“How to Live: Or a Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer” by Sarah Bakewell explores the life and philosophy of Michel de Montaigne on the key question “How to live a good life?”.
1. Don’t worry about death: Accept mortality as a natural part of life; Focus on living, not fearing death; Death gives life meaning and urgency.
2. Pay attention to the present: Live in the moment, not in the past or future; Mindfulness and presence are essential; Appreciate the beauty in everyday life.
3. Be yourself: Authenticity is key to happiness and fulfillment; Don’t conform to societal expectations; Embrace your uniqueness and individuality.
4. Don’t be a follower: Question authority and challenge norms; Think critically and independently; Don’t blindly accept information.
5. Read widely: Expand your knowledge and perspectives; Reading enriches your understanding of the world; Explore different subjects and genres.
6. Travel: Broaden your horizons and experiences; Engage with different cultures and ways of life; Travel fosters empathy and understanding.
7. Keep a journal: Reflect on your thoughts, experiences, and growth; Writing clarifies your thoughts and feelings; Journaling helps you learn from yourself.
8. Don’t be a slave to your desires: Practice self-control and moderation; Balance your desires with reason and wisdom; Avoid excessive indulgence.
9. Be skeptical: Question everything, including yourself; Doubt and inquiry lead to deeper understanding; Skepticism fosters critical thinking.
10. Don’t fear change: Embrace uncertainty and adapt to circumstances; Change is inevitable; learn to navigate it; Growth and learning come from embracing change.
11. Value friendship: Nurture meaningful relationships; Friendship brings joy, support, and growth; Invest in people who enrich your life.
12. Be humble: Recognize your limitations and weaknesses; Humility fosters empathy and understanding; Acknowledge the complexity of life.
13. Practice moderation: Balance extremes and excesses; Find middle ground in thoughts and actions; Moderation leads to harmony and stability.
14. Don’t judge others: Focus on your own life and growth; Avoid comparisons and criticisms; Empathize and understand others’ perspectives.
15. Take responsibility: Own your actions and decisions; Accountability leads to personal growth; Acknowledge and learn from mistakes.
16. Learn from experience: Reflect on successes and failures; Extract lessons and insights from experiences; Apply wisdom to future decisions.
17. Don’t seek perfection: Embrace imperfection and uncertainty; Recognize the beauty in flaws and mistakes; Strive for progress, not perfection.
18. Cultivate inner strength: Develop resilience and coping skills; Face challenges with courage and determination; Inner strength fosters confidence and growth
19. Embrace contradictions: Life is complex and multifaceted; Accept paradoxes and ambiguities; Embrace the messy nature of human experience
20. Live life fully: Engage with the world and its complexities; Participate in life’s joys and challenges; Live with intention, purpose, and passion,
The Core Themes from above including Embracing uncertainty and imperfection, Living in the present, Critical thinking and self-reflection, Authenticity and individuality, Balance and moderation, and Embracing the complexities of life.
What could you apply to your daily life?