You have people who travel miles for days on end; some who refuse to leave their beds on a chilly winter morning till 10; others just give in to more material interests like going to work. And then you have in a class of their own (literally for half of them would not fit into a nice classroom with obedient children), people who love to remain idle.
Their courage, nonconformity to accept rules framed by the ruthless, dull society devoid of creativity, conviction that their way of life is the only way to Nirvana and of course what is euphemistically called laziness precludes any need to convince them of their righteousness. No, I am not about to talk about the greatest players who won Wimbledon ten years in a row nor is this an intro to Nobel winners.
Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow; a book that?s been written by none other than a writer widely acclaimed for the kind of wit that?s extremely endearing and very peculiar to JKJ. The book is a series of essays written on a variety of refreshingly real topics which make you feel as if you have always believed in whatever is being said about so many rather trivial things in life.
Things as simple as you going to someone’s place and having to appreciate the host’s tastes as far as choice of furniture goes simply because one of the pieces has been designed by her kid!!
The write-ups are very reminiscent of those Hrishikesh Mukherjee -Basu Bhattacharya- genre of films which might not have had some great life changing message yet manage to touch your hearts compelling you to watch them for their realistic appeal.
The beauty of the book lies in the way the author has intertwined wit with wisdom and produced some lovely pieces ranging from women to decision making. Usually the author quotes examples from his observations at Hyde Park wherein girls, aunts, middle-aged men and so many different characters provide us with the insights to issues from flirting to professional wellbeing. Typical Victorian humour served with delicious tidbits of human behaviour.
The following should give you an idea of what all the author deemed fit to be included in the scheme of things that resulted from his random thoughts??. On the art of making up one’s mind. On the disadvantage of not getting what one wants. On the exceptional merit attaching to the things we meant to do. On the preparation and employment of love philtres. On the delights and benefits of slavery. On the care and management of women. On the minding of other people’s business. On the time wasted in looking before one leaps. On the nobility of ourselves. On the motherliness of man. On the inadvisability of following advice. On the playing of marches at the funerals of marionettes.
There were some write-ups that deserve a special mention not just because of their amusing dark humour but because despite showing up everywhere, such thoughts rarely get the attention they so merit. While talking about our intentions and the importance we give them, the author has given reasons as to how an oyster is the most virtuous being and deserves place in heaven!
?The most virtuous thing in nature, according to this new theory, should be the oyster. He is always at home, and always sober. He is not noisy. He gives no trouble to the police. I cannot think of a single one of the Ten Commandments that he ever breaks. He never enjoys himself, and he never, so long as he lives, gives a moment’s pleasure to any other living thing.?
Similarly on the dilemma a guy faces whenever it?s a question of choosing one girl over the other as one?s beloved, the author claims to find everything about a woman enchanting and the way he goes on to describe how it?s extremely difficult to fall for just one charming feature in a woman over some other in some other woman would make you want to ? kill him if you are a girl and nod your head in agreement if you are a guy.LOL
?It is as if one were asked one’s favourite food. There are times when one fancies an egg with one’s tea. On other occasions one dreams of a kipper. Today one clamours for lobsters. To-morrow one feels one never wishes to see a lobster again; one determines to settle down, for a time, to a diet of bread and milk and rice-pudding. I like tall women and short, dark women and fair, merry women and grave. ?
And finally a very logical and reasonable description of how the way to a man?s heart is not through his stomach-
?We are not ascetics, neither are we all gourmets: most of us plain men, fond of our dinner, as a healthy man should be, but fonder still of our sweethearts and wives, let us hope. Try us.?
This is not some serious documentary on how to feel good, lead one?s life. But just as these are meant to be second thoughts of an idle man, they happen to be meant for idle mind.
Amazing read.
Keerti