The Skiver's Guide — Diana Wynne Jones

Skiving is getting out of things you do not want to do. It is shirking work and avoiding all boring things. It is a skill no one should be without! It is also an art, which can be carried to a high pitch of perfection. This book is designed to help beginners learn the skills of skiving and also to help those who have been skiving for years to carry these skills to new heights. It is the result of over two decades of painful research and contains secrets not hitherto revealed.