Rating: 
Summary: The Delightful Rewards of Languour for Strivers
Review: The title of this book is misleading. It sounds like an exhortation solely for La Dolce Vita. It is that all right, but it is much more as well. "This book is designed to help you cultivate the seeds of serenity." From serenity, Ms. Vienne suggests that you will discover many great ideas, better focus on what is important, and enjoy life more. In essence, doing nothing is designed here as a path to internal and external progress -- worthy of consideration by any striver. Strivers have a problem. They strive too much. "Whenever frinds or loved ones suggest we relax -- take a deep breath or unwind for a few days -- we almost always protest." This is a problem because "you can only make time for yourself by uncluttering your mind." With this uncluttered mind and time, you can accomplish more and be more balanced. That's a wonderful exhortation, and the book provides many valuable guides to getting there. The book is divided into ten chapters, each on the "art of" something. These arts are procrastination, breathing, meditating, lounging, yawning, napping, bathing, tasting, listening, and waiting. Although we all have lots of experience in these 10 areas, if you are like me, you don't yet know how to make the best of each one. Each chapter is lovingly illustrated with black and white photographs in soft brownish tones by Erica Lennard. The photographs add an elegance and a beauty to the book that help put you in the right mood to absorb the message here. Many are images of nature, and many include artful representations of a beautiful woman in fairly transparent clothing (especially noteworthy for those of you who enjoy such views). Let me focus on a few chapters to help you savor the full flavor of the book. Procrastination to a striver sounds like something to be avoided. Ms. Vienne likens procrastination instead to moving water where "the path of least resistance is a successions of languid curves." Basically, the most natural path is a circuitous one. Such paths allow us time to digest what we are experiencing and to notice more. This chapter includes descriptions of Thoreau's life in the woods, and the importance of his observing nature. You also get lessons on whistling 101 to help you refocus away from whatever you are working too hard on. There is an exercise to stay next to your unopened mail and ignore it. You are encouraged to "give yourself permission to abandon any activity midway." That last is particularly good advice, because many things simply aren't worth finishing. Why sit through a book or movie that doesn't suit your needs or your mood? That's just time you could better spend in more pleasant ways. Lounging conjured up images for me of people in togas ordering a slave to peel them a grape. Instead, Ms. Vienne encourages you to "wear down your restlessness." She points out that lounging is the state in which many scientific geniuses had their biggest insights. So lounging can be a purposeless way of being more purposeful by letting your unconscious mind come out. The chapter on meditation also reinforced this point. She describes how emptying your mind can be the pathway to enlightenment. Yawning turns out to be a way of creating a more relaxed physical state. You learn how to make your feet more comfortable wherever you are (the poor person's reflexology) to make life more pleasant, as well. The napping section was wonderful. She sees napping like Edison did . . . a quick ten minutes to calm down, relax, and get refocused. "If you've got too much to do, take a nap -- just a ten-minute nap." This nap "lets you resurface minutes later with a fresh outlook on life." After you have finished reading this book, the next time you are lounging or bathing I suggest you linguidly turn your attention to what should be removed from your daily routine. That will help you have more time for reflection. I would write more, but I'm going take a nap instead. Enjoy your life . . . more peacefully . . . and slowly.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful duotones and prose to match
Review: This book caught my eye at a gift shop. After paging through it, I bought it for myself. For Christmas this year, I plan on sharing the author's peaceful words with a few of my frantic friends who could use the gift of tranquility this holiday season. I think it's the perfect gift book.
Rating: 
Summary: A great way to begin doing "nothing"
Review: Vienne's words coupled with Lennard's almost otherworldly, sepia-toned photographs, offer the reader a chance to escape the busy world for awhile and relax. Candles and a nice steaming bath would be a near-perfect environment in which to enjoy this brief, simple book, simultaneously reading it and living its message.
There's no astounding, mystical wisdom contained here, only the reminder of things we already know, and perhaps have forgotten in our 9-5, materialism-driven world. Vienne offers several rituals to take time out to enjoy yourself and recharge the batteries that can get so run down in a success-oriented culture. She gives advice on breathing, meditation, bathing, and even on how to cure a common cold. This little book is a very nice way to spend an hour or so, and its lessons can help us enjoy the rest of our days to come.
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