About the book

Author: Le Guin, Ursula K., 1929-

Title: No time to spare : Thinking about what matters

Publication: Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017. ISBN 9781328661593.

Not yet available in DAISY format. 280 pages in the paper edition.

About the story

I read this book in pre-publication, in PDF format, using NVDA.

This book is the “the best of” Ursula K. Le Guin’s blog, which I have been loving for years. It is divided into a number of different themes or blocks of essays:

  • “Going Over Eighty” (life as an older person),
  • “The Lit Biz” (life as an author),
  • “Trying to Make Sense of It” (showcasing her astute social observations), and
  • “The Rewards” (about things she enjoys).

Each block of essays is bookended by “The Annals of Pard” (short stories about a kitten and, later, a cat she adopted, whose personality she imbues with fiction-esque motivations and drama).

Throughout, she is funny, wise and trenchant, coming at each topic with her own inimitable point of view.

It’s masterful and delightful writing: a great read that will also make you think.

Like all her work, highly recommended.