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Life Is Hard

How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way

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Life Is Hard

By: Kieran Setiya
Narrated by: Kieran Setiya
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Pain, loneliness, grief, injustice...hope?

Life is hard—as the past few years have made painfully clear. From personal trauma to the injustice and absurdity of the world, sometimes simply going on can feel too much.

But could there be solace—and even hope—in acknowledging the hardships of the human condition? Might doing so free us from the tyranny of striving for our "best lives" and help us find warmth, humanity and humour in the lives we actually have? Could it inspire in us the desire for a better world?

In this profound and personal book, Kieran Setiya shows how philosophy can help us find our way. He shares his own experience with chronic pain and the consolation that comes from making sense of it. He asks what we can learn from loneliness and loss about the value of human life. And he explores how we can fail with grace, confront injustice and search for meaning in the face of despair. Drawing on ancient and modern philosophy, as well as fiction, comedy, social science and personal essay, Life Is Hard is a book for this moment—a work of solace and compassion. It draws us towards justice, for ourselves and others, by acknowledging what it means to be alive.

©2022 Kieran Setiya (P)2022 Penguin Audio Ethics & Morality Grief & Loss Personal Development Personal Success Philosophy Inspiring Comedy

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All stars
Most relevant  
Thoughtful, thought-provoking and beautifully narrated meditations on how philosophy can help shape our lives.

Wonderful meditations

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Excellent book well narrated , I really enjoyed the way it was segmented and the journey it took.

Excellent book well narrated

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Setiya is fantastic, and it's always a bonus when the author is also the narrator. A therapeutic and intellectually stimulating listen.

Wonderful reflections

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last few chapters were incoherent, just mindless ramblings from the author. wasted my time and got nothing out of it.

meaningless book

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