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

This is such a personable and entertaining read, I had this on pre-order from the time that I read Travels With Epicurus by the same author which was a personal and philosophical reflection upon travels around Greece in later life which I really, really enjoyed and would recommend to anyone as well. In both accounts there is a depth of personal account, the author mentions family members, friends and life experience, for the author philosophy really is a live experience and its really clear that this is why the author thinks the ideas matter, why they deserve to be thought about and discussed or brought to anyone else's attention at all in the first place. In this book I was very sorry to read in the acknowledgements that the author's dog, Snookers, who is featured more than a few times throughout the book, I felt one of the best examples being in a later chapter about "being in the moment", "living the present moment" etc., had passed away. This book, the author writes, is occasioned not by travels and reflections on the same but the discovery of a notebook of quotations, "pithies", that is "pithy quotes" and each chapter begins with the quotation and has the reflective notes from then and now as its main body of content. It is a personal account of one person's life philosophy as a result, a mix of (I would suggest qualified) hedonism, existentialism and skepticism, as before, which if you know the author you will know what to expect, if you are interested in philosophical topics, the question of what makes for the best or good life, then I believe you will be pleased with this book too. The pace and style of writing were great, some chapters are longer than others, depending on the subject matter, it takes a little longer to deal with some material than others but at no point did I think the narrative became pedantic or dull or repetitious, some of the chapters are related to one another, if only with mention of an earlier author's experience or perspective. Personally, I loved the quote/chapter from the dedicated and serious monist/materialist who died and experienced a spiritual epiphany, although that the same thinker, AJ Ayer, had challenged Mike Tyson to a gentlemanly discussion of good conduct was just as good a story. Which may make it appear like this book is "philosophy lite", not my intention at all and certainly not what I would consider the book to be either (the author in the acknowledgements describes it going through a serious of readings and corrections when he shared it with philosopher friends), it isnt academic reading perhaps but I think academics, like anyone else, could benefit from reading it. Recommended.

Great book - gives a humorous, yet enlightening account of some of the life’s great philosophies.

A witty, thoughtful dive into philosophy that’s as entertaining as it is enlightening. With charm and humour, I was reassured that if the meaning of life keeps shifting, we’re all in the same boat-probably rowing in circles. A lighthearted yet sneakily profound read.

Each chapter starts from a well known philosophical quote or aphorism and then expands on it in a personalised thought provoking style. A book of well written bite-sized wisdom, penned with affection and kindness.

Well written, loads of thought provoking ideas on the meaning of life, easy to read as ideas are clearly explained.

Kept me entertained on a train journey and contains one or two insights, but the 'philosophy'/wisdom presented here is so light and fluffy I'm rather going away thinking the whole is rather superficial. Much better stuff out there.

a wonderfully dry and humorous tour from Aristotle to Epicurus. A perfect bedtime read.

This is a splendid fun light read with lots of hidden gems of wisdom not least an understanding that dogs have souls! Some lovely new names to be added to the list from my young day such as Frank Close, a British particle physicist, who wrote, "You are made of stuff that is as old as the planet, one third as old as the Universe, though this is the first time that those atoms have been gathered together such that they think that they are you"

Ich geniesse dieses Buch. Für mich ist es wie eine kleine Wanderung in wichtige Gedanken wichtiger Philosophen.

One of my favourite books I’ve read. Definitely a re-reader.

Funny and insightfull, it gives food for thought without being too heavy. Much like other books from mr. Klein. I like it 😉

A useful and wonderful read!

I bought this book for my husband and it kept him interested for as long as he took to read it. Whether you are introspective or an extrovert, there is a message for everyone in the text! A series of pithy quotes by philosophers through the ages. Excellent author is Daniel Klein