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How to Live: A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at An Answer by Sarah Bakewell
espringer43's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
2shainz's review
5.0
This may have taken me ages to read, but it was a lovely biography through and through!
kyyjonssoni's review
3.0
Well well well. What could I say about this book? It came from recommendation after reading Jordan Peterson 12 rules of life and I was thinking why not to read some more philosophical about Mr. Montaigne.
This really was not that boring or bad I was expecting. In the same time it was not carrying me through without more boring parts. Allthough there was few chapters which I was heavily interested and find new mind bobbling thoughts.
In many ways this was interesting, but would I recommend it to my fellow readers - probably not. I liked tho, but to fully enjoy it, you probably should have some kind of attachment to Montaigne or to 1500-century life.
This really was not that boring or bad I was expecting. In the same time it was not carrying me through without more boring parts. Allthough there was few chapters which I was heavily interested and find new mind bobbling thoughts.
In many ways this was interesting, but would I recommend it to my fellow readers - probably not. I liked tho, but to fully enjoy it, you probably should have some kind of attachment to Montaigne or to 1500-century life.
guinness74's review
5.0
This book is quite interesting, even if you don't like biographies, or have no idea who Montaigne is. A chance telephone conversation led me to Montaigne, and I stumbled upon this biography while looking for Montaigne's Essays. It took a lot of willpower not to wiki Montaigne to see how it ends before I finished this book, but it was so worth it. Ms. Bakewell has created a book worthy of its subject and now I will settle into the Essays knowing more about the man. Engaging and interesting!
mamireads's review
5.0
Some advice from Montaigne on how to live:
1.Don't worry about death
2. Keep a private space
3. Travel and experience the world
4. Live well with others
5.Question everything
6. Guard your humanity
1.Don't worry about death
2. Keep a private space
3. Travel and experience the world
4. Live well with others
5.Question everything
6. Guard your humanity
maryparapluie's review against another edition
4.0
The format of this book is really interesting. I like how the author used her own framework to really explain the philosophies of her subject and then also make them relevant to today.
jack_reid's review
5.0
An excellent book. Unlike many other reviewers on Goodreads, I had never heard of Montaigne before picking up "How to Live". Rather, I was compelled to purchase the book by the title and was therefore surprised by the depth of Bakewell's coverage of Montaigne's philosophies, biography, and influence on later writers and thinkers. The ideas covered in the book vary widely and often contradict each other, in accordance with Montaigne's own writings.
I've read Bakewell's book twice now over the past four years. I imagine I'll pick it up again in a couple of years and, despite reading the same words, feel inspired by different chapters most relevant to my situation.
I've read Bakewell's book twice now over the past four years. I imagine I'll pick it up again in a couple of years and, despite reading the same words, feel inspired by different chapters most relevant to my situation.