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How to Live

A Life of Montaigne in one question and twenty attempts at an answer

Sarah Bakewell author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:6th Jan '11

Should be back in stock very soon

How to Live cover

In How to Live, Montaigne's essays offer timeless wisdom on relationships, loss, and the search for meaning, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives.

In How to Live, readers are invited into the mind of Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, a Renaissance nobleman whose reflections on life continue to resonate today. Through his essays, Montaigne explores profound questions that touch on the human experience, such as how to relate to others, cope with loss, and navigate the complexities of existence. His unique style, characterized by free-ranging thoughts and personal anecdotes, allows readers to connect with him on a deeply personal level, making his work timeless and relatable.

Montaigne's writings are not just philosophical musings; they are a blend of autobiography and self-help that offer insights into the human condition. In How to Live, the author delves into Montaigne's life, examining the events that shaped his perspectives, including the civil wars that surrounded him and his intimate reflections on daily life. The essays cover a wide range of topics, from his culinary preferences to his observations on the natural world, illustrating his belief that personal experience is a valuable source of wisdom.

This comprehensive biography serves as both a tribute to Montaigne's literary genius and a guide for modern readers seeking companionship and understanding. By exploring the questions Montaigne posed and the answers he sought, How to Live invites readers to embark on their own journey of self-discovery, making it a significant addition to the canon of self-reflective literature.

With this splendidly conceived and exquisitely written double biography - of both Montaigne the man and Montaigne the book - Sarah Bakewell should persuade another generation to fall in love with Montaigne * Sunday Times *
How to live is a superb, spirited introduction to the master, and should have its readers rushing straight to the essays themselves -- Adam Thorpe * Guardian *
Sarah Bakewell has written a marvellously confident and clear introduction to Montaigne...a rare achievement. Sarah Bakewell deserves congratulations for opening Montaigne to new readers so very appealingly * Evening Standard *
Illuminating and humane book... It's rare to come across a biographer who remains so deliciously fond of her subject... How to Live will delight and illuminate * Independent *
Bakewell writes with verve. This is an intellectually lively treatment of a Renaissance giant and his world * Daily Telegraph *

  • Winner of Duff Cooper Memorial Prize 2010
  • Short-listed for Costa Biography Award 2010

ISBN: 9780099485155

Dimensions: 197mm x 128mm x 29mm

Weight: 349g

400 pages