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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
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Life Is Hard summary
How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way
13 mins
Brief summary
Life Is Hard by Kieran Setiya explores how to find meaning and joy in life despite its inherent difficulties. He draws on philosophy and psychology to offer advice on how to cultivate resilience, self-awareness, and personal growth.
Table of Contents
Life Is Hard
Summary of 4 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 4
Lessons from a bathroom floor
He doesn’t remember the movie, but he remembers the pain.
Kieran Setiya suffers from chronic pain – a condition that first hit him at age 27 when he was at The Oaks, a movie theater in Pittsburgh. The pain stabbed him in the side and sent him running for the restroom. Urinating brought some relief, but the pain returned when Setiya got home. It kept him awake and hallucinating on his bathroom floor all night long.
After multiple tests and trips to various doctors, the only professional remedy Setiya received was this advice: “Try to ignore it.”
For 13 years, that’s exactly what Setiya did. He was uncomfortable at times, and sleeping was a struggle, but the pain did not make his life worthless or unlivable. He advanced his career and landed a job at one of the world’s most prestigious universities, MIT. He supported his wife and mother when they needed him, bought a new home, and engaged in social activism. When the pain got worse 13 years later, it led Setiya to a new doctor with better insights – and the motivation to write his book.
Setiya’s chronic pain may have prevented restful sleep, but it didn’t prevent him from enjoying most of life’s activities. The same can be true for just about anyone with just about any disease or disability. Sure, being a wheelchair user means you can’t run – but it doesn’t mean you can’t play basketball, listen to music, enjoy a sunset, or fall in love. The reality is, we all have some restrictions on life because we simply don’t have enough time or energy to master every skill, play every game, and enjoy everything in the world that’s worth enjoying.
There are, of course, some disabilities or levels of pain that prevent so many activities or cause so much discomfort that they prevent us from living well. This is where circumstances make a major impact: diabetes can be managed by someone with access to affordable insulin and reliable health care, but it can be debilitating and deadly to someone who’s not as privileged.
At times, pain can become overwhelming. But it can also teach compassion. In Setiya’s case, once he’d experienced the trauma of hallucinations on the bathroom floor, he had a lot more empathy for others experiencing their own nightmares. There is solidarity in suffering, which leads us into the hardship of the next section – loneliness.
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What is Life Is Hard about?
Life Is Hard (2022) takes a close look at common struggles – like infirmity, loneliness, grief, and failure – through the lens of philosophy, as well as fiction, sports, history, and personal anecdotes. By examining the familiar hardships of the human condition, we can learn how to live well.
Life Is Hard Review
Life Is Hard (2020) by Kieran Setiya is a thought-provoking exploration of the difficulties we face in life and how to find meaning amidst them. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers philosophical insights to help us navigate life's challenges and find fulfillment, providing a new perspective on the struggles we all encounter.
- Through wisdom from various philosophers and Setiya's own reflections, the book presents a comprehensive examination of the human condition, connecting with readers on a deep level.
- With its practical tips on resilience and maintaining a sense of purpose, the book empowers readers to navigate hardships and cultivate a meaningful life.
Who should read Life Is Hard?
- Anyone feeling overwhelmed by the hardships and injustice across the globe
- People trying to cope with personal struggles
- Fans of practical, accessible philosophy
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Life Is Hard FAQs
What is the main message of Life Is Hard?
The main message of Life Is Hard is a philosophical exploration of the struggles and challenges we face in life.
How long does it take to read Life Is Hard?
The reading time for Life Is Hard varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Life Is Hard a good book? Is it worth reading?
Life Is Hard is worth reading as it offers valuable insights into navigating the difficulties of life and finding meaning amidst the challenges.
Who is the author of Life Is Hard?
Kieran Setiya is the author of Life Is Hard.
What to read after Life Is Hard?
If you're wondering what to read next after Life Is Hard, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Midlife by Kieran Setiya
- Will by Will Smith with Mark Manson
- The Art of Talking with Children by Rebecca Rolland
- Who Better Than You? by Will Packer
- Didn't See That Coming by Rachel Hollis
- In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté
- Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
- You Be You by Drew Canole
- Better Small Talk by Patrick King
- Existentialism Is a Humanism by Jean-Paul Sartre