The subhead for this book will surely appeal to many: 'Why Doing Nothing Can Change Your Life'. What's more it's quite a slim book, so I felt I wasn't taking too much of a risk in diving in and seeing what this was all about. For me, it proved a thoroughly enjoyable, encouraging and stimulating read, and I'll be seeking to put some of its advice and suggestions into practice.

We may feel that we have to be 'on the go' constantly in life today, in both work and leisure, but we're also increasingly aware that more people are experiencing burn out, mental health issues and unhealthy behaviours. 

In this book the author urges us to stop, pause and regroup. 

He begins by telling us what we're doing wrong, 'how overwork is literally killing us', and then moves on to suggest how we can find rest and play, and the benefits from both. The chapter headings do suggest a bit of a wacky American self-help book - 'tree-hugging' and 'playology' are two of his titles. But there are some fascinating facts (hospital patients get better more quickly if they can see trees, or can experience the natural world) and great, straightforward advice (do one thing at a time).

He tells us about authors who were inspired when they were relaxed and resting - 'Frankenstein' came to Mary Shelley in a dream, JK Rowling thought up 'Harry Potter' on a train journey. 

We may quote political leaders who survived on very few hours sleep each night, but Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf valued relaxation and downtime, Charles Darwin took time out fishing alongside his studying and writing, and Maya Angelou championed long baths, leisurely strolls and time spent on park benches, watching ants!

Reading this book is time well spent...