Paperbacks: Queuing For Beginners, by Joe Moran

Friday 11 July 2008 00:00 BST

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The jokey title hides an intriguing investigation of everyday life. The insights of Moran, a lecturer in cultural history, range from mobile phones ("they have subtly altered the already fragile social dynamic of the train carriage") to the appeal of smoking: "an international wordless language". Exploring the day from breakfast through business meetings ("the most formal occasions in our daily lives") and drink ("the main purpose of pubs has rarely been to enjoy the taste of the beer") to bed ("sleeping cannot be outsourced"), he urges us to be "quotidian detectives excavating the buried meanings of the mundane".

PROFILE £8.99 (276PP)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Paperbacks: Queuing For Beginners, by Joe Moran

Join our commenting forum

Thank you for registering