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susssu's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
alisonwhite01's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
This is a book for those who want to engage with and treasure what is important in life and in death. It’s not a self help book (far from it), but a philosophy and a blueprint for life. Derren is a philosopher and a psychologist and extremely well read in both disciplines. He has a deep understanding of human flaws and capabilities and how to break free of the stories we tell ourselves that stop us living an authentic life. Essential reading.
immyhodges's review against another edition
2.0
Happy to be finished with it! 557 pages was long but i did enjoy hearing about stoicism
lisacerezo's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I’ve spent just over a year working my way through this book, stopping multiple times to absorb what I had read, and honestly, postponing the section dealing with death. I bought this book because I am a huge fan of Derren’s work and how he thinks, and this book cultivated a deeper appreciation in me of how his mind works. He approaches emotionally-charged topics of life with his customary logic and talent for examination, and brings the reader along on the journey. He provides many helpful resources for further study as well, which I appreciated. I found myself stopping frequently and taking notes for the benefit of my future self, as if I were taking a class. The experience of working my way through this book has certainly improved my mental wellness and my outlook on life. I expect I may come back to it a few more times as life goes on. Additionally, I highly recommend following along while listening to the audiobook, as it is narrated by Derren himself and lends another layer of appreciation to the experience.
martinr71's review against another edition
3.0
Very very deep and not the book I was expecting. If it wasn't for the odd occurrences of Brown's humour throughout I don't think I would have reached the end at all. The second half was a slightly easier read to the first half.
creech's review against another edition
4.0
This is a year’s revision and addition away from being a landmark masterpiece. A lot of great stuff and interesting takes and use of stories ideas. But requires more to be a perennial seller
gigahurt's review against another edition
4.0
This book is about how to live a good life. More then anything else, it takes from the stoic perspective, but unlike many of the books I have read on stoicism it also sprinkles in thinking from other sources.
The first 30% of the book was basically a brief history of philosophy, or at least the pieces that relate to happiness. Though laborious to get through, I understand its inclusion. To me it serves as a credential for the author as someone who not only creates compelling TV specials, but does so from an informed place. You will likely find it boring if 'how to live' or philosophy have been your preoccupation for a long time.
The remainder of the book was easier to get through. It touches on a variety of subjects, though I think the writing on death was the most compelling. Here are the main points I appreciated:
- "It is up to us to bring the story to a close by recognizing it as such. If a person knows she is dying, I would suggest that she needs from her loved ones every opportunity to take stock of her story and bring it to a meaningful end."
- "the top five regrets of the dying. They were: I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. I wish that I had let myself be happier."
- How to Age by Anne Karpf: "‘We can think of ourselves like wine connoisseurs laying down bottles that will improve with age; similarly we can try to foster in ourselves qualities that deepen and enrich over the years.’
- "Then, if for a while I think and feel like you (perhaps while looking at a photograph of you or contemplating how you would behave in a certain situation), I am approximating in my body your brain pattern, at least a rough version of your ‘self’. It won’t ever be quite you, but I can be you with, Hofstadter would say, a ‘Derren’ accent. [..] We resurrect our loved ones whenever we find ourselves thinking and feeling like them. [..] And the closer we are to them, the more we understand them, the more accurate that blueprint will be."
- The concept of good-enough parents. I can't help but think I need to be more of a good enough boss and mentor.
The first 30% of the book was basically a brief history of philosophy, or at least the pieces that relate to happiness. Though laborious to get through, I understand its inclusion. To me it serves as a credential for the author as someone who not only creates compelling TV specials, but does so from an informed place. You will likely find it boring if 'how to live' or philosophy have been your preoccupation for a long time.
The remainder of the book was easier to get through. It touches on a variety of subjects, though I think the writing on death was the most compelling. Here are the main points I appreciated:
- "It is up to us to bring the story to a close by recognizing it as such. If a person knows she is dying, I would suggest that she needs from her loved ones every opportunity to take stock of her story and bring it to a meaningful end."
- "the top five regrets of the dying. They were: I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. I wish that I had let myself be happier."
- How to Age by Anne Karpf: "‘We can think of ourselves like wine connoisseurs laying down bottles that will improve with age; similarly we can try to foster in ourselves qualities that deepen and enrich over the years.’
- "Then, if for a while I think and feel like you (perhaps while looking at a photograph of you or contemplating how you would behave in a certain situation), I am approximating in my body your brain pattern, at least a rough version of your ‘self’. It won’t ever be quite you, but I can be you with, Hofstadter would say, a ‘Derren’ accent. [..] We resurrect our loved ones whenever we find ourselves thinking and feeling like them. [..] And the closer we are to them, the more we understand them, the more accurate that blueprint will be."
- The concept of good-enough parents. I can't help but think I need to be more of a good enough boss and mentor.
sunnacoleman's review against another edition
5.0
Great insight into understanding emotions and positive thinking
casp_ar's review against another edition
5.0
Great book, has the potential to change your perspective on the world. Has fed into my own thinking heavily, and I would recommend to others despite its hefty size. Explores the ideas of stoic philosophy and how one might incorporate these tenets into our lives in both a practical and meaningful way.