--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing books is a nice retreat. There's…" description: "\"Writing books is a nice retreat. There's nothing quite like diving into a book for a few hours. That is a big time vacation.\" — Padgett Powell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/padgett-powell-14196_big-time_writing-books-is-a-nice-retreat-there-s_1096159.png" --- # Writing books is a nice retreat. There's nothing quite… ![“Writing books is a nice retreat. There's nothing quite like diving into a book for a few hours. That is a big time vacation.” quote by Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/padgett-powell-14196_big-time_writing-books-is-a-nice-retreat-there-s_1096159.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/padgett-powell-14196_big-time_writing-books-is-a-nice-retreat-there-s_1096159.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/padgett-powell-14196_big-time_writing-books-is-a-nice-retreat-there-s_1096159.png) > “Writing books is a nice retreat. There's nothing quite like diving into a book for a few hours. That is a big time vacation.” [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading offers a mental escape, providing a temporary, immersive break from daily life. **In simple terms:** Books give a mental vacation. Key Takeaway Use reading to recharge. Themes literature escape mindfulness Mood relaxed thoughtful Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - commuting - stress relief - creative brainstorming - personal downtime Key Concepts psychology leisure cognitive reset Questions to Reflect On - How does reading change your mood? - What genre best restores your energy? A Different Perspective May not replace real rest; limited time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-time/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-hours-2859217/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-nice-2299166/) [Diving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diving/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Retreat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retreat/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Vacation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vacation/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing a book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-a-book/) [Writing Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-books-366652/) ## Related quotes > [“...The book of the hours - Tres Riche Heures - what did it matter when I had you?...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/the-book-of-the-hours-tres-riche-heures-what-did-it-matter-when-i-had/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [ That movie \[A Series of Unfortunate Events\] told four books in two hours, and we have two hours per book. So we have eight… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/that-movie-a-series-of-unfortunate-events-told-four-books-in-two/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [“When you lose yourself in a book the hours grow wings and fly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-thurlow/when-you-lose-yourself-in-a-book-the-hours-grow-wings-and-fly/) [Chloe Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-thurlow/) > [I hope I am not too old to take it up seriously, nor too stupid about machines to qualify as a commercial pilot. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-hope-i-am-not-too-old-to-take-it-up-seriously-nor-too-stupid-about/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Writing books is certainly a most unpleasant occupation. It is lonesome, unsanitary, and maddening. Many authors go crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/writing-books-is-certainly-a-most-unpleasant-occupation-it-is/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [There is the myth that writing books for children is easier than writing books for grownups, whereas we know that truly great books for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/there-is-the-myth-that-writing-books-for-children-is-easier-than/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [Fahrenheit 451 is one of those books that is about how amazing books are and how amazing the people who write books are. Writers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lieb/fahrenheit-451-is-one-of-those-books-that-is-about-how-amazing-books/) [Josh Lieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lieb/) > [Most established novelists are writing books informed by experiences gained in their youth. Middle age is not the best time to be changing smartphones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/most-established-novelists-are-writing-books-informed-by-experiences/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [I like writing books. I'd rather be at home with my wife. I can write, take a break, come out, have a glass of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/i-like-writing-books-i-d-rather-be-at-home-with-my-wife-i-can-write/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [And yes, there's a simplicity to writing books because you're not a member of a team, so you make all the decisions yourself instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cornwell/and-yes-there-s-a-simplicity-to-writing-books-because-you-re-not-a/) [Bernard Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cornwell/) > [If you were a fully realized person-whatever the hell that would be-you wouldn't fool around writing books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/if-you-were-a-fully-realized-person-whatever-the-hell-that-would-be/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [The fun one can have writing books about books is limitless, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/the-fun-one-can-have-writing-books-about-books-is-limitless-to-be/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [There are no grown-ups. We suspect this when we are younger, but can confirm it only once we are the ones writing books and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/there-are-no-grown-ups-we-suspect-this-when-we-are-younger-but-can/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) > [I began writing books after speaking for several years and I realize that when you have a written book people think that you're smarter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-began-writing-books-after-speaking-for-several-years-and-i-realize/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Nothing mattered ... but writing books, and living the kind of life that made it possible to write them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/nothing-mattered-but-writing-books-and-living-the-kind-of-life-that/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) ## More by Padgett Powell > [If you could have a famous writer, dead or alive, write an obituary for you and really puff you up to have been something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/if-you-could-have-a-famous-writer-dead-or-alive-write-an-obituary-for/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [That's part of fiction, creating a world better than the one you live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/that-s-part-of-fiction-creating-a-world-better-than-the-one-you-live/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [I don't know any more about America than one knows being trapped in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/i-don-t-know-any-more-about-america-than-one-knows-being-trapped-in-it/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [I've had an addiction for a long time to the whole business of maximizing one's potential, what I call human activation. The vehicle for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/i-ve-had-an-addiction-for-a-long-time-to-the-whole-business-of/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [“the