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The Great Guide

What David Hume Can Teach Us About Being Human and Living Well

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The Great Guide

By: Julian Baggini
Narrated by: David Rintoul
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About this listen

This audiobook narrated by David Rintoul shares invaluable wisdom on living a good life from one of the Enlightenment's greatest philosophers

David Hume (1711-1776) is perhaps best known for his ideas about cause and effect and his criticisms of religion, but he is rarely thought of as a philosopher with practical wisdom to offer. Yet Hume's philosophy is grounded in an honest assessment of nature - human nature in particular. The Great Guide is an engaging and eye-opening account of how Hume's thought should serve as the basis for a complete approach to life.

In this enthralling book, Julian Baggini masterfully interweaves biography with intellectual history and philosophy to give us a complete vision of Hume's guide to life. He follows Hume on his life's journey, literally walking in the great philosopher's footsteps as Baggini takes listeners to the places that inspired Hume the most, from his family estate near the Scottish border to Paris, where, as an older man, he was warmly embraced by French society. Baggini shows how Hume put his philosophy into practice in a life that blended reason and passion, study and leisure, and relaxation and enjoyment.

The Great Guide includes 145 Humean maxims for living well, on topics ranging from the meaning of success and the value of travel to friendship, facing death, identity, and the importance of leisure. This book shows how life is far richer with Hume as your guide.

©2021 Julian Baggini (P)2021 Princeton University Press
Ethics & Morality Philosophers Political Science Inspiring France

Critic Reviews

"This unique book is filled with useful maxims for everyday life, illuminating Hume's world while also adding a contemporary touch. Baggini's intermingling of life and philosophy, both past and present, makes for an engaging read." (Angela M. Coventry, author of Hume: A Guide for the Perplexed)

"In this well-written and accessible book, Baggini shows how Hume’s life illustrates and accords with his philosophical standpoints, deftly navigating a good many of the central themes of Hume's work." (Simon Blackburn, author of What Do We Really Know? The Big Questions of Philosophy)

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Not quite what I expected

The book was well written and edited. The audio book was well executed.

My fault but it wasn’t the detailed exposition I expected.

No blame to the author- but certainly I recommend this if a light touch is sought.

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