NUMBER: 11TITLE: Leisure: The Basis of Culture
AUTHOR: Josef Pieper
STARTED: January 27, 2006
FINISHED: January 27, 2006
PAGES: 166
GENRE: Philosophy
FIRST SENTENCE:The complaint is frequently heard that our time has little to boast in the way of philosophy.
SUMMARY: [From barnesandnoble.com] One of the most important philosophy titles published in the twentieth century, Joseph Pieper's Leisure: the Basis of Culture is more significant, even more crucial than it was when it first appeared fifty years ago. Pieper shows that Greeks understood and valued leisure, as did the medieval Europeans. He points out that religion can be born only in leisure, leisure that allows time for the contemplation of the nature of God. Leisure has been, and always will be, the first foundation of any culture. He maintains that our bourgeois world of total labor has vanquished leisure, and issues a startling warning: Unless we regain the art of silence and insight, the ability for nonactivity, unless we substitute true leisure for our hectic amusements, we will destroy our culture and ourselves.
REASON FOR READING: Assigned in HSCP 490: Senior Honors Capstone Seminar
THOUGHTS: I had to read this during one of my freshman philosophy classes and then again this year. I'm still not thrilled. Philosophy and I do not get along... unless it's politically philosophy. I'll be quite frank and admit that most of this book went in one ear and out the other. I will admit that Pieper had a great basic argument (that leisure is the basis of culture) but his writing bored me.
MISCELLANEOUS: Thankfully, I shall never have to read this again.
KEEP/SHARE/CRINGE(?): Going back to the library.
RATING: 4/10 [An "okay" book, but I don't recommend it]
CR: Prince Charming by Gaelen Foley
RN: The Runaway Duke by Julie Anne Long
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