Review | The meaning of boredom in the age of instant gratification
Tedium can be interesting, says Mary Mann in this rather scattershot book, which explores a seldom considered emotion
Yawn: Adventures in Boredom
by Mary Mann (read by Jessica Almasy)
Audible Studios
“We are less bored than our ancestors were,” wrote philosopher Bertrand Russell, “but we are more afraid of boredom.” This message is underscored in Mary Mann’s book, which raises points about what boredom means, especially in a time of tech-fed instant gratification.
Yawn also tackles gender-based differences in dealing with tedium and the benefits of monotony. Perhaps fearing that such a book should not itself be boring, Mann jumps from topic to topic, connecting them with anecdotes of varying interest. Giving us pause is the link between boredom and depression, boredom’s manifestation in irritability and violence, and the fact 80 per cent of people worldwide say they’re bored of their jobs.
Researching boredom didn’t help Mann find a cure for it, but even if there were one, she says, she’s not sure she’d want it.