Reasons Not to Worry

Like many people today, Brigid Delaney was searching for clues about life's most timeless questions: How can we be good? Find inner peace? Properly grieve? Tame our insecurities? Chief among them all: How do we determine what truly matters?

BOOK SUMMARY

Centuries ago, the Stoics pondered much of the same. At an important inflection point in her own life, Brigid decided to let these ancient philosophers be her guide. Brigid is rash where the Stoics are logical; she runs on chaos, while the Stoics know what is beyond their reach. Over the course of a year, Brigid dedicated herself to following the words and advice of Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. In doing so, she hoped to discover how best to live.

In Reasons Not to Worry, Brigid shares what she learned, showing us how we, too, can draw on the Stoics to regain a sense of agency and tranquility and find meaning in our lives. From learning to relinquish control to cultivating daily awareness of our mortality to building community, Brigid’s insights are very funny and very wise, and she gives us all the best reasons not to worry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brigid Delaney is a political speechwriter for Australia's minister for finance and minister for women. For many years she wrote the popular weekly column "Brigid Delaney's Diary" for the Guardian. She cocreated the Netflix series Wellmania, based on her book, and cofounded the anti–death penalty movement Mercy Campaign. She lives in Australia.

PRAISE

"Delaney is a great guide." -Booklist (starred review)

"Reasons Not to Worry is both an introduction and an interrogation of Stoicism. With acute thoughtfulness and a genial lightness, Delaney convinces us that this ancient philosophy is still relevant and necessary. I appreciated the kindness in this book and I was grateful for the care and commitment and joy of the writing and argument." -Christos Tsiolkas, author of Damascus and Seven and a Half

"Brigid has the most incredible gift of taking seemingly complex and esoteric concepts and explaining them to the reader in a way that is generous and clear, but above all, relatable. Reading this book is like having a long walk with your cool big sister while she just happens to be giving you the skinny on Greco- Roman philosophy." -Ben Lee

PRODUCT INFORMATION

• Paperback
• 304 Pages
• Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy
• 8 in H | 5.3 in W | 0.6 lb