The World's Best Book Summaries
What’s your philosophy of happiness? Is it a goal or simply a byproduct of certain aspects of your life? In Life Worth Living, Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz discuss happiness in the context of your philosophy of life. They explain various perspectives on the role that happiness plays in life. Continue reading to understand these various philosophies and see where your values line up.
Are you happy to be alive? Are you thriving or just surviving? In Life Worth Living, Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz argue that a good life philosophy promotes existential well-being. It inspires you to take actions that make you feel good about your existence given your beliefs about the purpose and significance of life on Earth. Keep reading to learn more about the argument these three Yale professors make.
What’s material well-being? How do different philosophies define it? In what sense do you have it? Yale professors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz contend that one component of a good life philosophy is that it promotes material well-being. In their book Life Worth Living, they explain that different thinkers have different standards of material well-being. Keep reading to learn about these intriguing perspectives.
Do you believe that you’re essentially a good person? How do you measure your virtue? According to authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz, life is worth living when you have a good philosophy of life. A strong life philosophy promotes moral well-being—the sense that you’re generally a virtuous person—by defining right and wrong behaviors. Continue reading to learn about various perspectives on moral well-being.
How do you view death? How can your belief about death motivate you to live your life well? What you believe about death affects the way you live your life, for good or for bad. Life Worth Living discusses what a few philosophers and religious traditions say about death and how these beliefs put life into perspective in various ways. Read more to learn how different views of death might give you motivation for living life well.
When you realize you’ve made a mistake, what’s the first thing you do? How do you make things better? Yale professors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz wrote Life Worth Living as a guide to developing your own philosophy of life. But, even when you’re living a worthwhile and virtuous life, you’re bound to mess up. What you do next matters. Keep reading for some wisdom on how to fix your mistakes and move forward in a positive direction.
Do you have trouble getting started with new life habits? Do you lose momentum and fail to make the changes stick? Life Worth Living discusses the importance of creating your own philosophy of life. When you glean a new piece of your life philosophy, it’s important to translate your newfound values into action. This might require making changes to your life or even to yourself, which can be an intimidating prospect. Continue reading to learn how to make changes in your life, drawing on insights from economists, literary greats, and religious traditions.
How often do your emotions get the best of you? Are you in control of them, or are they in control of you? Emotions are strong. But, Dr. Julie Smith says that you can be stronger. Take control, and don’t let your emotions control you. You can take the reins by practicing mindfulness, naming your emotions, and noticing and shifting your thought patterns. Keep reading for Smith’s practical advice on harnessing your emotions.
How should we address social harms such as war and poverty? Do you sense a call to take on such issues in your community or the world? The 2023 book Life Worth Living urges you to adopt a philosophy of life. Oftentimes, such personal life philosophies entail an obligation to minimize social harms such as crime and bigotry. The authors share approaches from Mary Wollstonecraft, James Baldwin, and Confucius. Read more to draw inspiration from these thought leaders.
What are emotions? When is it healthy to have challenging emotions? How aware of your own feelings are you? According to Dr. Julie Smith, the most important thing to know about emotions is that they are a normal part of the human experience. That goes for the highs and the lows. What matters most is that they match the situation. Read more to learn how to understand emotions and work with them in a healthy way.