Waiting for the Weekend

Noreen Mitchell is a librarian with the Toronto Public Library.

This far-reaching study of the history and nature of leisure poses a
fascinating question: do we work to live or live to work? In his
attempts to provide an answer to this question, Rybczynski covers such
topics as the concept of free time; the origin of the seven-day week;
days of rest, including the Sabbath; popular diversions; and weekend
behavior. Whether considering the length of the workweek or that of the
workday, he provides many interesting comparisons across time and
cultures.

Readers of Rybczynski’s Home and The Most Beautiful House in the
World will appreciate the intelligence and personality with which his
books are imbued. The eclectic nature and easygoing writing style of
this extended essay make it suitable for a general audience; almost any
reader will find it an enjoyable way to spend a few hours of leisure
time.