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The Monocle Book of Gentle Living
A timely handbook helping readers think about how to slow down, reconnect, and live a gentler life. Monocle has always been a champion of taking it slow. Past issues have encouraged readers to dive into a lake and go for a run. To sleep well. To eat food made with love. Even today, in a tense moment in history, the magazine has done its bit to argue for a new modern etiquette where communities are generous with their time, hospitality, and forgiveness. Now its editors and correspondents have brought all of this together into one volume with The Monocle Manifesto for a Gentler Life, a book that urges us all to slow down, reconnect, make good things, and think about the spaces we call home. Some of the highlights of this volume An illustrated guide to being nice, respecting your neighbors, and controlling your social media rants; practical tips on how to design a house that’s good for you and your family; Q&As with the people who have decided to take a gentler approach to work and living; and a celebration of locally made food—with featured recipes—as well as the chefs that bring people together. The helpful tips and insights in this guide make it the perfect handbook for anyone looking to slow down and enjoy life. Illustrated in color throughout.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published January 5, 2021
37 people are currently reading
890 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 4, 2021
Spent a lot of time while reading this trying to articulate to myself Monocle’s political & aesthetic agenda. It’s like some Northern European liberal capitalist utopian vision where shit’s really expensive but we don’t talk about it. I like really good sourdough and leather shoes too but it’s not much of an ethical stance. I’m also being entirely too critical of what is effectively a coffee table book. 3 stars for the manifesto about ocean swimming and subtle sheltering sky references.
September 28, 2020
Monocle is a slightly guilty pleasure of mine. I’ve been a fan since the first issue of the magazine, which I came to via Tyler Brûlé, whose FT Fast Lane column (latterly relaunched in a Monocle email newsletter format as Faster Lane) fascinated me for years. For the longest time, I believed Tyler to be satirical caricature, and then only grew more interested when I realised he was real.
I’m a Monocle subscriber, but I don’t think I’m the target demographic: I’m never going to spend £435 on a pair of high-end curling boots, nor £750 on a shell jacket, nor £665 on a tweed cardigan, no matter how much they try and push them on readers of their journalism. But I do love reading and listening to their intelligent discussions of UK and world affairs, and I get a little thrill out of knowing that there are people out there who can write hundreds of words of copy on the colour temperature of the lighting on the latest European rolling stock.
So I bought the Monocle Guide to Gentler Living (the name has changed from the pre-publication title on this Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ entry) as a bit of COVID escapism, and it was perfect for that. It is essentially a long, themed edition of the magazine, with lavish photography and illustrations, stripped of display-ads and hard-bound. There’s very little detail and substance to any of it, but it does sort of come together to make a coherent set of ideas about slowing down in life. (Think: three paragraphs on why train travel is better than flying, followed by one sentence on each of five “best rail journeysâ€�, accompanied by lovely photographs; some blurb on giving up high powered jobs for “the better lifeâ€�, with accompanying three-paragraph case studies; a section on fashion with a page dedicated to why one should own a t-shirt—any t-shirt—which consists of a stylish photo of a t-shirt and about fifty words of text).
It’s light, fluffy, and totally escapist. I took virtually nothing from it, but really enjoyed it nonetheless. So much, in fact, that I’ve picked up another of the Monocle books in a recent sale.
I’m a Monocle subscriber, but I don’t think I’m the target demographic: I’m never going to spend £435 on a pair of high-end curling boots, nor £750 on a shell jacket, nor £665 on a tweed cardigan, no matter how much they try and push them on readers of their journalism. But I do love reading and listening to their intelligent discussions of UK and world affairs, and I get a little thrill out of knowing that there are people out there who can write hundreds of words of copy on the colour temperature of the lighting on the latest European rolling stock.
So I bought the Monocle Guide to Gentler Living (the name has changed from the pre-publication title on this Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ entry) as a bit of COVID escapism, and it was perfect for that. It is essentially a long, themed edition of the magazine, with lavish photography and illustrations, stripped of display-ads and hard-bound. There’s very little detail and substance to any of it, but it does sort of come together to make a coherent set of ideas about slowing down in life. (Think: three paragraphs on why train travel is better than flying, followed by one sentence on each of five “best rail journeysâ€�, accompanied by lovely photographs; some blurb on giving up high powered jobs for “the better lifeâ€�, with accompanying three-paragraph case studies; a section on fashion with a page dedicated to why one should own a t-shirt—any t-shirt—which consists of a stylish photo of a t-shirt and about fifty words of text).
It’s light, fluffy, and totally escapist. I took virtually nothing from it, but really enjoyed it nonetheless. So much, in fact, that I’ve picked up another of the Monocle books in a recent sale.
January 17, 2022
A collection of generic, gentle advice to live your life healthier and happier.
Is there a lot of useful information here? Of course not, that is not the point. This book goes for the right aesthetic and vibes over anything else. And to be fair, the vibes are immaculate.
Is there a lot of useful information here? Of course not, that is not the point. This book goes for the right aesthetic and vibes over anything else. And to be fair, the vibes are immaculate.
