In this essay Priestly humorously, but with serious intent, argues in favor of periods of idleness as good for the soul and good for society.

The essay divides into three sections. In the first, Priestly's speaker writes praising a holiday he took with a friend on the moors, in which they did nothing but hike, eat, and lie on the grass, looking at the clouds. He found this to be a delightful and renewing vacation.

In the second part, he comes back from his holiday to declare, with mock horror, that he has been singled out for condemnation by a man named Mr. Selfridge. In actuality, Mr. Selfridge had not pointed out the narrator specifically, but in general criticized lazy people. The speaker pushes back, noting that idleness is a positive value and stating that, for example, if busy politicians had gone on vacation and done nothing in August 1914, a very bloody and costly war might have been avoided.

In the third part the narrator pivots to the Americans, who he says are very wealthy but very prone to working too much. He points out that the best of the American spirit has come from men like Thoreau, who pursued a simpler and more spiritual life in nature. He rounds back to the English poet Wordsworth as another example of a worthy person who chose a simple life.

Priestly uses vivid description to make idleness in a natural setting appealing, stating about the moor, for example:

there is subtle variety in its slowly changing patterns of cloud and shadow and tinted horizons, sufficient to keep up a flicker of interest in the mind all day.

He also uses humor to poke fun at those who are too uptight and concerned with toil, and in the end, makes a convincing argument for the positive aspects of slowing down and enjoying what life has to offer.