How to Live: A Life of Montaigne

Sarah Bakewell examines the life and philosophy of 16th-century French nobleman Michel de Montaigne through twenty attempts to answer the question "How to live?" Each chapter explores a different proposed answer based on Montaigne's writings and experiences. The biography traces Montaigne's journey from his early career as a nobleman and government official to his later years as a writer and philosopher. Bakewell contextualizes his life within the religious wars and social upheaval of Renaissance France while exploring how these events shaped his worldview and his revolutionary style of personal essay writing. The narrative follows both chronological events and thematic threads, moving between Montaigne's personal life and the broader reception of his work through history. Key relationships, philosophical influences, and pivotal moments in Montaigne's development as a thinker are examined through the lens of his essays. This unconventional biography illuminates the enduring relevance of Montaigne's approach to life and self-examination. By structuring the book around essential questions rather than pure chronology, Bakewell creates connections between Renaissance humanism and modern approaches to living an examined life.

Readers appreciate Bakewell's accessible approach to Montaigne's philosophy and life, making complex ideas understandable without oversimplification. Many note how she weaves historical context with modern relevance. Liked: - Clear organization around 20 key questions - Balance of biography and philosophical discussion - Engaging writing style that maintains momentum - Helpful introduction for those new to Montaigne Disliked: - Some repetition between chapters - Occasionally jumps between time periods in a confusing way - A few readers found the biographical details overshadowed the philosophical content Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (8,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (450+ ratings) "The book made Montaigne feel like someone I'd want to have coffee with," wrote one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads reader noted: "It functions both as a biography and a practical guide to living well." Common criticism focused on organization: "The thematic structure sometimes made the timeline hard to follow."

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🔖 Sarah Bakewell spent nearly a decade researching and writing this book, immersing herself in Montaigne's world by learning 16th-century French and Latin 🔖 Michel de Montaigne invented the personal essay as a literary form, writing about everything from his kidney stones to his cat's behavior 🔖 During a near-fatal horse riding accident, Montaigne experienced what he believed was death, describing the sensation as peaceful and pleasant - this experience profoundly influenced his philosophical outlook 🔖 The book won the 2011 National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography and was named one of the Ten Best Books of 2010 by The New York Times 🔖 Montaigne's original essays were kept on the Catholic Church's Index of Prohibited Books for nearly two centuries due to their questioning nature and secular viewpoint