Best Books About Philosophy

The way of the Essentialist is about living by design, not by default. It's a disciplined, systematic approach for determining where our highest point of contribution lies, then making execution of those things almost effortless. The Essentialist explores more options than the Nonessentialist to make better decisions, then eliminates the nonessentials to make execution easy. Essentialism is not about getting more things done, but getting the right things done.

To become an Essentialist requires a heightened awareness of our ability to choose:

• We have the power to choose how to spend our energy and time
• We can either allow nonessentials to overwhelm us, or deliberately choose where to focus our efforts
• If we don't prioritize our lives, someone else will

Section: 1, Chapter: 1

The Buddha's key teachings on not-self (anatta) are found in the Anatta-lakkhana Sutta. In it, he examines the five aggregates that constitute a person:

1. Form (the body)
2. Feeling
3. Perception
4. Mental formations
5. Consciousness

For each aggregate, he argues that if it were truly part of the self, one should be able to control it. But since we can't control these aggregates (e.g. the body ages and gets sick despite our wishes), they must be not-self. He instructs monks to contemplate each aggregate and realize "This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self."

Section: 1, Chapter: 5

Haidt contrasts ancient philosophies of happiness with modern ones. He argues that thinkers like Aristotle, the Stoics, Buddha, and Confucius rightly saw virtue and character development, not just subjective pleasure, as the keys to a fulfilling life.

The ancients recommended practicing virtues like courage, moderation, justice and wisdom until they became ingrained habits. In contrast, modern philosophies tend to emphasize either raw subjective experience (hedonism) or abstract rules (deontology, utilitarianism). As a result, modern life is often unmoored from considerations of virtue and character, and people struggle to find moral clarity and meaning.

Section: 1, Chapter: 8

Haidt argues that the human mind is predisposed to perceive sacredness and divinity, regardless of religious belief. He discusses how notions of sanctity, purity, elevation and degradation shape moral thinking across cultures.

Things seen as holy or sacred are treated as inviolable and protected from the corrupting influence of the profane or carnal. This "ethics of divinity" was central to most ancient cultures but has waned in the secular modern West. Yet even modern people experience quasi-religious elevation in response to extraordinary virtue and beauty. Haidt argues that the emotion of moral disgust evolved to help enforce the sacred/profane boundary.

Section: 1, Chapter: 9

Haidt discusses how the positive psychology movement, pioneered by Martin Seligman, is reviving some ancient wisdom about happiness and virtue.

Positive psychology focuses on identifying and cultivating individual and societal strengths and virtues, not just treating disorder and dysfunction.

Seligman and Peterson developed a framework of 6 core virtues and 24 specific character strengths, drawing on both ancient philosophies and modern psychological research. The framework provides a way for people to identify their signature strengths and organize their lives around them. Exercising one's strengths is inherently rewarding and contributes to a sense of meaning and engagement.

Section: 1, Chapter: 8

In the final chapter, Manson makes the case that contemplating mortality, as morbid as it seems, is crucial for living well. Death is the only certainty, the one experience every human will share, and our awareness of it can be a powerful driving force when harnessed correctly.

Manson relates his own brush with death in a poignant story about getting dangerously close to the edge of a cliff in South Africa. In that heart-stopping moment, all his petty concerns and daily anxieties fell away, replaced by a sudden vivid appreciation for his finite time on earth. He realized that death isn't just an abstract fact, but a visceral reality that puts everything in perspective. The looming presence of death has the power to snap us out of complacency and self-absorption.

Section: 1, Chapter: 9

Manson references the book "The Denial of Death" by Ernest Becker, which argues that all human behavior is motivated by a deep-seated fear of mortality. According to Becker, because we're the only creatures aware of our own inevitable demise, we seek to escape that terror by constructing meaning and value systems that will outlast us as individuals.

Becker calls these "immortality projects" - like building monuments, amassing fortunes, or creating artistic masterpieces. The urge to leave a lasting mark stems from our refusal to accept the impermanence and unimportance of the self. But ironically, it's only when we're able to face the reality of death and relinquish our self-importance that we can connect to something greater than ourselves.

"The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time." - Mark Twain

Section: 1, Chapter: 9