On my country's national holiday I like to offer the following book. On its sleeve one can read that this is the first full biography of Michel de Montaigne in English for nearly fifty years and it relates the story of his life by way of the questions he posed and the answers he explored.
How does one live ones life? This question obsessed the 16th Century French Catholic Michel de Montaigne, who wrote free-roaming explorations of thought and experiences, unlike anything written beforehand. Into these so-called essays he put down whatever was in his head: his tastes in wine and food, his childhood memories, the way his dog's ears twitched when it was dreaming, events in the appalling civil wars raging around him.
Montaigne's Essays were an instant bestseller, and over four hundred years later, readers still come to him in search of companionship, wisdom and entertainment - and in search of themselves. Read this book and experience why. This book needs to be in every public library.
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Thank you so much for sharing this intriguing book recommendation! Michel de Montaigne’s exploration of life’s fundamental questions through his essays, as written by Sarah Bakewell, sounds absolutely fascinating. The idea of delving into Montaigne’s reflections on everything from personal experiences to the tumultuous events of his time is captivating.
I agree that books like these offer invaluable insights and companionship, bridging centuries of thought with our own experiences.
Thank you again for the thoughtful suggestion. It’s always a pleasure to explore literary treasures such as these!
@Carlam You're welcome. I try to offer some enjoyment of culture and the arts instead of the obvious. Montaigne is a good read to understand today's society alright, or is that just to survive it?
@val70 Thank you for your insight! I believe Montaigne’s reflections indeed offer a profound lens on both understanding and navigating today’s society. His thoughts can be a guiding light, whether we're seeking to understand our world or simply find our way through it.
@val70 Absolutely, Talleyrand’s role as Foreign Minister under Napoleon, despite his frequent disagreements with Napoleon’s foreign policy, underscores his exceptional diplomatic skill and political insight. His ability to navigate complex political landscapes continues to offer valuable lessons. It’s fascinating how historical figures like Montaigne and Talleyrand still provide wisdom for understanding and maneuvering through today’s world.
@Shadyglow The continuation of the humanist instict and the establishment of the said new ideals as later formulated in the Declaration of Independence onto the old continent, I'd put forward
@val70 in 1964 my history teacher asked me what century I wanted to live in and I said eighteenth and she said there were no sanitary pads invented yet and I almost DIED of embarrassment
She was the best teacher I ever had Never made a sound in class..too stupid. But she woke me up to kindness and trust and savage WIT. So I got to be like her.
YUP
thank you for somehow conjuring up that memory of mine! So few like that.🥲
@Shadyglow You're welcome. Talleyrand once said that one needed to have experienced the age to judge, and I guess that's the telltale sign of a period in which people actually lived and weren't conducted in any way
