Duh Bor-ring (Joseph Epstein) Analysis

Duh, Bor-ing is written by Joseph Epstein, a writer, essayist, and former editor for the Phi Beta Kappa Society's The American Scholar magazine. He writes for numerous publications, including The New York Times and The Atlantic Wire. This essay, specifically, is an in-depth description of boredom, as Joseph Epstein explores the particular sensations associated with it, its causes, and the positive impacts. Epstein draws from numerous books and papers, from as far back in history as Tacitus to most heavily relying on Peter Toohey's Boredom: A Lively History. Epstein's purpose is to relieve the negative stigma from boredom, and instead attempts to reveal the positive effects it can have on his audience, namely, all who experience bordeom. He says "If I am a useful example as one grows older, one often finds oneself more patient with boredom. Pressureless dull patches in life - bring them on" (7). To convey his message, the essay begins with a brief list of activities and subjects that aim to remind the reader of a time that they were bored (conversations about wine, discussions about the Internet, etc.). Epstein then follows with the argument that everyone has experienced the sensation of boredom, using the deductive reasoning that if scientists have discovered that animals can be bored, surely we are susceptible as well. Epstein then makes clear to his readers his personal experience with boredom, utilizing anecdotes from his own life, for example his time in a peacetime army when he could revel in "the sweetness, the luxuriousness of boredom" (3). Epstein also utilizes refutation in Duh, Bor-ing, quoting Lars Svendsen's A Philosophy of Boredom, a work that, according to Epstein, argues "boredom is the major spiritual problem of our day" (3). Epstein fairly explains Svendsen and other philosopher's negative views of boredom, and then seeks to identify the problem. With a slew of outside sources, Epstein first identifies the kinds of boredoms and their effect, and then presents its positive effects with another set of sources. With this organization and his exceptional evidence, Epstein effectively introduces the common opinion of boredom, effectively explains the emotion, and then seeks to see its positive aspects. To the reader, he abolishes the original negative arguments, and succeeds in conveying his purpose.

Sweet, Luxurious BoredomBoredom allows us to reflect on the world around us.
Image Source: Stuart Richards