Books › How to Live › Books like it
If you loved
Books like How to Live
A warm, conversational stroll through the mind of history's most relatable philosopher, offering gentle wisdom for the modern soul. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with How to Live.
- contemplative
- intimate
- intellectually stimulating
- comforting
- 01
At the Existentialist Café
Sarah Bakewell
Pull up a chair at a bustling Parisian café and eavesdrop on the brilliant, messy minds who defined modern freedom.
- 02
The consolations of philosophy
Alain De Botton
A soothing intellectual balm for the anxious mind, proving that history's greatest thinkers struggled with the exact same everyday frustrations we do.
- 03
On the Shortness of Life
Seneca
A lucid and eloquent philosophical journey that provokes deep reflection on the art of living well.
- 04
How Proust can change your life
Alain De Botton
A witty, comforting blend of literary criticism and philosophy that turns an intimidating masterpiece into a warm guide for everyday living.
- 05
Lives of the Stoics
Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman
A grounding, pragmatic journey through ancient lives that offers timeless armor for modern struggles.
- 06
The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays
Albert Camus · 1959
A lyrical and defiant meditation on finding meaning and joy in a universe that refuses to offer any.
- 07
Art of Living
Epictetus
A clarifying splash of cold water for the anxious mind, offering timeless tools for reclaiming your inner peace.
- 08
The cost of living
Deborah Levy
A vibrant, urgent reflection on dismantling the social hierarchies that diminish women, in pursuit of a life lived with meaning, pleasure, and ultimate freedom.
- 09
An Astronauts Guide to Life on Earth
Chris Hadfield
A masterclass in extreme preparation that somehow leaves you feeling profoundly calm and deeply appreciative of ordinary life.
- 10
The swerve
Stephen Greenblatt
An intellectual treasure hunt that makes the rediscovery of a single ancient poem feel like a high-stakes thriller.
- 11
A Field Guide to Getting Lost
Rebecca Solnit
A lyrical, associative journey that invites you to surrender to the beauty of not knowing exactly where you are.
- 12
Albert Camus
Olivier Todd · 1996
A vibrant, deeply researched immersion into the sun-drenched youth, bitter conflicts, and intellectual passions of a complex literary icon.
