Published in 1886 and dedicated to the writer’s ally in idling—his pipe—this collection of entertaining essays established Jerome K. Jerome as an eminent English wit. 'What readers ask nowadays in a book is that it should improve, instruct, and elevate. This book wouldn’t elevate a cow. I cannot conscientiously recommend it for any useful purposes whatever. All I can suggest is that when you get tired of reading ‘the best hundred books,’ you may take this up for half an hour. It will be a change.' Here are his idle and amusing thoughts on all aspects of life—from love to poverty, vanity to ambition, babies to cats and dogs—and, of course, on the pleasures of spending one’s time idling.