Travels with Epicurus

'A truly benign and valuable short book, that is rare in conveying the spirit as well as the thought of the ancient Greek philosophers, by celebrating the wisdom that emerges in old age.' -- Mark Vernon, author of 42: Deep Thought on Life, the Universe and Everything

A profound new vision of aging happily - from the bestselling author of Plato and a Platypus walk into a Bar

Our society worships at the fountain of youth. Each year, we try to delay the arrival of old age, using everything at our disposal, from extreme exercise and botox to pilates and cosmetic dentistry. But in the process, are we missing out on a distinct and extraordinarily valuable stage of life?

Asking whether it is better to be forever young or to grin toothlessly and live an authentic old age, bestselling author Daniel Klein journeys to the Greek island of Hydra. There he draws on the lives of octogenarian Greek locals, as well as philosophers ranging from Epicurus to Sartre, to discover the secrets of ageing happily. An escapist travel memoir, a droll meditation, and an optimistic guide to living well, this is a delightful jaunt through the terrain of old age, led by a witty and uniquely perceptive modern-day sage.