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The School of Life Collected Essays: Reflections on Self-Knowledge, Emotional Maturity and Calm
A 15th anniversary collection of The School of Life’s most popular and essential essays on self-knowledge, relationships, work and culture. The School of Life is an organization with a mission at its to help foster calm, self-understanding and greater emotional maturity. For the last 15 years, we have produced landmark essays on important life topics, now gathered together for the first time. Among the essays collected here, conveniently, in one In elegant and clear, helpful prose, these essays take us on a tour around the banner topics of our emotional life, leaving us enlightened, calm and ready to tackle the harder things in life.
This beautiful edition of The School of Life’s best advice is a perfect companion to carry around or keep on a bedside table— a concise compendium of some of the wisest things we’ll ever need to know.
What our readers have been saying about the individual essays
On Confidence
"Brief but insightful! Will be back for more School of Life reads. Works really well on Audible" "Brilliant! Thought provoking. Kept concise enough to really focus on the subject and give you time to think about the subject in terms of yourself."
Self-Knowledge "It's such a simple and small book but with a powerful message! I really needed it and I'm grateful I got to read this book and work on the exercises. The exercises are definitely a plus and they're very well thought-through!"
Just perfect. Must-read for everyone who considers at least dating, not to mention serious commitment. Beautifully exposed all the myths and concepts of love, sex and relationships. While this is very entertaining and funny, the topics are very serious and make me think and change my attitude... a lot."
Why You Will Marry The Wrong Person "Excellent little book for perspective on a considerably important subject. If you plan on marrying, take a day and read this magnificent little title."
Essays from this series available as
Self-Knowledge On Confidence
This beautiful edition of The School of Life’s best advice is a perfect companion to carry around or keep on a bedside table— a concise compendium of some of the wisest things we’ll ever need to know.
What our readers have been saying about the individual essays
On Confidence
"Brief but insightful! Will be back for more School of Life reads. Works really well on Audible" "Brilliant! Thought provoking. Kept concise enough to really focus on the subject and give you time to think about the subject in terms of yourself."
Self-Knowledge "It's such a simple and small book but with a powerful message! I really needed it and I'm grateful I got to read this book and work on the exercises. The exercises are definitely a plus and they're very well thought-through!"
Just perfect. Must-read for everyone who considers at least dating, not to mention serious commitment. Beautifully exposed all the myths and concepts of love, sex and relationships. While this is very entertaining and funny, the topics are very serious and make me think and change my attitude... a lot."
Why You Will Marry The Wrong Person "Excellent little book for perspective on a considerably important subject. If you plan on marrying, take a day and read this magnificent little title."
Essays from this series available as
Self-Knowledge On Confidence
480 pages, Hardcover
Published April 2, 2024
24 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
The School of Life
173 books3,146 followersThe School of Life is a global organisation helping people lead more fulfilled lives.
We believe that the journey to finding fulfilment begins with self-knowledge. It is only when we have a sense of who we really are that we can make reliable decisions, particularly around love and work.
Sadly, tools and techniques for developing self-knowledge and finding fulfilment are hard to find – they’re not taught in schools, in universities, or in workplaces. Too many of us go through life without ever really understanding what’s going on in the recesses of our minds.
That’s why we created The School of Life; a resource for helping us understand ourselves, for improving our relationships, our careers and our social lives - as well as for helping us find calm and get more out of our leisure hours. We do this through films, workshops, books and gifts - as well as through a warm and supportive community.
We believe that the journey to finding fulfilment begins with self-knowledge. It is only when we have a sense of who we really are that we can make reliable decisions, particularly around love and work.
Sadly, tools and techniques for developing self-knowledge and finding fulfilment are hard to find – they’re not taught in schools, in universities, or in workplaces. Too many of us go through life without ever really understanding what’s going on in the recesses of our minds.
That’s why we created The School of Life; a resource for helping us understand ourselves, for improving our relationships, our careers and our social lives - as well as for helping us find calm and get more out of our leisure hours. We do this through films, workshops, books and gifts - as well as through a warm and supportive community.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 11, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Collected Essays by The School of Life was my first introduction to their work, and overall, it was a rewarding experience. While I wasn’t equally interested in every essay, I found myself genuinely engaged, especially with the ones about confidence, love, and marriage.
These particular essays stood out for their honesty and directness. They tackled topics we often over-romanticize or avoid with a refreshing clarity. A few ideas really struck me as eye-openers, challenging conventional assumptions without being afraid to say what many of us already sense deep down but rarely voice. There’s no fluff here, just thoughtful, straightforward reflections on human emotions and relationships.
