Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change It: Wisdom of the Great Philosophers on How to Live - Softcover

Klein, Daniel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0143129597 ISBN 13: 9780143129592

Publisher: Penguin Books, 2017

Synopsis

A humorous and philosophical trip through life, from the New York Times–bestselling coauthor of Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . .
 
Daniel Klein’s fans have fallen in love with the warm, humorous, and thoughtful way he shows how philosophy resonates in everyday life. Readers of his popular books Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . . and Travels with Epicurus come for enlightenment and stay for the entertainment.

As a young college student studying philosophy, Klein filled a notebook with short quotes from the world’s greatest thinkers, hoping to find some guidance on how to live the best life he could. Now, from the vantage point of his eighth decade, Klein revisits the wisdom he relished in his youth with this collection of philosophical gems, adding new ones that strike a chord with him at the end of his life. From Epicurus to Emerson and Camus to the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr—whose words provided the title of this book—each pithy extract is annotated with Klein’s inimitable charm and insights. In these pages, our favorite jokester–philosopher tackles life’s biggest questions, leaving us chuckling and enlightened. 

About this title

About the Author

Daniel Klein is the author of the London Times bestseller Travels with Epicurus and, with Thomas Cathcart, the New York Times and international bestseller Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . . . A graduate of Harvard in philosophy, he lives in Western Massachusetts with his wife, Freke Vuijst.

Review

Praise for Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change It

"A refreshingly spontaneous plunge into deep thought." - Booklist

"While philosophy is often seen as no laughing matter, Klein’s book is an argument that it can and should be...It's hard to imagine a better guide." - Matt Staggs, Biographile

"A delightful book that is easily applicable to any stage of life. Even when explaining the underlying theories behind a quote, the author’s writing is understandable for readers who have no prior philosophy background. Yet, philosophy students will also enjoy seeing the discipline applied to everyday life." - Library Journal

“Daniel Klein has now gifted up with a compendium of wisdom – quotes from the world’s greatest philosophers, often with a light touch.” - Ann LaFarge, Hudson Valley News

"This book not only offers a dazzling display of the superlative human thought on issues of human existence but also brings those we are not even consciously aware of into focus." - Business Standard
Praise for Travels with Epicurus

“An insightful meditation.” - The New York Times Book Review

“Along the way, Klein touches on the ideas of Bertrand Russell, Erik Erikson, Aristotle, and William James. Klein's narrative is a delightful and spirited conversation, offering up the ingredients inherent to the art of living well in old age.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“Charming and accessible, this philosophical survey simply and accessibly makes academic philosophy relevant to ordinary human emotion.” – Kirkus Review

“Witty and wry” – Huffington Post

“A lovely little book with both heart and punch.” – Booklist

"A delightful book that is easily applicable to any stage of life. Even when explaining the underlying theories behind a quote, the author’s writing is understandable for readers who have no prior philosophy background. Yet, philosophy students will also enjoy seeing the discipline applied to everyday life." - Laura Hiatt-Smith, Library Journal

“A charming meditation on aging. Daniel Klein takes us on a thought-provoking journey.” – The Weekly Standard Book Review

“Reading this book after a period of overwork and high stress, I was bowled over by its easy charm and hard-won wisdom. I shall be buying it in bulk as presents for my equally overburdened peers, and I suspect a few older people will enjoy it, too.” – Markus Berkmann, The Daily Mail

“If you think philosophy is hard stuff that makes your head spin and possibly hurt, Klein is the perfect guide to deep thinking.  Being fully aware and wondering how best to spend our time are useful practices at any age, and this warm, thought-provoking book is a terrific introduction to thinking about life philosophically.” – Concord Monitor

 

http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/solving-life-s-mysteries-with-ancient-and-modern-wisdom-book-review-116113000191_1.html

Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0143129597
• ISBN 13: 9780143129592
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 224