zombies, after all, were pretty slow to appreciate someone other than themselves, and they had been schooled not to denigrate the different. --Mrs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/the-zombies-after-all-were-pretty-slow-to-appreciate-someone-other/) [padgett powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [Even if you're the worst writer in the world, at least you'll have the evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/even-if-you-re-the-worst-writer-in-the-world-at-least-you-ll-have-the/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [“don't hesitate to insulate your house, especially the floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/don-t-hesitate-to-insulate-your-house-especially-the-floor/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [“ease up. the day was rued when we came upon it, or when it came upon us, and beheld us marring the horizon, sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/ease-up-the-day-was-rued-when-we-came-upon-it-or-when-it-came-upon-us/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [“apply shingles from the bottom up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/apply-shingles-from-the-bottom-up/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [Life is a sandwich of activity between two periods of bed-wetting,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/life-is-a-sandwich-of-activity-between-two-periods-of-bed-wetting/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [I knew I was supposed to be a writer; I had made that declaration in the closet of my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/i-knew-i-was-supposed-to-be-a-writer-i-had-made-that-declaration-in/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [“Now she understood a few things: that the American academy, which one might have thought the place to defend freedom of speech, had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/now-she-understood-a-few-things-that-the-american-academy-which-one/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [“A whole section of the family tree is pruned and primped and assessed as I politely sit there. Overall, I detect that the tree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/a-whole-section-of-the-family-tree-is-pruned-and-primped-and-assessed/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [Have you come over time to think that you know more now than you did when you were young, know less now than when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/have-you-come-over-time-to-think-that-you-know-more-now-than-you-did/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [Cholesterol to go with alcohol; all the bad things in English-speaking life end in -ol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/cholesterol-to-go-with-alcohol-all-the-bad-things-in-english-speaking/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) [Explore all 47 Padgett Powell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) ## More Big time quotes > [I've read about all the sales today. If you're an auto dealer, you're feeling it. If you're a furniture retailer like we are, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-ve-read-about-all-the-sales-today-if-you-re-an-auto-dealer-you-re/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The way social media is now, and people are with cameras - we all live different lives whether you're in the spotlight or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-andrews/the-way-social-media-is-now-and-people-are-with-cameras-we-all-live/) [Erin Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-andrews/) > [The biggest fool to hit the big time and all I've got to do is act naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-owens/the-biggest-fool-to-hit-the-big-time-and-all-i-ve-got-to-do-is-act/) [Buck Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-owens/) > [Never give up or you are big time jabroni.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-iron-sheik/never-give-up-or-you-are-big-time-jabroni/) [The Iron Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-iron-sheik/) > [“There is no playing safe with me any longer. I only take huge risks. I know this means I can lose big time, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sahndra-fon-dufe/there-is-no-playing-safe-with-me-any-longer-i-only-take-huge-risks-i/) [Sahndra Fon Dufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sahndra-fon-dufe/) > [I always love stories that do a big time leap where the past informs the present, where you find out what became of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-jones/i-always-love-stories-that-do-a-big-time-leap-where-the-past-informs/) [Ruth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-jones/) > [This is why I signed with the Patriots - to play in these big-time games and the obvious reason, which is the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrelle-revis/this-is-why-i-signed-with-the-patriots-to-play-in-these-big-time/) [Darrelle Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrelle-revis/) > [I had some interesting costumes... the one that I remember right offhand is Zorro when I was a lot younger. I was a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-had-some-interesting-costumes-the-one-that-i-remember-right-offhand/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I knw most of u wonder why I use 'LOL' when I dont laugh a lot... awky mayb I do laugh big time, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/i-knw-most-of-u-wonder-why-i-use-lol-when-i-dont-laugh-a-lot-awky/) [Aruho Marwin Machiaveli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/) > [And being gay isn't so easy, either I've always said that if anyone ever thought I was straight they must need glasses - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/and-being-gay-isn-t-so-easy-either-i-ve-always-said-that-if-anyone/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [The mistake the apartheid government made was they gave the black people nothing, so they had nothing to lose. But now a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/the-mistake-the-apartheid-government-made-was-they-gave-the-black/) [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) > [Joining another big time rock band was the last thing I was looking for, but as the tour went on, I really dug playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cameron/joining-another-big-time-rock-band-was-the-last-thing-i-was-looking/) [Matt Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cameron/) > [Nowadays, television has taken over big time and I'm really enjoying my stints there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyamani/nowadays-television-has-taken-over-big-time-and-i-m-really-enjoying/) [Priyamani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyamani/) > [Chinese movies are not just about making Chinese local movies. It's about the Chinese money, the Chinese creativeness participating in a global movie. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-zheng-wu/chinese-movies-are-not-just-about-making-chinese-local-movies-it-s/) [Bruno Zheng Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-zheng-wu/) > [Well, Rush, look what happened? 9/11 happened, and we didn't know it in advance. That's right, we got hit, we got hit big time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/well-rush-look-what-happened-9-11-happened-and-we-didn-t-know-it-in/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) [Browse all 281 Big time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing books is a nice retreat. There's nothing quite like diving into a book for a few hours. 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