Intolerance and bigotry lie at the heart of all human suffering. So claims Bertrand Russell at the outset of In Praise of Idleness, a collection of essays in which he espouses the virtues of cool reflection and free enquiry; a voice of calm in a world of maddening unreason. From a devastating critique of the ancestry of fascism to a vehement defence of 'useless' knowledge, with consideration given to everything from insect pests to the human soul, this is a tour de force that only Bertrand Russell could perform.
'A book full of rich, stimulative thought, with plenty of scope for disagreement.' - The Guardian
'Invariably intelligent, stimulating and lucid.' - The Listener
'There is not ... a page which does not provoke argument or thought.' - The Sunday Times
