On the Unseriousness of Human Affairs: Teaching, Writing, Playing, Believing, Lecturing, Philosophizing, Singing, Dancing by James V. Schall (ISI Books, US $24.95, 189 pages)

Most Interim readers are probably familiar with this old saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” There is a great deal of truth in this statement. If a person spent every waking moment of his and her life engrossed in long working hours, he or she would be missing out on many important aspects of life.

We all need to listen to music, write a poem, watch cartoons on television, or go dancing with a loved one. There has to be the occasional break in the monotony of our humdrum lives, or we would go crazy. By letting loose and having some fun, we can reach a true balance in life. In other words, to be a serious person, you also have to respect the unserious side of life.

James V. Schall, S.J., a professor of government at Georgetown University, beautifully discusses this sentiment in his newest book, On the Unseriousness of Human Affairs. As he notes in his introduction, “the ‘radical’ nature of this book, the essence of which is emphasized by the centrality of the word ‘unserious,’ is the effort to reaffirm the truth of the central tradition of our culture: man is not the highest thing in existence even though his being, as such, is good – and it is good to be. Recognizing this truth does not lessen human dignity but enhances it.”

But what do leisurely activities such as singing, dancing, and playing have to do with human affairs?

Absolutely everything. Schall takes a cue from G.K. Chesterton’s book What’s Wrong with the World, which includes the famous quote, “If a thing is worth doing, it’s worth doing badly.” It doesn’t matter if you have two left feet, or sing off-key, or can’t throw a baseball. The key principle is the act of participation, the need to relax, enjoy and be silly. Human beings are fallible (a revelation to some people, I’m sure); we are not machines, but rather imperfect creatures of varied emotions, thoughts, and desires. The imperfections many of us share often lead to laughter and pleasure. That’s why it is good to be.

In chapter after chapter, Schall illustrates a world full of happiness, joy and pure innocence. Skeptics of this position only have to take a closer look around them to see what they are truly missing. For instance, a short 11-page manuscript by Hilaire Beloc entitled The Path to Rome finds “the world of God to be jolly” as the author encounters a variety of eccentric academics. The important works of Josef Pieper are examined, a philosopher who believed that joy is a by-product of life and that “the true antithesis of love is not hate, but despairing indifference, the feeling that nothing is important.” Even an innocent New Yorker cartoon that humorously portrays baseball scores being broadcast on a television in a fashion worthy of daily stock market reports (“The combined total of major-league batting averages was down three and a half points today. Outs outnumbered hits four to one, on a total volume of fourteen hundred at-bats”) shows the subtle, albeit necessary, differences between play (or “sport”) and work.

On the Unseriousness of Human Affairs provides readers with philosophical words of advice on leisure and life from an eclectic series of muses. For example, Schall examines the serious scholarly works of Plato and Aristotle. He admires the sentiment shared by both classical philosophers that amusement and pleasure are important to the survival of mankind and the common good. At the same time, Schall is easily able to extract the Platonic virtues of humanity from the foibles of Charlie Brown, the popular Peanuts character known for his anxieties, poor kite flying abilities, and failure to kick a football. To paraphrase Chesterton, there is no reason that something true can’t also be funny at the same time!

There is much to enjoy in Schall’s book. Readers will begin to understand that a moral life combines elements such as work, play and leisure. To understand life’s simple pleasures, you have to experience life as our fathers and forefathers did. If nothing else, you will learn that there is nothing wrong with putting a little fun in your life, and a little life in your fun.

Michael Taube is a columnist for the Moncton Times & Transcript and Books in Canada.