CONVERSATIONS

a quite interesting conversation – —with John Lloyd and John Mitchinson

QI QUESTIONS

qi questions – —Sixteen fascinating facts from the QI databanks

59

72

ESSAY S

idle idol: william morris —John Mitchinson celebrates a revolutionary life—

qi: down with school —Elements of a New Curriculum

88

103

the truth isn’t out there —Justin Pollard says history is taught all wrong

111

my own green hills —Elizabeth Garner contemplates the number seven

119

a bit of magic– — David Boyle is away with the fairies

125

tommy, born free and is everywhere in chains– — by Bron Jones 131 from the pen of jock scot– — Despatches from a job-free life 143 STORIES

notes for a book i cannot be bothered to write —John Lloyd presents fragments from a possible novel 151 news from nowhere —Joanna Walsh finds a road half-built 160

IDLE PURSUITS

how to live dangerously

166

how to die well

168

a little shed time reading —Down tools and pick up a book, says Graham Burnett

174

librarium: the nudist reseach library

178

the idle home: how to build an earthship

180

how to start a school

183

tea time

186

angling Kevin Parr on the mysterious eel

188

the idler abroad Chris Moss in Patagonia

192

bookshelf: scarlett thomas

200

busman’s holiday

202

books: James Bridle on George Perec’s W

203

music: Tony White meets Mark Eitzel of American Music Club 210 games: definitials 219 back issues & merchandise 220 Greg Rowland’s a view from the sofa 224