How Much is Enough and The Autobiography of a Supertramp

In the Library of Birmingham, I came across what looks to be a very good book on economics and philosophy titled, "How Much is Enough - The Love of Money, and the Case for the Good Life." The book examines our drive for money as a means in itself, suggesting an alternative definition that instead puts increased leisure as the central goal. The authors stress that this is not a pursuit of idleness but leisure as the Romans and Greeks would have known it - time to pursue what is really worthwhile. I will report back here after I finish the book.

The other book I read a week ago is called "The Autobiography of a Supertamp" by Welsh poet, tramp, and writer W.H. Davies. Written in an unadorned style, this tells Davies' story of his unorthodox life as a beggar and paints portraits of the people he comes across in his journeys in North America, Britain, and criss-crossing the Atlantic. The group Supertramp apparently got the name of their rock band from this book.

The two books are related as this poem reveals:

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare. 

William Henry Davies