How to Live audiobook cover - Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer

How to Live

Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer

Sarah Bakewell

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Categories:
Biography & MemoirPersonal DevelopmentPhilosophyMotivation & Inspiration

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How to Live
Early Life & Obsession+
The Life-Changing Accident+
Retirement & Invention+
In Praise of Mediocrity+
Writing Style+
Legacy & Impact+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
According to the text, what was Montaigne's primary motivation for writing his 'Essays' after he retired?
  • A. To document his successful political career for future generations.
  • B. To ward off melancholy and give his wandering mind focus during his retirement.
  • C. To instruct the French monarchy on how to rule during a time of civil war.
  • D. To prove to his contemporaries that he was an extraordinary and gifted nobleman.
Question 2 of 6
How did a severe horse-riding accident alter Montaigne's perspective on life and death?
  • A. It made him realize that death is incredibly painful, leading him to avoid risk at all costs.
  • B. It caused him to seek revenge on the bandits he believed attacked him, shifting his focus to justice.
  • C. It made him deeply religious and fearful of the afterlife, prompting him to write confessions.
  • D. It taught him that dying can be a painless, even pleasant process, inspiring him to approach life with more lightness.
Question 3 of 6
How did Montaigne put a unique twist on the Stoic philosopher Seneca's advice for curing post-retirement boredom?
  • A. Instead of studying the outside world, Montaigne made himself and his own mind the focal point of his study.
  • B. Instead of finding new hobbies, Montaigne decided to immediately return to his career in law and politics.
  • C. He rejected Seneca entirely and embraced Epicurean hedonism, focusing solely on wine-making.
  • D. He followed the advice to study the world, but focused strictly on ancient Roman and Greek history.
Question 4 of 6
Why did Montaigne believe that his own 'mediocrity' made him a worthy subject for his writing?
  • A. He believed that writing poorly would make his books more accessible to the uneducated public.
  • B. He felt that by sharing common human flaws and limitations, his writing could serve as a mirror for other people.
  • C. He secretly believed he was a genius and used false modesty to win over his skeptical readers.
  • D. He thought that focusing on his ordinary traits would prevent the King from viewing him as a political threat.
Question 5 of 6
Which of the following best describes Montaigne’s structural approach to writing an essay?
  • A. He strictly outlined his arguments to ensure a single, strong thesis was defended throughout the piece.
  • B. He erased and rewrote past thoughts whenever he changed his mind to maintain logical consistency.
  • C. He only wrote about abstract philosophical concepts, carefully avoiding any personal anecdotes.
  • D. He allowed his thoughts to flow naturally, often leaving contradictions and changing perspectives on the page.
Question 6 of 6
What was the result of the highly successful publication of the first edition of Montaigne's Essays in 1580?
  • A. He was exiled by the King for his controversial and skeptical views on French society.
  • B. He was drawn out of retirement and back into politics, serving as a mayor and a diplomat.
  • C. He completely stopped writing because he felt he had achieved his ultimate life purpose.
  • D. He retreated deeper into isolation on his country estate to avoid his newfound celebrity.

How to Live — Full Chapter Overview

How to Live Summary & Overview

How to Live (2010) is both a biography of the writer Montaigne and an overview of the monumental work for which he’s famous: the Essays – a genre of writing that he invented. Along the way, it suggests some lessons we can take from his life and apply to our own.

Who Should Listen to How to Live?

  • Students of the Stoics, Epicureans, or Skeptics who want to learn about one of their greatest prodigies 
  • Fans of biographies about writers and thinkers 
  • Anyone who wants to know more about the life and works of Montaigne

About the Author: Sarah Bakewell

Sarah Bakewell is a British non-fiction writer who focuses on the lives of philosophers, writers, and adventurers. Her other works include At the Existentialist Café and The English Dane. In 2018, she won the Windham–Campbell Literature Prize in non-fiction. 

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