Contents

Introduction: no rainbow without blues vii

Part i boredom, blahs, and blues:
the geography of night country

1 the boredom epidemic 3
2 a short history of the blues
and the noontide demon 16
3 life-styles: runners, fighters, and hiders 36
4 a map for psychonauts 42
5 fatigue: the personal energy crisis 48
6 simple boredom: monotony 59
7 chronic boredom 80
8 the deepening darkness: depression and apathy 102

Part ii the whole-some life

the upward spiral: a preview 115
9 the joyful art of doing nothing 117
10 breakout: beyond guilt and shame 127
11 the renewal of imagination and desire 136
12 feeling alive: unfreezing e-motions 143
13 risk taking 160
14 from sex to intimacy 178
15 the politics of depression and hope 198

Notes 220
Index 223

English