If you're curious about psychology, emotional intelligence, or just enjoy essays that make you pause and think, I’d highly recommend giving this book a try. I’ll definitely be exploring more from The School of Life in the future.
Collected Essays by The School of Life was my first introduction to their work, and overall, it was a rewarding experience. While I wasn’t equally interested in every essay, I found myself genuinely engaged, especially with the ones about confidence, love, and marriage.
These particular essays stood out for their honesty and directness. They tackled topics we often over-romanticize or avoid with a refreshing clarity. A few ideas really struck me as eye-openers, challenging conventional assumptions without being afraid to say what many of us already sense deep down but rarely voice. There’s no fluff here, just thoughtful, straightforward reflections on human emotions and relationships.
If you're curious about psychology, emotional intelligence, or just enjoy essays that make you pause and think, I’d highly recommend giving this book a try. I’ll definitely be exploring more from The School of Life in the future.
March 28, 2024
I always love to read The SChool of Life essays as they make me think and reflect.
This is a collection that i found very interesting and it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This is a collection that i found very interesting and it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
March 20, 2024
This title consists of a series of essays on topics that both intrigue and provoke thought and self-reflection in the reader. Some of the subjects covered in this interesting volume are What is Psychotherapy; The Sorrows of Love; How to Reform Capitalism, and more.
Be sure to read the introduction in which the publisher discusses “the point of books.” Read the sections in any order but allow sufficient time to think and reflect.
This title will appeal to those who want to take time to think about some big aspects of life.
Many thanks to NetGalley and The School of Life for this title. All opinions are my own.
Be sure to read the introduction in which the publisher discusses “the point of books.” Read the sections in any order but allow sufficient time to think and reflect.
This title will appeal to those who want to take time to think about some big aspects of life.
Many thanks to NetGalley and The School of Life for this title. All opinions are my own.
April 23, 2025
Some books don’t arrive with a bang—they arrive with a kind of quiet confidence, like an old friend gently sitting beside you. The School of Life: Collected Essays – Reflections on Self-Knowledge, Emotional Maturity and Calmi is one of those books. It doesn’t shout, it doesn’t dazzle, and it certainly doesn’t promise to transform your life in five easy steps. Instead, it offers something rarer and far more enduring: thoughtfulness. Space to breathe. Gentle, intelligent company for the journey inward.
Put together by the team at The School of Life, these essays reflect years of work exploring what it means to be emotionally well. Drawing on psychology, philosophy, and life experience, the book invites readers into a series of reflections that feel less like reading advice and more like overhearing wisdom. The topics are broad but always anchored in lived reality—how our childhood shapes our moods, how we can stay calm amid uncertainty, why self-knowledge matters more than confidence. There’s nothing flashy about the content, but again and again, I found myself underlining lines that quietly hit home.
What’s striking is how the essays balance emotional depth with clarity. You never feel lost in theory, even though the ideas are rooted in serious thinking. These pages carry the spirit of Freud, Montaigne, and other big thinkers—but without ever trying to sound academic or overly clever. The tone is warm and conversational, almost like a letter from someone who’s been through some things and has taken the time to understand them.
The writing itself is a pleasure. It’s elegant without being showy, simple without being simplistic. It flows in a way that makes you want to keep reading, but also invites you to pause. Some essays are more philosophical, others more personal—but nearly all of them offer something that lingers. You’ll likely finish a piece and find yourself thinking about it while doing the dishes or walking the dog. That’s the kind of book this is. It stays with you.
Although the essays are grouped into three broad themes—self-knowledge, emotional maturity, and calm—you can read them in any order. They stand alone but also work beautifully together. There’s a quiet rhythm to the whole collection: it moves from the inward to the outward, from the raw to the reflective, without ever feeling forced. It doesn’t try to push you through a linear process. It just offers insights, generously and gently.
One of the book’s great strengths is that it feels deeply human. It acknowledges how messy emotions can be. How we’re all shaped by wounds we don’t fully understand. How hard it is, sometimes, just to stay present. There’s no pressure here to be perfect. Just a gentle encouragement to grow more self-aware—and kinder to ourselves and others as a result.
If you’re someone who prefers books with numbered strategies and clear-cut conclusions, this might not be quite your style. It leans more towards reflection than prescription. But if you’re the kind of reader who enjoys sitting with complex emotions, who values insight over instruction, then this will feel like a breath of fresh air.
