This attractive, unusual book provides a distinctive view of philosophy. It urges readers to look past the stereotypical idea that philosophy is a demanding, abstract, perhaps even impenetrable discipline, reserved solely for professional thinkers. The author illustrates seven reasons to embrace philosophy, not by retracing the history of thought, but rather with a rich array of references to literature and cinema. The seven reasons refer to goals that are typical of philosophical reflection but also find uses in everyday life: 1) know which questions to ask and how; 2) use words to answer these questions; 3) give reasons justifying the answers; 4) appreciate dissent, as long as it’s argued in a stimulating manner; 5) establish connections with other worldviews; 6) understand other eras and cherish past experiences; 7) comprehend other worlds (neither the West nor philosophers have a monopoly on thought, which has found similarly complex expressions in other geographical contexts, such as India, China and Japan).

Giuseppe Cambiano formerly taught History of Ancient Philosophy at the University of Turin and the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa.

Spanish world rights sold.