Welcome to Litsy!

I read this as a stepping stone to Montaigne. I hesitated to jump right into the essays of a 16th century French nobleman and Renaissance philosopher. This inspires me to read on and points to several translations, biographies, and monographs. It was also my introduction to Michael Perry, a talented and funny writer, who humorously evaluates his life through Montaigne‘s essays.

Disclaimer: I am a huge fan of Michael Perry and love everything he writes. That being said, i found that in this one, he shares so much more and is much more vulnerable than his other books and even than his talks (I‘ve seen him a lot). I appreciated the humor brings all the difficult topics in this book. And the scene where he drives himself to the ER? My husband did something similar. Must be something about being a Scandinavian Wisconsinite.

Interesting autobiographical essays that are loosely based on reading Montaigne‘s essays. An enjoyable listen.

I love this collection of essays/memoir, even though I never thought I would pick up anything with the name of a French philosopher in the title. This hits at the heart and soul of life -- family, love, connecting with our neighbors, politics and civil discourse, religion, etc. Perry manages to make you laugh out loud and tugs at your heartstrings, sometimes within the same paragraph. Love, love, love this work.

"If I have the phrase right, It's Check your privilege, not abandon it. It's not really much of an ask. To disrupt the canon is not to destroy it but rather recast it. To -- this word again --amplify it. I want every day to remember that mine may not be the definitive perspective."