An Unexpected Guide to Life, The Essays and The Life of Michel de Montaigne
In 16th century France, Michel de Montaigne had an accident while horse-riding. Prior to this event, he was terrified of death. He was influenced by the Hellenistic schools of philosophy; namely, Stoicism, Epicureanism, Cynicism, and Skepticism. He had tried their techniques on contemplating death, but it never freed him of his fear. That is until his accident. After his near-death experience, he wrote that the experience changed him. He felt peaceful. He realized that he should not worry about it.
Montaigne’s exploration of his own mortality is known today because he wrote about them in essays. He is attributed as the first to write and popularize Essays as its own genre. Intellectuals before him had always written about their achievements, or of what they thought about the world. Montaigne was the first to talk about himself. All his failings, his quirks, his obscurities, and whatnot. You could say he’s the first blogger.
In this book, Sarah Bakewell explores the many themes of Montaigne’s essays. She writes about twenty answers to the question: ‘How to live?’ Every answer is its own essay. All capturing Montaigne’s life and perspective. And so ‘How do you live?’
Don’t worry about death
Pay attention
Be born
Read a lot, forget most of what you read, and be slow-witted
Survive love and loss
Use little tricks
Question everything
Keep a private room behind the shop
Be convivial, live with others
Wake from the sleep of habit
Live temperately
Guard your humanity
Do something no one has done before
See the world
Do a good job, but not too good a job
Philosophize only by accident
Reflect on everything; regret nothing
Give up control
Be ordinary and imperfect
Let life be its own answer
Why read How to Live?
You realize that you’re not alone. Montaigne seems like the kind of person you don’t intentionally look for. If you do encounter him, you notice that he’s just like you. This guy from 500 years ago felt the same things as you do now.
How can you use this information?
Live well. Don’t take yourself too seriously. You can have a meaningful life even if it’s an ordinary or a common life.
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