February 5, 2025
Gloriously aspirational
August 29, 2022
Back in 2015 I was at a lunch with a graphic designer and web developer and they were both toting copies of Monocle magazine. “Monocle magazine?� I asked. “Isn’t that the $25 magazine full of Rolex ads for rich people in airports?� Well, they said, sure, but it’s also a real pinnacle of design. I learned Monocle is a globally based brand run by Tyler Brûlé, a Torontonian living in Zurich. I started reading and the voice was powerful � like some kind of enlightened, pithy, smartass? They call themselves a ‘briefing on global affairs, business, culture, design and more� for a globally minded audience. They have 24,000 magazine subscribers and (unlike almost every magazine in the world) it’s growing. Plus their own little shops in Zürich, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Tokyo. This is a side-project coffee table book series and it’s well worth buying to flip through. Captivating photos, literary captions, and an air of authority. Feels like having a leisurely lunch at the Four Seasons rooftop with your jet-setting pal. The advice is solid, though, with suggestions on everything from simple gardening gear to get back into nature (and how to pull off an incredible garden on an apartment balcony) to spotlights on local bakeries and bookstores. Fun!
Read
June 10, 2023This is a pretty nice lifestyle sheet containing some thoughtful suggestions on how society could institute a gentler, slower, more holistic way of life for its denizens.
Proposed ideas for corporate offices include 4 day workweeks, cafeteria presence, clarified roles and obligations instead of hyperbolic jargon, convivial human presence in the administrative side, support and appreciation for sanitation staff, and pet visits.
City planning could incorporate ideas such as the recurring presence of benches for people to sit in and take in and admire the street sights, fountains and other water focal features for people to convene around, parks and greenery, ample infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians, and urban squares with ice cream shops that encourage comingling.
Personal changes for slower living include learning new hobbies such as drawing, music, collecting or diary-keeping; reading books in a relishing manner; nurturing houseplants; traveling in a meandering manner that values the journey and spontaneity as well as the terminal destination.
Proposed ideas for corporate offices include 4 day workweeks, cafeteria presence, clarified roles and obligations instead of hyperbolic jargon, convivial human presence in the administrative side, support and appreciation for sanitation staff, and pet visits.
City planning could incorporate ideas such as the recurring presence of benches for people to sit in and take in and admire the street sights, fountains and other water focal features for people to convene around, parks and greenery, ample infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians, and urban squares with ice cream shops that encourage comingling.
Personal changes for slower living include learning new hobbies such as drawing, music, collecting or diary-keeping; reading books in a relishing manner; nurturing houseplants; traveling in a meandering manner that values the journey and spontaneity as well as the terminal destination.
September 3, 2021
Monocle is a periodical that is geared toward a young and moneyed population. They publish the occasional monograph on how to live well. This is one that seeks to show readers how to slow down and enjoy life at a more relaxed pace.
Chapter titles include: Dress with care, Get lost, and Find a balance.
Their ideas include moving to relaxed cities such as Thessaloniki, Greece, or Locarno, Switzerland.
For those of us toiling away, these goals are probably not realistic, but it’s still a fun read. And one can dream, can’t they?
Chapter titles include: Dress with care, Get lost, and Find a balance.
Their ideas include moving to relaxed cities such as Thessaloniki, Greece, or Locarno, Switzerland.
For those of us toiling away, these goals are probably not realistic, but it’s still a fun read. And one can dream, can’t they?
March 23, 2023
I received this for my birthday as a coffee table book that I was interested in and ending up reading it cover to cover. I found it to be very grounding while covering a wide variety of lifestyle topics. Excited to employ many of the concepts to my own life!
July 21, 2021
A Bougerious read for the digital age.
January 9, 2022
A beautiful book full of wisdom
October 1, 2024
Some parts of The Monocle Book of Gentle Living were quite good, and others were a bit far fetched.
December 31, 2024
A nice little coffee table book that’s also fun to read and has some good content. Certainly nothing cosmic, but I enjoyed it.
January 3, 2025
Beautiful pictures and all but the overall message of the book is that it's easier to live a gentle life if you are rich in a first place
August 14, 2023
Delightful. A life-affirming book of daily pleasures and indulgences. And a beautiful artefact to hold and flick through.
Tips I took away
Smile at your neighbours, maybe even gift them a bottle a wine.
Shop at your local shops or markets (like that nut and grain seller you’ve been meaning to visit).
Get a dog.
Do a job you like, or make it more enjoyable such as by walking to work.
Create a nice environment for your team and treat them well.
Resole your shoes and buy fixable things in general.
Invest in things that make you appreciate being in your home - it’s your own little world.
Own things that make you happy.
Start a side project � it makes you more interesting, like a builder who writes plays or an urban planner who runs a fashion business.
Give handwritten notes and cards - they will bring joy to the reader who rereads them years from now.
Learn a skill � a language; an instrument.
Go paddle boarding.
Ride a bike � to work; to another village.
Find a hideaway � a home away from home.
Join a club � memberships make you happy (as proved by your book club).
Go to the movies.
Frequent your local restaurant.
Host friends and family in your home; cook them a wonderful meal.
Stock your pantry with easy meals, and wine.
Perfect a dish � or many.
Start a company, a club or a collection � something, anything!
