Читать книгу The Little Book of Otter Philosophy - Jennifer McCartney - Страница 9

Stressed? Overworked? No time for play? There must be an otter way!

Otters are some of the most delightful animals on the planet. These long, lean, furry creatures embody pure joy in so many ways. What other species builds water slides for fun? Or holds hands with their friends just because? Or wraps themselves in seaweed, so they can nap without floating away? These intelligent, water-dwelling mammals are not only an essential part of the world’s (and YouTube’s) ecosystem, they also have a lot to teach us about the way we live.

In a world obsessed with work and productivity, otters are a reminder about the importance of play.* They’re fun, lively animals that love a good laugh with friends. They don’t give a shit about deadlines, or who ate the last bonbon or how many emails are in their inbox. Hell, they don’t really stress about anything. ‘Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game’ is their motto (and Michael Jordan’s). They resist the assumption that being an adult requires a serious, no-nonsense attitude. They embrace playtime like it’s their job. They laugh and chatter and take group naps together, to-do lists be damned. And they’ve also been on this planet in some form or another for around 6 million years – a testament to the value of their way of life, surely? In a world that often feels isolating and lonely, where hard work and productivity are valued above all else, it’s high time we recognised the wisdom of these joyful, friendly animals.

If you’ve been paying attention to the internet or been to the zoo in recent years, you’re likely a bit envious of the otter already. We’ve all seen videos of otters holding hands, playing with balls and nibbling sea urchins (and I mean literally everyone has seen them – these videos have 40 billion views). And everyone from your mum to your best friend sends you otter GIFs, otter birthday cards and links to articles about otters doing cute things. ‘Look!’ we seem to be saying, ‘Look at this joy! Share this joy with me!’ But perhaps we’re also wondering: is this kind of joy really possible? Well, the otter philosophy is here to tell you that it is. And the PLAY method will show you how. So, what’s their secret? Why are they so happy? What can we learn from these slippery little joy weasels? Read on, and wonder no more.

The Little Book of Otter Philosophy is packed with otter science, studies on friendship (friends can help you live longer), napping and playfulness (play can keep you feeling younger), quotes, original poems and quizzes to help you live life like you otter.† With chapters on love and friendship, food and drink, leisure and pleasure, work and school, home and the environment and health and happiness, it’ll show you how best to incorporate the otter philosophy into every aspect of your life. Plus, the PLAY philosophy will offer a quick and easy way to remember what you’ve learned. So get ready to reclaim your joy and have a bit of otterly good fun. More fun than a barrel of monkeys, in fact.‡

* Remember when everyone lost their minds over adult colouring books? We’re desperate for fun.

† Numerous otter puns are also included for your enjoyment.

‡ Otters out-fun monkeys by any measure. Sorry, Curious George.