A Field Guide to a Happy Life
53 Brief Lessons for Living
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4.4 • 5 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A brilliant philosopher reimagines Stoicism for our modern age in this thought-provoking guide to a better life.
“A bold, contemporary updating of Stoicism for the present day.” ―John Sellars, author of Stoicism
How do we find joy and meaning in our lives when everything we care about can be destroyed in an instant?
Philosopher Massimo Pigliucci found the answer in ancient Stoicism, and in A Field Guide to a Happy Life, he offers a new rendition of this philosophy adapted for the twenty-first century. Stoicism is thought of as simply having a stiff upper lip. In Pigliucci’s hands, however, the point isn’t about indifference; it’s about maintaining equanimity in the face of strife and embracing level-headed enjoyment in a culture of excess.
Modern life overflows with both pleasure and pain. Whether you are already practicing Stoicism or are simply someone looking for help navigating the ups and downs, A Field Guide to a Happy Life is an essential and accessible companion.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Pigliucci (How to Live a Good Life), professor of philosophy at City College of New York, delivers a shrewd take on Stoic philosophy that's one part inspiration and one part manual for cultivating resilience in daily life. Pigliucci advocates for the daily application of the ancient philosophy's four cardinal virtues wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation as an antidote to modern fixations on fame, wealth, and comfort. In his exhortations to readers to simply focus on what they can control, such as one's personal character, Pigliucci focuses particularly on Epictetus (50 135 CE), who started out a slave and ended up a Stoic sage. Applying the tenets of Epictetus's guide to the good life (The Enchiridion) to contemporary issues and sensibilities such as social justice and secularism Pigliucci offers 53 Stoic proverbs applicable to the 21st century ("reorient your likely misguided desires and aversions"; "prepare yourself to behave justly to other people") and a summary of how modern Stoicism differs from that of Epictetus ("do not congratulate yourself for things that don't really belong to you. Do you have a nice car? The merit goes to the engineers who conceived it"). Pigliucci's prudent advice will have broad appeal among philosophically inclined readers of self-help.