Buy art as an investment in your emotional well-being.
Read a book in a comfortable chair overlooking the shore with a dog at your feet.
Build a library as a collection of places you’ve been.
Check out these titles � My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell; Life is Good by Alex Capis; The Summer Book by Tove Jansson; Modern Nature by Derek Jarman.
Watch Il Postino by Michael Radford.
Practice learning your favourite songs.
Build a collection that is unique to you.
Get some bread, some butter, spread it on � enjoy.
Build up a culinary repertoire your friends come to know you by.
Try these recipes by Swiss chef Ralph Schelling � crab toast with lemon aioli; rigatoni with pistachio pesto and sun-dried tomato; Sunday brioche; panzanella (Tuscan bread salad).
Create gentle cities: streetscapes with shared space, seating for people-watching, and fountains; add nature, make walking joyful and squares the centre of social life; keep the old and add the new � the patina of age and varied buildings from different eras give cities their unique appeal.
Add activity to your daily life � ride a bike to work, which can make your commute more pleasurable.
Make joining a club a small but meaningful part of your social life � an interest you share with others, even once a month, can make a difference.
Balance your work and life � experiment with a side project you are interested in, rethink ways your job may fulfil a sense of meaning in your life, take time for meals with friends and family, enjoy the social life of making and maintaining friends in the office.
Start a business based on a yearning to create something.
Create a healthy workplace � try a shorter week, hire people who are both qualified and pleasant to socialise with, and go for coffee-breaks or share a meal.
Tips I took away
Smile at your neighbours, maybe even gift them a bottle a wine.
Shop at your local shops or markets (like that nut and grain seller you’ve been meaning to visit).
Get a dog.
Do a job you like, or make it more enjoyable such as by walking to work.
Create a nice environment for your team and treat them well.
Resole your shoes and buy fixable things in general.
Invest in things that make you appreciate being in your home - it’s your own little world.
Own things that make you happy.
Start a side project � it makes you more interesting, like a builder who writes plays or an urban planner who runs a fashion business.
Give handwritten notes and cards - they will bring joy to the reader who rereads them years from now.
Learn a skill � a language; an instrument.
Go paddle boarding.
Ride a bike � to work; to another village.
Find a hideaway � a home away from home.
Join a club � memberships make you happy (as proved by your book club).
Go to the movies.
Frequent your local restaurant.
Host friends and family in your home; cook them a wonderful meal.
Stock your pantry with easy meals, and wine.
Perfect a dish � or many.
Start a company, a club or a collection � something, anything!
Buy art as an investment in your emotional well-being.
Read a book in a comfortable chair overlooking the shore with a dog at your feet.
Build a library as a collection of places you’ve been.
Check out these titles � My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell; Life is Good by Alex Capis; The Summer Book by Tove Jansson; Modern Nature by Derek Jarman.
Watch Il Postino by Michael Radford.
Practice learning your favourite songs.
Build a collection that is unique to you.
Get some bread, some butter, spread it on � enjoy.
Build up a culinary repertoire your friends come to know you by.
Try these recipes by Swiss chef Ralph Schelling � crab toast with lemon aioli; rigatoni with pistachio pesto and sun-dried tomato; Sunday brioche; panzanella (Tuscan bread salad).
Create gentle cities: streetscapes with shared space, seating for people-watching, and fountains; add nature, make walking joyful and squares the centre of social life; keep the old and add the new � the patina of age and varied buildings from different eras give cities their unique appeal.
Add activity to your daily life � ride a bike to work, which can make your commute more pleasurable.
Make joining a club a small but meaningful part of your social life � an interest you share with others, even once a month, can make a difference.
Balance your work and life � experiment with a side project you are interested in, rethink ways your job may fulfil a sense of meaning in your life, take time for meals with friends and family, enjoy the social life of making and maintaining friends in the office.
Start a business based on a yearning to create something.
Create a healthy workplace � try a shorter week, hire people who are both qualified and pleasant to socialise with, and go for coffee-breaks or share a meal.
April 11, 2022
I saw this book in my Facebook feed. The title spoke to me because I've been trying to live a more gentle life. I won't incorporate everything in this book and some of the suggestions I've already implemented but this is a great starting place for those looking to find a life/work balance and attempting to slow down while still being gentle with ourselves.
August 5, 2023
the book is definitely beautiful! and I think I loved the setting and the experience of reading it more than its contents. but, honestly, there was nothing to expect - this is just a book collecting basic life advice, and mostly these texts are good, they are just too generic to be super valuable. I guess 3 is the maximum for this kind of books and that’s ok!
May 22, 2021
If you're a fan of Monocle magazine, then I can't see you not enjoying this. Beautifully packaged, and a good read.
January 3, 2021
Could do with a tiny bit more explanation of *how* to achieve the lifestyles displayed here, but it's nice aspirational porn nonetheless.
August 10, 2021
The concept of slow living is basically a conservatism re-branded for millennials. Which is great, enjoyed the read.
September 5, 2021
My new goal: Gentle Living 🥰
December 11, 2021
Not all suggestion I can apply in my life, but at least it made me realize how to enjoy my life, gentle living in my own.
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