There are 20 essays in this book focused on how to live. In essays six and seven, Bakewell takes us into Michel de Montaigne’s world of philosophy. He was fascinated with Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Skepticism.
Each of the schools had the same aim: to achieve a way of living known in original Greek as eudaimonia, often translated as “happiness,” “joy,” or “human flourishing.”
All three schools felt the best way to achieve eudaimonia was through ataraxia, another Greek word meaning “freedom from anxiety.”
I loved these ideas so much that I made a reminder for myself and taped it to my computer monitor!
If you’re curious about eudaimonia and ataraxia, grab a copy of Bakewell’s book. Remember to read slowly, take notes, and apply the ideas.