Carpe Diem: Seizing the Day in a Distracted World

Description

"Brilliant. One of those rare books that forces you to ask what the hell you're doing with your life." --George Monbiot, The Guardian **One of Forbes' 13 Best Books for Summer 2017** We've all heard the saying "seize the day." But what does it really mean--and how can we use it to jumpstart our lives? In the age of distraction, carpe diem is more essential than ever, and yet many of us simply don't employ it in our lives. In this thought-provoking and empowering book, cultural writer Roman Krznaric unpacks the history, philosophy, and modern-day applications of "seizing the day" and delivers a rousing call to action for anyone who wants to improve their lives--or our world. Carpe Diem is a far-ranging read, drawing on everything from the neuropsychology of regret to the anthropology of play, from medieval carnival rites to religious conceptions of the afterlife and early Japanese cinema. Offering food for thought as well as inspiring takeaways, the book examines not just the contributions of great thinkers throughout history, but also reveals insights from the lives of great seize-the-day practitioners including nightclub dancers, war photographers, bored housewives, and committed revolutionaries--offering a wide range of solutions to the daunting challenge of leading a meaningful life. Review: Five Stars - Learned a lot from it. Review: A book on how to be free, even if it's in small ways... - Years ago, in what seems a different life entirely, I was in the Air Force, where I was an airplane mechanic and flew around the world with my planes. Opportunities for trips would come up, and I would volunteer for them all, even were they to the far/poor/little inhabited places. I didn't care, I wanted to see everything. Since leaving the Air Force, however, my life has become small. I struggle with anxiety, my husband and I are not financially stable, and I rarely leave our house anymore. So when I came across this book, I knew instantly I would at least give it a try, and I'm so glad that I did. It's a slow read. It's involved. There are poems, history, and research. It's a book that you set down frequently and mull over. But the underlying theme nibbles at your mind for the duration: "Go out and experience the world today". It reminded me of earlier in my life when I was free, and the world was there to be seen and felt. About half way through the book I started asking myself, "well why am I not free now?" And today, I did seize the day. I hopped in my car and drove the two hours to see my sister. It was a small event--so small it's almost embarrassing. And yet normally it takes me days to make the decision to go. Today, I made the decision on a whim, and insignificant or not I felt free for the first time in months. I didn't necessarily think this book was an instruction manual on how to seize the day. It was more a book that inspired me to look at life differently so that I could make the decision on my own. I'd recommend it for anyone struggling with a corner of the world that is too small. With a life that is too confined. And with a desire to find ways, big or small, to be free.