A warmhearted introduction to philosophy that blends Eastern and Western intellectual traditions with specific exercises to enhance the reader’s ability to think philosophically for herself. Over the course of 10 topics ranging from Simplicity to Joy, and with a decided emphasis on self-improvement, McCarty (Little Big Minds) discusses a wide variety of philosophers, ranging from such canonical figures as Plato and Sartre to those—like Charlotte Joko-Beck—who sit closer to the New Age end of the spectrum.

Throughout, the author emphasizes the ability of active reflection to improve lives, by promoting open-mindedness, the awareness of cultural diversity, social understanding and the ability to recognize priorities.

Though the book contains little that is not already common currency among self-help manuals, its focus on philosophizing as a group activity and on the everyday practice of thinking, supplemented by each chapter’s collection of exercises centered around music, poetry and the arts, taken together provide a pleasantly tangible approach to understanding how notions like tolerance, flexibility and perspective can enrich our busy lives.

This inspiring new book from the bestselling author of Little Big Minds reveals how the heartbeats of philosophy- clear thinking, quiet reflection, and good conversation- are essential ingredients in a well-lived life. Full of great discussion ideas and activities you can do with a group, How Philosophy Can Save Your Life is framed around ten “big ideas”-themes that, according to McCarty, are necessary to grasp if one wants to live a truly fulfilling life. They are:

1. Simplicity (philosophers include Epicurus and Charlotte Joko Beck)
2. Communication (philosophers include bell hooks and Karl Jaspers)
3. Perspective (philosophers include Bertrand Russell and Mary Wollstonecraft)
4. Flexibility (philosophers include Socrates, Plato and Alan Watts)
5. Empathy (philosophers include the Dalai Lama and Martin Luther King, Jr.)
6. Individuality (philosophers include Jean-Paul Sartre and Elizabeth Spelman)
7. Belonging (philosophers include Albert Camus and Rita Manning)
8. Serenity (philosophers include Epictetus and Lao Tzu)
9. Possibility (philosophers include John Stuart Mill and Simone de Beauvoir)
10. Joy (philosophers include Shunryu Suzuki and Jane Addams)

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