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How to Live a Good Life

By: Massimo Pigliucci - editor, Skye Cleary - editor, Daniel Kaufman - editor
Narrated by: Massimo Pigliucci, Skye Cleary, Susan Denaker, Daniel Kaufman
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Summary

A collection of essays by 15 philosophers presenting a thoughtful, introductory guide to choosing a philosophy for living an examined and meaningful life. A Vintage original

Socrates famously said "the unexamined life is not worth living," but what does it mean to truly live philosophically?

This thought-provoking, wide-ranging collection brings together essays by 15 leading philosophers reflecting on what it means to live according to a philosophy of life. From Eastern philosophies (Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism) and classical Western philosophies (such as Aristotelianism and Stoicism), to the four major religions, as well as contemporary philosophies (such as existentialism and effective altruism), each contributor offers a lively, personal account of how they find meaning in the practice of their chosen philosophical tradition.

Together, the pieces in How to Live a Good Life provide not only a beginner's guide to choosing a life philosophy but also a timely portrait of what it means to live an examined life in the 21st century.

©2020 Massimo Pigliucci, Skye Cleary, and Daniel Kaufman (P)2020 Random House Audio
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Critic reviews

"An anthology of philosophical and religious approaches to the question ‘How ought I to live?’ may sound like heavy going, but the editors have chosen contributors who are able to present the views they favor in a style that is not only clear and informative, but in many cases, entertaining as well. This is an excellent introduction to the field of ‘philosophies of life.'" (Peter Singer, author of The Most Good You Can Do)

"Philosophy professors Pigliucci, Cleary, and Kaufman deliver on their goal of providing a ‘glimpse of how the world looks through [the] respective lenses’ of 15 major philosophies in this anthology featuring an impressive array of contributors.... Readers interested in thinking more about their life-choices and options for change will be grateful for this practical guide to, as the authors write in their conclusion, the ‘possibilities to learn from, ponder, and perhaps adopt.’" (Publishers Weekly)

"How to Live a Good Life is a fantastic book. I dare anyone not to do something differently in their daily life at least once after reading it.... It’s a wonderful summary of the collected wisdom of humanity in a highly readable book of less than 300 pages. You can dip in and out of it when the mood takes you. Also, it’s written by scholars, so while these are obviously summaries, none offer glib advice on how [insert philosophy] can change your life, though I expect some of them maybe can.” (Sophie Roelle, "Best Nonfiction Books of 2020", FiveBooks.com)

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loved it

I'm on my 2nd listen. It's a wonderful book, beautifully narrated and with all of the content that appeals to the philosophical mind. Quite firmly added to my favourites.

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