The Book of Idle Pleasuresis a restorative gift book for the stressed out, tired and hassled. An antidote to our non-stop culture, it is a welcome compendium of timeless delights.

The book lists and reflects on 75 simple pastimes and proves that the best things in life really are free: lighting fires, skimming stones, catching falling leaves, whittling, staring out of the window, dreaming, doodling or taking a nap.The Book of Idle Pleasuresis a celebration of pleasure for its own sake in a world of consumer overload.

Tom Hodgkinson was born in 1968. His book publications include the bestsellingHow To Be Idle, which has been published in fifteen countries, andHow To Be Free. Tom lives in Devon with his expanding family.

Dan Kieran is deputy editor of theIdler. He editedThe Idler Book of Crap Towns,Crap Jobs, andCrap Holidaysand wroteI Fought the Law. He writes regularly for theObserver, theSunday Times,The Timesand theGuardian.Dan lives in South London with his wife Rachel and their son Wilf.