[MD] How to be Free

[Ant McWatt]

Ian,

Thanks for your comments.

You stated February 2nd:

>I think the positive value of the Hodgkinson message is a no brainer

OK but I don’t think you clearly explain why you think this.

>... the world would be a better place if ..... etc. (and as the quotes
>indicate, this is continuing an age old theme.) before any us of
>needed to "know why Gavin why was so keen on these movements". Anyway,
>the problems are pragmatic ...

This paragraph is obscure.  It looks like it was written in a hurry (for 
example, there’s a full stop in an odd place) which is one behaviour 
Hodgkinson regards as being of low quality.

>We can all do our little bit, that's the point of course, and I think any
>of us with an ounce of aesthetic and humanity probably already does.
>
>The problem is always the one of "freeloaders"

I think you have to define what you mean by “freeloader”.  Using 
Hodgkinson’s “philosophy”, I think it would depend on how much you create vs 
how much you consume (so someone (with their full faculties etc) who creates 
little but consumes a lot would be considered a freeloader).

.... we can debate
>exactly what the ideal long-run outcome is, in terms of "down-scaled"
>sustainable utopian societies, but in reality, we have to get there
>through existing systems of governance (political and economic)

Do we?  Is that what the brujo did in LILA?

>and all the short-term consequences of our choices, and "protect" the
>interests such a society from all forms of regression, social or
>bio-physical - if we aspire to goals more than a self-sufficient
>hippie commune on an isolated (metaphorical) island ?

I think that point is irrelevant.  Hodgkinson is talking more about 
independence of mind rather than isolating one self from the wider world.

>I'm not the person to deliver a lecture on this, but do you believe
>Hodgkinson answers any of this ?

As I mention in my post (pasted below) Hodgkinson draws on movements such as 
the situationists, romantics and “permaculturists”.  Like Pirsig, it doesn’t 
mean he has “all the answers” but I do think he is part of the “metaphorical 
elephant” that points toward a generally higher quality of life or what 
Hodgkinson would describe as moving from being a (passive) consumer to being 
an (active) creator.

Best wishes,

Anthony



On 1/2/07, Ant McWatt <antmcwatt at hotmail.co.uk> wrote:

Dear all,

I don’t know whether anyone else (other than Dean Summers who contacted me 
about it) checked out BBC Radio 4’s series “Books to Change Your Life By” in 
January when ZMM was featured (on Tuesday 2nd) but another useful book in 
the series was “How to be Free” by Tom Hodgkinson (which was the book 
featured on Friday 5th).

Due to the rather intriguing clip I heard of Hodgkinson’s book, I bought a 
copy.   The first line reads “This is a book about good living…” which, of 
course, is a good start!  Anyway, the key point is that consumer society 
(especially in the UK and US) has not led to a widening of freedoms but 
entirely the opposite; that the key to a free, higher quality life is to 
stop consuming and to start being creative (whether that's painting, making 
your own music or growing your own vegetables).   The situationists and 
permaculture (now I know why Gavin why was so keen on these movements!) are 
drawn on with a good dose of anarchy, medievalism, Romanticism, G.K. 
Chesterton, Ken Kesey, Oscar Wilde, Whitehead and Bertrand Russell.

Hodgkinson’s Freedom Manifesto includes:

FIND YOUR GIFT
CAST OFF YOUR WATCH
FORGET (CENTRAL) GOVERNMENT
MAKE MUSIC
BAKE BREAD
QUIT MOANING
STOP CONSUMING
START PRODUCING
HAIL THE CHISEL
GET BACK TO THE LAND
LIVE FREE OF THE SUPERMARKETS
EMBRACE BEAUTY
LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR
BE CREATIVE
BE MERRY
BE FREE!


And here are a couple of reviews I found on Amazon (notice the emphasis on 
Quality rather than Quantity in the second one!):

This book beautifully rides the zeitgeist of self-fulfilment.  Tom 
Hodgkinson has written a lovely little book that attempts to help you 
reassess the world we all take for granted. In life we blindly accept the 
9-5, rules, laws, even the local council telling us that we put the wrong 
rubbish in the bin! Its time to say 'ENOUGH!' This book ask the right 
questions and tries to stop you from blindly stumbling through life. As 
traditional beliefs in religion matures, people want more from the life they 
lead today…  If you have had enough of society telling you what to think, 
and want some original thoughts, then this book is a brilliant buy.

Reviewer: Jenna "Jill" (Ealing, London) - Jan 6th 2007


What can I say??!! EVERYONE should read this book. My sister bought it a 
couple of months ago and her enthusiasm encouraged me to buy a copy to see 
what all the fuss was about. Am I ever glad I did!! I cannot praise it 
enough. It is written in adequately sized chapters to enable you to delve in 
randomly for snippets of information. The range of point of view is vast, 
but so well written and inter-woven that I guarantee that everyone will be 
able to find something that speaks to them - you just pick out what you 
need/agree with and apply it to your life. These small changes can alter 
your life in a big way!

Tom covers all sorts of topics but the underlying themes are similar these 
all point toward a simpler life of less work, and more freedom, with a focus 
on quality rather than quantity. To me one of the most important things Tom 
promotes - that everyone should be made aware of - is taking back your own 
freedom of choice in life. We are lulled into a false sense of security that 
we have freedom of choice, yet there are more rules today than there has 
even been. Not just in a legal sense, but also societal rules, not to 
mention the powers of money! These ideals are so realistic and simplistic 
that small efforts make big differences - this is the author of "HOW TO BE 
IDLE" after all.

Check out www.idler.co.uk

Reviewer: Katie Nolton  (York, England) - Jan 5th 2007

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Be-Free-Tom-Hodgkinson/dp/0241143217


And in reference of “How to be Idle” (Hodgkinson’s first book):

This is a great book. At heart it shares the ethos of books like 'In Praise 
Of Slow' that champion a rejection of high pressure high speed modern 
lifestyles in favour of a calmer more contemplative approach. However, 
Hodgkinson's tack is more radical and polemic, suggesting that a lot of the 
things that people naturally do and society labels as idle or lazy are 
exactly the things we should be doing to take life more slowly and 
paradoxically become more alive... The book has made me more determined than 
ever to pursue a freelance lifestyle, working when I want to and devoting 
more time to life affirming pursuits like playing music, reading and 
spending time with friends and family.

By the way, reviews such as 'I only read two chapters then I 'got it' and 
couldn't be bothered with the rest' and 'buy it if you can be arsed' have 
totally missed the point - idle and lazy are not the same thing, the book it 
about reclaiming your right to do what you want. Spending a long time 
savouring a good book to its finish is exactly what the book is about, and I 
recommend you do just that.

Reviewer: N. Canham "whistful skeptic" (Guildford, UK) – Jan 16th 2006

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Be-Idle-Tom-Hodgkinson/dp/0141015063/ref=pd_sim_b_2/202-6323147-1698242



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