In the first book to argue for the benefits of boredom, Peter Toohey dispels the myth that it's simply a childish emotion or an existential malaise like Jean Paul Sartre.s nausea. He shows how boredom is, in fact, one of our most common and constructive emotions and is an essential part of the human experience.

A child, bored by his toys, contemplates the emotion and concept of boredom, and whether or not it is boring to be an adult--or a child.

As malady or inspiration, boredom looms large in our culture. Forever egging the writer on to new feats of interest, new forms of poetry, new, more engrossing ideas and creations, boredom both haunts and motivates the literary imagination. This book offers a witty literary explanation of why this should be. Investigating boredom's imaginative functions during the last two and a half centuries, Patricia Meyer Spacks reveals the shifting cultural purposes...

On a lazy afternoon, two bored brothers keep themselves busy by building and flying an airplane.

While waiting for her sister's medical appointment, a bored Amelia creates a handwritten book of fifty suggestions for passing the time.

Annie is bored until a walk around the block to visit her neighbors brings several pleasant diversions.

A boy who claims there is nothing to do spends his day being anything but bored.

"Greg Heffley is in big trouble. School property has been damaged, and Greg is the prime suspect. But the crazy thing is, he's innocent. Or at least sort of. The authorities are closing in, but when a surprise blizzard hits, the Heffley family is trapped indoors. Greg knows that when the snow melts he's going to have to face the music, but could any punishment be worse than being stuck inside with your family for the holidays?"--Back cover.

Bill, a very bored dog who resists taking part in his busy owner's many activities, has a major attitude change after his unexpected visit to a planet populated by bored aliens.

The King, tired of rain, snow, sun, and fog, commands his magicians to make something else come down from the sky, but when oobleck falls, in sticky greenish droplets, Bartholomew Cubbins shames the King and saves the kingdom.