"Brilliant. One of those rare books that forces you to ask what the hell you’re doing with your life.' George Monbiot, The Guardian
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About Carpe Diem Regained
EXISTENTIALISM IS BACK
Carpe diem - 'seize the day' - is one of the oldest pieces of life advice in Western history. But its true spirit has been hijacked by ad men and self-help gurus, reduced to the instant hit of one-click online shopping, or slogans like 'live in the now'. We need to reclaim it to make sense of our complex, confusing times.
The last great expression of carpe diem was in the electrifying existential philosophy of the 1940s. Today it's an idea that challenges us to confront our mortality and live with greater passion and intention rather than scroll mindlessly on our phones or allow freedom to become a mere choice between brands.
In Carpe Diem Regained, Roman Krznaric reinvents existentialism for our age of information and choice overload. An essential and empowering work of contemporary philosophy, the book unveils the surprising ways of seizing the day that humankind has discovered over the centuries, ones we urgently need to revive.
Carpe diem is the Nexistentialism for our times.
Selected Reviews
The Guardian Best Holiday Reads 2017; Forbes Magazine Best Books for Summer 2017; Culture Whisper Best Non-Fiction Books 2017
"Brilliant. One of those rare books that forces you to ask what the hell you’re doing with your life.' George Monbiot, The Guardian
"Inspiring, bracing, and elegant: a timely corrective to contemporary follies, from mindfulness to workaholism. Carpe librum!" - Sarah Bakewell, author of At The Existentialist Café and How to Live: A Life of Montaigne
“I read this book with a mixture of wonder and recognition. The sound of the galloping hooves of the horses of oblivion have always stalked me like a rumour of something both awesome and terrible waiting in the wings in case, for a moment, I should be distracted by the temptations of a life lived passively. This has driven me to live and work as I do. In Carpe Diem Regained, Roman Krznaric has written a hugely important book for anyone who seeks to have agency in their life. It is, in short, a profound, playful book for wannabe grown-ups who love life.” - Sir Tim Smit, Founder of the Eden Project
"I have always been inspired by carpe diem so I'm delighted to have your book.' - Dame Judi Dench
"A rather wonderful new book is trying to seize back the noble art of day-seizing.' - Viv Groskop, The Pool
"As always Roman takes a unique look at the world we've created. Insightful and thought provoking." Tim Lovejoy, TV presenter
“The media tells us that we are forever young, but this wise and uplifting book is the perfect reminder that life is short and fragile, and that we need to seize the day to avoid living with regret.” - Philippa Perry, psychotherapist and author of How to Stay Sane
“Insightful, inspiring, and instructive. Anyone who feels like time is moving too fast and things are out of their control will be reinvigorated by this thoughtful guide.” - John Gray, author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
"Stunningly good. Roman Krznaric has written a modern classic of contemporary philosophy. Seize it immediately". Julia Hobsbawm, author of Fully Connected: Surviving and Thriving in an Age of Overload
"This entertaining, stimulating and even inspirational book helps concentrate the mind, move us to great deeds if we want, or helps us focus on simply making the most of life." Gareth Huw Davies, Mail on Sunday journalist
"Roman Krznaric writes fantastic non-fiction and he does so largely under the radar. In an era where everybody is an expert and non-fiction is constantly exploding with new ideas, it can be hard to find something that truly breaks the mould. Krznaric however rises above the others with his clever use of quirky history and modern day social contexts. I can honestly say that his books change how I look at the world." The Book Chief
"Carpe Diem Regained reminds us that personal satisfaction cannot be achieved without community awareness and collective harmony." The Australian
Selected Media
Observer: How the carpe diem ideal was hijacked
BBC Culture: Can carpe diem help us rethink death?
Guardian: Why it's time for political hedonism
Time Magazine: How we ruined mindfulness
Telegraph: 7 ways to be more spontaneous
Royal Society of the Arts: 7 min video on How to Seize the Political Day (full 60 min podcast version)
The i-Paper: The extraordinary story of Bernard Jordan
Sunday Herald: How TV robs us of the carpe diem spirit
Aeon Magazine: How "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam" inspired Victorian hedonists
YES! Magazine: Six Ways to Think About Death
Prospect Magazine: 5 Ways to Seize the Day
Psychology Today: What Jean-Paul Sartre and a fire-walking granny can teach us about life
Open Democracy: Can Carpe Diem save democracy?
Signature: Carpe diem and the art of writing
Other media: BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 3 Free Thinking, BBC Radio London, Mr Porter, The Reading Lists, Professional Wild Child, De Standaard, Trouw, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Nightlife, Extraordinary Business Book Club, Filosofie Magazine, Renegade Inc TV, The Hero Forge, Investor's Business Daily, Radboud Reflects, Yes Magazine political carpe diem, Collective Hub, Dear Lovejoy podcast, Dus Ik Ben, Vida Simples