BR TO W.W. NORTON & COMPANY, INC. / WARDER NORTON, 24 APR. 1935
BRACERS 47128. ALS. Norton papers, Columbia U.
Proofread by K. Blackwell and A. Duncan

Telegraph House,
Harting, Petersfield1
April 24, 1935.

Dear Warder

I am sorry not to have been able to write to you sooner about the proposed book of essays, but I was delayed by influenza etc. I can certainly let you have a book of collected essays amounting to some 50,000 words, but on looking though my stock I find that most of what I have on hand do not seem to me worthy of book form, so I shall have to write some more during the next month. I enclose a list of 12 essays, with their number of words: these are ready, and the rest can be done quickly.

“In Praise of Idleness” and “The Modern Midas” both appeared in Harper’s, I think in 1932. The latter is a little out of date, since it urges abandonment of the gold standard; but I think it can be reprinted with a note saying when it was written. I don’t know whether Harper’s permission is required for reprinting, but I think not. If you wish to see them before I can send you the complete volume, no doubt Harper’s would supply them.

I think In Praise of Idleness is the best title for the volume. The other essays mostly emphasise what is said in that essay; that is to say, they are a plea for detachment, tolerance, and avoidance of undue strenuousness. The essay “Why I am not a communist or a fascist” gives arguments (a) against communism (b) against fascism (c) against what the two have in common. The one on useless knowledge is a plea for the cultural element in education and for the contemplative outlook. The tiny essay “On Comets” shows that at one time they foretold the deaths of Presidents of Harvard, but that they do so no longer.

I enclose a blurb of sorts, but I hate doing that sort of thing and I doubt if I have made the volume sound attractive.

It will be very nice to see you and Polly in June and we both hope you will pay us as long a visit as you can manage. By that time I shall have the other essays done, and can hand over the copy to you. Best wishes to you both.

Yours sincerely
Bertrand Russell

In Praise of Idleness, and other essays.

This book consists of essays which are mostly on such aspects of social questions as tend to be ignored in the clash of politics. It emphasises the dangers of too much organization in the realm of thought and too much strenuousness in action. It explains why the author cannot agree with either communism or fascism, and wherein he dissents from what both have in common. It maintains that the importance of knowledge consists not only in its direct practical utility, but also in the fact that it promotes a widely contemplative habit of mind; on this ground, utility is to be found in much of the knowledge that is now-a-days labelled “useless”. There is a discussion of the connection of architecture with various social questions, more particularly the welfare of young children and the position of women. Passing gradually further away from politics, the essays, after discussing the characteristics of western civilization and the chances of the human race being vanquished by insects, conclude with a discussion of the nature of the soul. The general thesis which binds the essays together is that the world is suffering from intolerance and bigotry, and from the belief that vigorous action is admirable even when misguided, whereas what is needed in our very complex modern society is calm consideration, with readiness to call dogmas in question and freedom of mind to do justice to the most diverse points of view.

In Praise of Idleness, and other essays.

1. In Praise of Idleness (5000 words)
2. Why I am not a communist or a fascist (3000)
3. Useless knowledge (4000)
4. The Modern Midas (5000)
5. Architecture and Social Questions (3200)
6. The European Tradition (3000)
7. Why is modern youth cynical? (2500)
8. Men versus Insects (1000)
9. Modern homogeneity (3000)
10. On Comets (600)
11. Stoicism and Mental Health (3000)
12. What is the Soul? (1200)                   [Total 34,500]

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