Feed the Soul
Lessons from Aristotle on Living Well
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Yale University Press
Publishing:5th Jan '27
£20.00
This title is due to be published on 5th January, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
A lively and personal guide to pursuing true happiness through a life grounded in empathy and shared purpose
Of all the ancient thinkers, Aristotle is the humane, dynamic guide we need to navigate modern life. Unlike the Stoics, who advocated detachment and self-reliance, Aristotle knew that goodness grows through human connections. People flourish through friendship and community, and they wither when they retreat.
Distilling Aristotle’s core ideas, acclaimed scholar Nancy Sherman explores how connection, curiosity, and ethical character can help us make peace with the fragility of happiness, and how we can address the questions we struggle to answer:
• What is it to flourish?
• What is it to live a good life?
• How do we find joy in nature without exploiting it?
• How do we play without hurting, joke without mocking?
• How do we build strong friendships in an age of loneliness?
• What does it mean to have a good soul?
As Sherman walks beside the famous philosopher, she shows us why his vision speaks powerfully to our anxious and divided times—and how we can put that vision into practice.
“A lovely, amazing book, packed with insights. Aristotle emerges not as the usual remote pedant but as a curious and gracious friend who accompanies the reader as he studies animals, reacts to tragic performances and athletic contests, and engages us throughout in pondering the difficulty and joy of living well.”—Martha C. Nussbaum, author of Justice for Animals
"Nancy Sherman is a master of ancient applied philosophy. Her exploration of Aristotle — his ethics, his biology, his vision of the good life — shows why he remains indispensable for anyone trying to live well in the twenty-first century.”—Massimo Pigliucci, author of How to Be a (Happy) Skeptic
“Erudite, engaging, and deeply relevant, Feed the Soul brings Aristotle into the modern world. From friendship and resilience to nature, sport, humor, and happiness, Nancy Sherman reveals how ancient Aristotelian philosophy can help us cultivate our character and strengthen our relationships.”—Donald Robertson, author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
"Aristotle's insights into virtue and character make him one of humanity's greatest thinkers and guides on how to live a full and meaningful life. In Feed the Soul, Nancy Sherman confirms that she is one of the clearest and perceptive guides on how to understand Aristotle and his wisdom. Reading this book will enrich your life."—Ezekiel J. Emanuel, author of Eat Your Ice Cream
“Feed the Soul is an introduction to Aristotle like no other. Nancy Sherman's vivid portrayal of this towering figure in Western thought reveals him as an extraordinary human being full of curiosity and ideas - sometimes erroneous, but often wise - that are surprisingly relevant to living well in our own times.”—Peter Singer, Princeton University, author and co-host of the podcast Lives Well Lived
ISBN: 9780300280951
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
224 pages