The Busy Trap

By Tim Kreider

Part One: Pre-Reading

1. Would you describe yourself as busy, too busy or not busy enough?

2. Looking at the title, what do you imagine this essay will be about?

Part Two: Reading at Home

A: Suggest a synonymous word or phrase for each of the items below as it is used in the context of the arti-
cle.

1. Para 1: stock

2. Para 2: lamented

3. Para 3: ditch

4. Para 5: hysteria

5. Para 5: acquiescence

6. Para 5: ruefully

7. Para 6: hedge

8. Para 6: tangible

9. Para 8: insidiously

10. Para 10: indulgence

11. Para 11: divorce

12. Para 12: indolence

13. Para 12: resolute

B: Clarification Questions (After reading the article, what are you unsure about? Prepare at least two ques-
tions to ask in class.)

1.

2.
Part Three: In Class
A: Comprehension Quiz (Pretty easy questions, if you’ve read the article!)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

B: Teacher Talking Time

C: Group Discussion Questions

1. ‘Almost everyone I know is busy. They feel anxious and guilty when they aren’t either working or doing
something to promote their work.’ (Para 3) How true is this for you and the people you know?

2. ‘Busyness serves as a kind of existential reassurance, a hedge against emptiness; obviously your life can-
not be silly or trivial or meaningless if you are so busy.’ (Para 6) To what extent do you agree with the
author? Do you think there are any other reasons why people like to be or to be seen as busy?

3. ‘Idleness is not just a vacation, an indulgence or a vice; it is as indispensable to the brain at vitamin D is
to the body.’ (Para 22) To what extent do you agree with the author? Why? Provide examples to support
your opinion.

4. ‘I’ve always understood that the best investment of my limited time on earth was to spend it with people
I love. I suppose it’s possible I’ll lie on my deathbed regretting that I didn’t work harder but . . . .’ (Para
12) To what extent do you agree with the author? If you died tomorrow what would you regret?