The Idler

Tom Hodgkinson

Idle Ltd

The Idler 42: Smash the System

Central Books

Idler No 47 Cultivate Yourself

Idler Books

The ukulele has gone from strength to strength in recent years, undergoing a massive resurgence. You can hear the uke all over the place, from trendster indie rock to top ten pop songs, from unshakeable TV ads to YouTube megahits. And this obsession shows no sign of abating - all over the country people are picking up a ukulele and starting to strum, at home, in classes and down at the pub. Schools are even replacing the faithful recorder with a jazzy, inexpensive uke. Famous idlers Gavin Pretor-Pinney and Tom Hodgkinson have spent hours idling away on their ukuleles to produce the ultimate uke handbook: an illustrated guide to its history crossed with a how-to guide and songbook. This is the book that will bring the underground movement into the mainstream. The first half of the book delves into the rich history of this eccentric little instrument, from its birth in Hawaii to its popularity across the world, with a timeline from 1879 to today and a ukulele hall of fame that includes George Formby, Hawaiian legend Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and YouTube ukulele superstar Jake Shimabukuro. Then on to the practicalities: the anatomy of the ukulele, which uke to buy, how to play it, how to strum, pick, read chord charts and tune the strings. Once you know all this, you can get playing the songbook, which includes a wide spread of songs from medieval lays and nursery rhymes to blues and rock 'n roll. Beautiful presentation and tab notation make reading the music easy, even for beginners. With the highest production values, a light touch and an irresistible instrument at centre stage, this book is a must-have for all aspiring Formbys.

The Ukulele Handbook

Arts & Photography

GavinPretor-Pinney

Music

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

The Idler 85, Jul/Aug 22

Literature & Fiction

Essays & Correspondence

Book 9781739660819

<p>‘Wake up Strivers! Grab your almanacs! Let’s get idle again!’ Dominic West (from the Foreword). As lockdown has caused us all to revaluate our lives, becoming more self-reliant and living in closer harmony with nature have emerged as important priorities. Many of us have decided to up sticks and leave the city behind for a less frenetic existence in the country. Whether you've already made the move, or are dreaming of doing so one day, this is the book for you. Covering bee-keeping, poultry rearing, pig farming, bread baking, wood-chopping, fire-laying, bartering, home-schooling and much more, How to Live in the Country is the perfect source of inspiration for old hands and beginners alike: useful, informative but also refreshingly honest and realistic. Tom Hodgkinson draws on the wisdom of an eclectic range of thinkers and writers as he guides us through each month of the year, giving lists of tasks for both garden and animal husbandry, offering tips and short-cuts, and weaving in stories about his own experience of raising a young family in rural Devon.</p>

How to Live in the Country: A Month-by-Month Guide

Reference

Almanacs & Yearbooks

Unbound

The Idler Diary

Cassell Illustrated*

Leitfaden für faule Eltern

Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verla

Ghidul Leneşului

Gabriel Stoian (traducător.)

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Books by Tom Hodgkinson