The meaning of life

James Bailey

£22.00

In stock

When James Bailey was feeling lost in life, he was inspired by philosopher Will Durant’s 1930s project to write 100 luminaries from all walks of life, challenging them to respond to the fundamental question of life’s meaning. The response was more remarkable than he could have ever imagined. A decade on, James had garnered an incredible collection of replies, collated here for the first time. By turns, thought-provoking, amusing and enlightening, these letters from scientists, writers, athletes, campaigners, politicians, entertainers, survivors and philosophers are a wonderful source of inspiration. Some are about happiness and heartbreak, some are about purpose, some are funny and some will change the way you think. ‘The Meaning of Life’ is a gift from these leaders, connecting through one question that broadens our understanding of what it really means to be human and happy.

ISBN: 9781472149671 Category:

Description

James Bailey was unemployed, heartbroken, and questioning his purpose on the planet. In desperate search of an answer, he decided to write to luminaries from all fields and ask one simple question: What is the meaning of life?

Then he waited.

Slowly but surely their responses arrived through his letterbox.

From entrepreneurs and environmentalists, to artists, authors and adventurers, this book gathers a kaleidoscope of perspectives on what it means to be human. With over one hundred enlightening responses, it’s more than just a collection of letters; it’s a roadmap to finding your own path.

With letters from Dame Jane Goodall, Helen Sharman OBE, Bindi Irwin, Dr Astro Teller, Catherine Coleman Flowers, Lizzie Carr, Professor Jean Golding OBE, Professor Ian Frazer AC, Dr Michael Irwin, Professor Anil Seth, Sir Tim Smit KBE, Edward O. Wilson, Dr Mya-Rose Craig, Professor Lord Robert Winston, Bill McKibben, Henry Marsh CBE, Dr Kathryn Mannix, Dame Hilary Mantel, Julian Fellowes, Michael Frayn FRSL, Jodi Picoult, Anthony Horowitz CBE, Tony Wheeler, AO, Pico Iyer, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak FBA, Amol Rajan, Sir Alan Ayckbourn, Simon Calder, Monica Heisey, Donna Ashworth, Gyles Brandreth, Danny Wallace, Rupi Kaur, Susan Pollack MBE, Martine Wright MBE, Simon Weston CBE, Mike Haines MBE, Natalie Queiroz MBE, Sir Terry Waite KCMG CBE, Chris Moon MBE, Matt Lewis, Brian Clark, John Hoskison, Benedict Allen, Tom Turcich, Ann Daniels, Dame Ellen Macarthur, Mark Beaumont BEM, Ben Smith, Yves Rossy, Jessica Watson, Fatima Whitbread MBE, Chris Eubank, Gail Muller, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Bonita Norris, Alexander Campbell, David Smith MBE, Yusuf / Cat Stevens, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Rachel Portman OBE, Sir Michael Eavis, Sananda Maitreya, Ruth Rogers CBE, Luke Jerram, Stefan Sagmeister, Tommy Cannon, The Connor Brothers, David Hurn, Max Fosh, Jonathan Goodwin, Joan Armatrading CBE, Sir John Major KG CH, President Jimmy Carter, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Bishop Guli, Dr Rowan Williams, Zara Mohammed, Rabbi David Rosen KSG CBE, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Richard Reed, Claire Williams OBE, Dame Stephanie Shirley, Julie Bentley, Dave Fishwick, Dr Sarah Hughes, Richard Farleigh, Marvin Rees OBE, Jack Kornfield, Oliver Burkeman, Dr Sara Kuburic, Adam Grant, Celeste Headlee, Mark Manson, Beth Kempton, Cory Allen, Professor Peter Adamson, Melissa Sterry, Mark Stevenson, Joshua Fletcher, Gretchen Rubin, Charles Duhigg, Roxie Nafousi, Matt Ridley, and Charles Salvador.

Additional information

Weight 0.7 kg
Dimensions 22 × 16 × 4 cm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Hardback

Pages

320

Language

English

Edition
Dewey

128 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K

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