Outskirts Press, INC.

The Rocky Path to Enlightenment is Built One Small Project at a Time

Wry, wise, literate and short, The Laws of Small Projects sets out immutable laws about small projects that fill the gap in human understanding left by the sages Parkinson, Peter and Murphy half a century ago. With several droll cartoons, it illuminates what small projects can teach us about ourselves and the meaning of life. In the sharp-edged busyness of our modern lives it’s hard to relate to the wisdom of the ancient Zen proverb: chop wood, carry water. Those simple tasks have been relegated to a weekend at the cabin and long-bearded survivalists in plaid shirts. We are often overwhelmed by the tyranny of our to-do lists. Would it be better to set aside time to do nothing, an age-old practice now gaining renewed popularity? Still, you will be drawn into projects that are beyond your competency—there’s nothing more exciting than working on a steep learning curve—but that’s not a formula for quick, efficient, error-free results.