Living with Boredom

Abstract

‘It is like dust. You go about and never notice. . . . But stand still for an instant and there it is, coating your face and hands’ — George Bernanos (Winokur 2005, p.18). ‘I have never been so bored as when I was in the process of completing a large dissertation after several years of work. The work bored me so much that I had to mobilize all my will in order to continue, and all that I felt in doing so was a tremendous tiredness’ (Svendsen 2005, p. 35). ‘When I get real bored, I like to drive downtown and get a great parking spot, then sit in my car and count how many people ask me if I’m leaving’ — Steven Wright (Winokur 2005, p. 133).