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How to Live

A Life of Montaigne in one question and twenty attempts at an answer
By Sarah Bakewell
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
How to Live by Sarah Bakewell is an engaging exploration of the life and philosophy of Michel de Montaigne. Through a series of questions and vivid anecdotes, Bakewell delves into Montaigne's reflections on how to live well, providing insights that are both historical and deeply personal.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you enjoy biographies that delve into philosophical ideas. It explores the life of a famous philosopher and presents his thoughts in a way that's engaging and applicable to everyday life. Perfect for readers who appreciate deep, reflective narratives.

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The Essays was an instant bestseller, and over four hundred years later, readers still come to him in search of companionship, wisdom and entertainment - and in search of themselves.

Part biography, part self-help, an original, funny and moving portrait of Montaigne, Renaissance nobleman and essayist

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

How to Live by Sarah Bakewell is an extraordinary blend of biography and self-help, offering readers a captivating and insightful portrayal of the Renaissance nobleman and essayist, Michel Eyquem de Montaigne. This book intricately delves into Montaigne's life, illustrating how he grappled with profound questions that are still relevant today. How should one interact harmoniously with others? How should one confront and cope with the inevitability of violence? What is the way to navigate the intense grief of losing a loved one? Ultimately, Montaigne's enduring inquiry centred on one crucial question: How to live?

Sarah Bakewell's narrative vividly brings to life Montaigne's intellectual journey, tracing how his experiences and reflections shaped his groundbreaking essays. These essays, hailed for their free-roaming and deeply personal style, covered an eclectic range of subjects. Montaigne mused on his preferences for wine and food, recounted childhood memories, observed the twitching ears of his dreaming dog, and documented the grim realities of the civil wars surrounding him. Through these seemingly mundane yet profoundly thoughtful topics, Montaigne created a literary masterpiece that has since inspired countless readers.

The Essays, Montaigne's seminal work, gained immediate acclaim and has remained a timeless source of wisdom, companionship, and entertainment for over four centuries. Modern readers still turn to Montaigne not only to be entertained but to search for a deeper understanding of themselves and to find solace in his philosophical musings.

In How to Live, Sarah Bakewell presents the first comprehensive biography of Montaigne in English in nearly fifty years. She masterfully recounts Montaigne's life story through the prism of the questions he pondered and the answers he sought. With rich detail and a touch of humour, Bakewell explores his evolution from a Renaissance nobleman to one of the most influential thinkers in Western literature.

Engaging and thought-provoking, How to Live is a must-read for those fascinated by philosophical inquiry, historical biography, and the timeless quest for a meaningful life. Bakewell's work ensures that Montaigne's legacy continues to resonate, inviting readers to embark on their own journey of self-discovery and intellectual exploration.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

How to Live by Sarah Bakewell is highly praised for being a superb, spirited introduction to Montaigne. Critics commend Bakewell's splendidly conceived and exquisitely written biography, noting her marvellous confidence and clear presentation. The book is described as illuminating and humane, with Bakewell's fondness for her subject shining through, making it a delightful and intellectually lively read.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099485155

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 January 2011

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage

Illustration: 12

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 29.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 349g

Pages: 400

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Biography & Memoir In Stock Books Musicians, Movie Stars & Creative Biographies Non-Fiction Penguin Books Philosophy & Psychology Philosophy & Stoicism Sarah Bakewell

About the Author

Sarah Bakewell had a wandering childhood in Europe, Australia and England. After studying at the University of Essex, she was a curator of early printed books at the Wellcome Library before becoming a full-time writer, publishing her highly acclaimed biographies The Smart and The English Dane. She lives in London, where she teaches creative writing at City University and catalogues rare book collections for the National Trust. www.sarahbakewell.com

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