A Short Philosophy of Napping

A wisdom-filled collection of life lessons that reminds us to slow down the maddening tempo of our lives

A nap is a precious thing. It’s a moment suspended in time between morning and evening, where we close our eyes and let go of the thoughts running through our heads. In this place, there is no such thing as pressure, anxiety, or grind—there is only rest. And yet, in our modern world that prizes productivity and capital above all else, idleness has become a vice to be resisted.

In A Short Philosophy of Napping, Sébastien Spitzer invites us to reconsider the humble nap, arguing that napping is a lifestyle that respects our natural rhythms and nurtures the best of what we have to offer. If Newton hadn’t taken a nap in the shade of an apple tree, would he have discovered the law of gravity? Drawing on philosophy, history, literature, and nature, this book is a charming reminder of the power and wisdom to be found in the simple act of doing nothing.