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Next step: reading Charles Bukowski and just absolutely not giving a f*ck. I always seen him as the ultimate slacker and hoped some of that energy will trickle

Next step: reading Charles Bukowski and just absolutely not giving a f*ck. I always seen him as the ultimate slacker and hoped some of that energy will trickle down to me when I was being workaholic. On another note I really liked "How to Be Idle" by Tom Hodgkinson https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/623922.How_to_Be_Idle https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/623922.How_to_Be_Idle In case you get some guilt feelings.

PartiallyTyped 3y ago
Is he really a slacker? To my limited knowledge, "Don't try" is to say do something that you don't need effort to start doing, something that doesn't feel like a chore to you, something that you are passionate about. He also mentioned going hungry a lot for his passion. I don't think that someone who perseveres through all that is a slacker, but again, my understanding is limited.
- timeagain 3y ago
  My impression of bukowski is that he was absolutely driven to write, but that he was an incredible slacker at work. That he worked only well enough and hard enough to drink and write (neither being incredibly expensive past times). So he was motivated, but not by work or the concerns of others. The only reason we know about him is because he chose to write and often semi-autobiographically. There are scores of people who make similar arrangements for music, sport, reading, gardening, child rearing… we just don’t hear from them!
damnitpeter 3y ago
Any favorites from Bukowski to recommend? Always been interested but not sure where to start.
- zedpm 3y ago
  Factotum and South of No North are two of my favorites.
- badpun 3y ago
  "Factotum" and "Post Office" are both classics and basically on the subject of work.
- myth_drannon 3y ago
  You can start from anything, they are similar. Factotum or Post Office... One is enough.
- pallas_athena 3y ago
  I would also recommend "Pulp", but it's pretty different from everything else he wrote
WFHRenaissance 3y ago
LOL this is some of the cringiest advice I've seen dispensed on HN yet.
- RankingMember 3y ago
  Can you elaborate?

PartiallyTyped 3y ago

Is he really a slacker? To my limited knowledge, "Don't try" is to say do something that you don't need effort to start doing, something that doesn't feel like a chore to you, something that you are passionate about. He also mentioned going hungry a lot for his passion. I don't think that someone who perseveres through all that is a slacker, but again, my understanding is limited.

timeagain 3y ago
My impression of bukowski is that he was absolutely driven to write, but that he was an incredible slacker at work. That he worked only well enough and hard enough to drink and write (neither being incredibly expensive past times). So he was motivated, but not by work or the concerns of others. The only reason we know about him is because he chose to write and often semi-autobiographically. There are scores of people who make similar arrangements for music, sport, reading, gardening, child rearing… we just don’t hear from them!

damnitpeter 3y ago

Any favorites from Bukowski to recommend? Always been interested but not sure where to start.

zedpm 3y ago
Factotum and South of No North are two of my favorites.
badpun 3y ago
"Factotum" and "Post Office" are both classics and basically on the subject of work.
myth_drannon 3y ago
You can start from anything, they are similar. Factotum or Post Office... One is enough.
pallas_athena 3y ago
I would also recommend "Pulp", but it's pretty different from everything else he wrote

WFHRenaissance 3y ago

LOL this is some of the cringiest advice I've seen dispensed on HN yet.

RankingMember 3y ago
Can you elaborate?