The Knowledge Base is a collection of entries that forward the philosophy of Abidance.
Knowledge Base
Editor of the Idler Magazine and founder of London’s Idler Academy, Hodgkinson provides pedigreed instructions on how to…
Classic modern stoner comedy that redefined the genre
The painter of “happy little trees” accidentally became a spiritual counselor to millions
Mel Brooks’ groundbreaking film of potty humor hid trenchant commentary in its volatile stew
The founder of Cynicism, which is not as cynical (by today’s definition) as it sounds. It’s actually pretty life-affirmi…
This double entry covers two similar ancient Greek philosophies, both of which counseled simpler ways of living
Jeff Bridges’ and his Zen teacher Bernie Glassman’s enlightening dudecratic dialogue on The Big Lebowski and Zen
Hitchhiked his way into our hearts with his deep and hilarious novels
The American school of philosophy that gave rise to great writers and thinkers like Emerson, Thoreau and Whitman
The smartest dude in history is also one of the most easygoing
Alan Watts’ final book, and perhaps his most powerful. Covers Taoism with wit and insight.
Viktor Frankl’s philosophy was formed in the furnace of the Holocaust. If he could survive that, we can survive lesser d…
The religion for those opposed to religion is a lot of fun and helps to illuminate the shortcomings of many human belief…
The seminal book that explained Dudeism to the world.
The oldest currently-existing mass religion in the world has been misunderstood and transmogrified, but it contains one…
John C. Parkin’s profanely profound look at spirituality
A philosophy that states that the morally correct action is that which produces the most good.
The cutup emerges victorious in this paean to believing in yourself
The Ancient Greek philosophy that posited that the way to happiness was not to hold any fixed judgments
The highest profile book of the Beat Generation and still one of its most relevant today
Though mistaken for overindulgence today, Hedonism was a rational approach to life that, like Epicureanism, was far deep…
Once one of the most popular Western philosophies, and a cornerstone of Dudeism.
One of the most philosophical comedians in history, and a major proponent for freedom of speech.
The version of Buddhism that aimed to jettison dogma and consequently appealed to Western intellectuals.
The Coen brothers’ insightful look at capitalism and creativity
One of the 20th century’s most philosophical and humanistic musicians
The grand overarching philosophy of which the poses (asanas) are only a small part
Wes Nisker’s classic tome on spirituality, widsom, comedy and craziness.
Pema Chodron, one of the foremost Western Buddhist teachers helps make Buddhism accessible and practical
Bill Murray investigates Nietzsche’s philosophy of eternal recurrence. Well, sort of.
An esoteric branch of Christianity that places emphasis on the mystic path of the seeking individual, rather than via a…
Hoff ingeniously employed the classic Pooh children’s tales to help illustrate Taoism for the modern man (or bear).
Bill Murray’s unique adaptation of the Somerset Maugham tale of a spiritual seeker