Essays of Michel De MontaigneEssays of Michel De Montaigne
Score Classic
What it's about
In the 1570s a French nobleman named Michel de Montaigne retired to a tower on his estate and started writing about whatever was on his mind: friendship, cannibals, sleep, cruelty, smells, idleness, how to face death, his kidney stones. He called these attempts essais, and in writing them he invented the essay. His real subject, he said, was himself.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the founding books of modern thought and is on the Bokklubben list of the 100 greatest books. Montaigne is curious, funny and doubtful of everything, including himself, and he still reads like a friend thinking out loud.
You'll love it if you liked
Walden
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-centered Planet
Pilgrim at Tinker CreekGood to know
There are over a hundred essays, so most editions are selections; start with Of Friendship, Of Cannibals and Of Experience. A modern translation such as M. A. Screech's helps.
By the numbers
- Readers83 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics55 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller10 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is Essays of Michel De Montaigne worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the founding books of modern thought and is on the Bokklubben list of the 100 greatest books. It ranks #550 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Essays of Michel De Montaigne about?
In the 1570s a French nobleman named Michel de Montaigne retired to a tower on his estate and started writing about whatever was on his mind: friendship, cannibals, sleep, cruelty, smells, idleness, how to face death, his kidney stones. He called these attempts essais, and in writing them he invented the essay. His real subject, he said, was himself.
How long does it take to read Essays of Michel De Montaigne?
About 12 hours (472 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Essays of Michel De Montaigne?
If you liked it, try Walden by Henry David Thoreau, The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-centered Planet by John Green or Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard.