📖 Overview
Sarah Bakewell is a British author and professor known for her work in philosophical biography and intellectual history. Her most acclaimed books include "How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer" (2010) and "At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails" (2016).
After early experiences working in bookstores and libraries, Bakewell established herself as a writer who skillfully combines historical research with philosophical inquiry. Her work at the Wellcome Library in London as a curator of early printed books provided source material for her first book, "The Smart" (2001), which examined an 18th-century forgery trial.
Bakewell's writing has earned significant recognition, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography and the Windham-Campbell Literature Prize in Non-Fiction. Her approach to philosophical biography emphasizes accessibility while maintaining scholarly depth, particularly evident in her explorations of existentialism and Renaissance thought.
Her academic career includes teaching at Kellogg College, Oxford, and serving as a visiting professor at the New School for Social Research in New York. Bakewell continues to contribute to contemporary discussions of philosophy and history through her writing and teaching.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Bakewell's ability to make complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. On Goodreads, many reviews highlight her engaging narrative style and how she weaves historical context with biographical details.
Readers appreciate:
- Clear explanations of difficult concepts
- Personal anecdotes that illuminate ideas
- Balanced treatment of historical figures
- Humor and contemporary references
Common criticisms:
- Nonlinear structure can be confusing
- Some tangents feel unnecessary
- Occasional repetition of ideas
- Philosophy students find parts too basic
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 4.2/5 (20,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,000+ ratings)
LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (500+ ratings)
"How to Live" receives the strongest reviews, with readers noting it made Montaigne relevant to modern life. "At the Existentialist Café" draws praise for making existentialism understandable, though some readers found the biographical sections overlong.
📚 Books by Sarah Bakewell
The Smart (2001)
Historical account of an 18th-century forgery case involving the charismatic criminal James Maclaine, exploring Georgian London's criminal underworld.
How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer (2010) Biographical study examining Renaissance philosopher Michel de Montaigne's life and ideas through twenty essential questions about existence.
At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails (2016) Historical narrative following the lives and ideas of key existentialist thinkers including Sartre, Beauvoir, and Heidegger in mid-20th century Europe.
How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer (2010) Biographical study examining Renaissance philosopher Michel de Montaigne's life and ideas through twenty essential questions about existence.
At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails (2016) Historical narrative following the lives and ideas of key existentialist thinkers including Sartre, Beauvoir, and Heidegger in mid-20th century Europe.
👥 Similar authors
Jennifer Michael Hecht writes philosophical histories that trace ideas through time, similar to Bakewell's approach. Her books "Doubt: A History" and "The Happiness Myth" examine how humans have wrestled with philosophical concepts across cultures and centuries.
Rebecca Solnit combines cultural criticism with historical analysis and philosophical reflection. Her works like "River of Shadows" and "Wanderlust" explore intellectual history through specific lenses while maintaining accessibility for general readers.
Michael Wood investigates literature and philosophy through biographical and historical contexts. His works on Marcel Proust and Franz Kafka demonstrate the same blend of scholarly research and engaging narrative that characterizes Bakewell's writing.
Adam Gopnik writes about intellectual history with an emphasis on French culture and philosophy. His books "Paris to the Moon" and "Angels and Ages" share Bakewell's interest in examining how ideas shape everyday life and cultural understanding.
Julian Barnes creates works that bridge fiction and philosophical biography, particularly focusing on French intellectual history. His books "Flaubert's Parrot" and "The Man in the Red Coat" explore historical figures and ideas through techniques similar to Bakewell's biographical approach.
Rebecca Solnit combines cultural criticism with historical analysis and philosophical reflection. Her works like "River of Shadows" and "Wanderlust" explore intellectual history through specific lenses while maintaining accessibility for general readers.
Michael Wood investigates literature and philosophy through biographical and historical contexts. His works on Marcel Proust and Franz Kafka demonstrate the same blend of scholarly research and engaging narrative that characterizes Bakewell's writing.
Adam Gopnik writes about intellectual history with an emphasis on French culture and philosophy. His books "Paris to the Moon" and "Angels and Ages" share Bakewell's interest in examining how ideas shape everyday life and cultural understanding.
Julian Barnes creates works that bridge fiction and philosophical biography, particularly focusing on French intellectual history. His books "Flaubert's Parrot" and "The Man in the Red Coat" explore historical figures and ideas through techniques similar to Bakewell's biographical approach.