''Laziness Does Not Exist'' is a 2021 nonfiction book by Devon Price.

Subject matter

In the book, Price attempts to "dispel as a societal myth" the "link between

self-worth Self-esteem is confidence in one's own worth, abilities, or morals. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs about oneself (for example, "I am loved", "I am worthy") as well as emotional states, such as triumph, despair, pride, and shame. Smith and Mackie ...

and productivity". He analyzes television and film to demonstrate the history of the belief and interviews experts and acquaintances to explain the harm of overcoming laziness. Price also explains his thesis through the experience of being

LGBT LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The gro ...

, referencing the career of

Andrew Tobias Andrew Tobias (born April 20, 1947) is an American writer. He has written extensively about investment, as well as politics, insurance, and other topics. He is also known for writing ''The Best Little Boy in the World'', a 1973 memoir – origin ...

. Price claims that burnout is a more likely explanation for lack of productivity. The book does not make claims that hard work is a bad thing.

Reception

The ''

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...

'' says the book "is definitely worth a read" for those looking to understand why they aspire to a goal of productivity.

John Warner John William Warner III (February 18, 1927 – May 25, 2021) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and as a five-term United States Republican Party, Republican United Stat ...

of the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

'' writes, "the exploration in the book is nuanced and thorough", also noting that objections to the premise are confronted clearly and gently. Writing for ''

Chicago Review of Books The ''Chicago Review of Books'' is an online literary publication of StoryStudio Chicago that reviews recent books covering diverse genres, presses, voices, and media. The magazine was started in 2016 by founding editor Adam Morgan. It is consi ...

'', Bessie Taliaferro says the book "upends the

self-help books A self-help book is one that is written with the intention to instruct its readers on solving personal problems. The books take their name from '' Self-Help'', an 1859 best-seller by Samuel Smiles, but are also known and classified under "self- ...

on our nightstands as well as in our minds". She highlights the book's offering of "escape from the “fitter, happier, more productive” mentality".

References

{{reflist, refs= {{cite news , url = https://www.ft.com/content/300df4ae-2fc8-47c3-8055-047d462c17a5 , title = FT Business Books: January edition , date = January 6, 2021 , website = FT , publisher = Financial Times , access-date = 2023-09-25 , first1 = Andrew , last1 = Hill , first2 = Maria , last2 = Noyen , first3 = Isabel , last3 = Berwick , first4 = Janina , last4 = Conboye , first5 = Leo , last5 = Cremonezi , first6 = Emma , last6 = Jacobs {{cite news , last = Warner , first = John , author-link = John Warner (writer) , date = Jan 19, 2021 , title = ‘Laziness Does Not Exist’: Loyola prof offers persuasive argument, says Biblioracle columnist John Warner , department = Books , url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/ct-books-biblioracle-012-20210119-dlq6alzrlbgj3huscsm5q7jkfu-story.html , work =

, access-date = 2023-09-25 {{cite news , last = Taliaferro , first = Bessie , date = March 5, 2021 , title = Provocative Self-Help in "Laziness Does Not Exist" , url = https://chireviewofbooks.com/2021/03/05/laziness-does-not-exist/ , work =

, access-date = 2023-09-25 2021 non-fiction books American non-fiction books Atria Publishing Group books 2021 LGBTQ-related literary works