the shorter working week in France and Germany).

The virtues of idleness Excellent extract from Tom Hodgkinson's new book How to be Idle. Not exactly an idler myself - though the play ethic allows idleness, where the work ethic demonises it - but I appreciate Tom's louche celebration of personal freedom.