How often are you bored nowadays? This hour we take a look at the psychology of boredom to learn what's happening in our minds when we're bored, and if there's any benefit to it. Plus, a look at boredom through history and literature. And, what makes a movie boring?

GUESTS:
James Danckert: A Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Waterloo. He is co-author of Out of My Skull: The Psychology of Boredom
Peter Toohey: A Professor of Classics at the University of Calgary, and author of books including Boredom: A Lively History
Mary Mann: The College Archivist at The Cooper Union, and the author of Yawn: Adventures in Boredom
David Edelstein: America’s Greatest Living Film Critic

Music featured (in order):
No Rain – Blind Melon
Bored – Billie Eilish
One More Day – Todd Rundgren
Still I Dream Of It – The Beach Boys
Grand Ennui – Mike Nesmith
I’m Bored – Iggy Pop

How often are you bored nowadays? This hour we take a look at the psychology of boredom to learn what's happening in our minds when we're bored, and if there's any benefit to it. Plus, a look at boredom through history and literature. And, what makes a movie boring?
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>James Danckert: A Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Waterloo. He is co-author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jamesdanckert.com/book">Out of My Skull: The Psychology of Boredom</a></li>
<li>Peter Toohey:&nbsp;A Professor of Classics at the University of Calgary, and author of books including&nbsp;<a href="https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300172164/boredom/">Boredom: A Lively History</a></li>
<li>Mary Mann:&nbsp;The College Archivist at The Cooper Union, and the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mary-mann.com/bookandessays">Yawn: Adventures in Boredom</a></li>
<li>David Edelstein:&nbsp;America&rsquo;s Greatest Living Film Critic</li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qVPNONdF58">No Rain</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Blind Melon</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnGW8NR-toE">Bored</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Billie Eilish</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFiPaUmn8yk">One More Day</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Todd Rundgren</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/jBwjbXi8nDU">Still I Dream Of It</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The Beach Boys</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cYb4sOAp6A">Grand Ennui</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Mike Nesmith</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NuaK29J1fM">I&rsquo;m Bored</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Iggy Pop</li>
</ul>

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.