What makes it even more powerful is that it never pretends to have all the answers. It’s humble. It simply points out what many of us overlook—that emotional health is as essential as physical health, and that understanding ourselves is a lifelong, worthwhile endeavour.
I’ve read a lot of self-development books, but few feel as lasting or as quietly profound as this one. It reminds you that you’re not alone in your struggles. That others have felt what you’re feeling. And that, even in the chaos, there are ways to live with more clarity and calm.
This isn’t just a book to read. It’s a book to live with. To come back to in quieter moments. To share with a friend who’s hurting, or to turn to when you’re feeling unsure of yourself. It doesn’t offer certainty—but it does offer something just as valuable: perspective.
For thoughtful readers who crave depth, not hype, and who want to live with more understanding and care, this book is an absolute gift. I suspect I’ll be returning to it for years.
Put together by the team at The School of Life, these essays reflect years of work exploring what it means to be emotionally well. Drawing on psychology, philosophy, and life experience, the book invites readers into a series of reflections that feel less like reading advice and more like overhearing wisdom. The topics are broad but always anchored in lived reality—how our childhood shapes our moods, how we can stay calm amid uncertainty, why self-knowledge matters more than confidence. There’s nothing flashy about the content, but again and again, I found myself underlining lines that quietly hit home.
What’s striking is how the essays balance emotional depth with clarity. You never feel lost in theory, even though the ideas are rooted in serious thinking. These pages carry the spirit of Freud, Montaigne, and other big thinkers—but without ever trying to sound academic or overly clever. The tone is warm and conversational, almost like a letter from someone who’s been through some things and has taken the time to understand them.
The writing itself is a pleasure. It’s elegant without being showy, simple without being simplistic. It flows in a way that makes you want to keep reading, but also invites you to pause. Some essays are more philosophical, others more personal—but nearly all of them offer something that lingers. You’ll likely finish a piece and find yourself thinking about it while doing the dishes or walking the dog. That’s the kind of book this is. It stays with you.
Although the essays are grouped into three broad themes—self-knowledge, emotional maturity, and calm—you can read them in any order. They stand alone but also work beautifully together. There’s a quiet rhythm to the whole collection: it moves from the inward to the outward, from the raw to the reflective, without ever feeling forced. It doesn’t try to push you through a linear process. It just offers insights, generously and gently.
One of the book’s great strengths is that it feels deeply human. It acknowledges how messy emotions can be. How we’re all shaped by wounds we don’t fully understand. How hard it is, sometimes, just to stay present. There’s no pressure here to be perfect. Just a gentle encouragement to grow more self-aware—and kinder to ourselves and others as a result.
If you’re someone who prefers books with numbered strategies and clear-cut conclusions, this might not be quite your style. It leans more towards reflection than prescription. But if you’re the kind of reader who enjoys sitting with complex emotions, who values insight over instruction, then this will feel like a breath of fresh air.
What makes it even more powerful is that it never pretends to have all the answers. It’s humble. It simply points out what many of us overlook—that emotional health is as essential as physical health, and that understanding ourselves is a lifelong, worthwhile endeavour.
I’ve read a lot of self-development books, but few feel as lasting or as quietly profound as this one. It reminds you that you’re not alone in your struggles. That others have felt what you’re feeling. And that, even in the chaos, there are ways to live with more clarity and calm.
This isn’t just a book to read. It’s a book to live with. To come back to in quieter moments. To share with a friend who’s hurting, or to turn to when you’re feeling unsure of yourself. It doesn’t offer certainty—but it does offer something just as valuable: perspective.
For thoughtful readers who crave depth, not hype, and who want to live with more understanding and care, this book is an absolute gift. I suspect I’ll be returning to it for years.
August 25, 2024
This is the collected essay of many great books were published under The School of Life. It's a very easy book to introduce The School of Life. We also can read according to the section/ issues that we most curious about. I wish there are more topics included for the next collected essay. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.
Thank you Net Galley and THe School of Life for providing e-copy for this collected essays.
Thank you Net Galley and THe School of Life for providing e-copy for this collected essays.
August 13, 2024
I found the pieces on confidence and self-awareness especially useful—they're short but really get you thinking. It's the kind of book you can pick up anytime and always find something that resonates.
January 7, 2025
Stellar, the last self-help book anyone needs.
September 17, 2025
Este libro es mi versión de la biblia, colección de ensayos sobre auto-conocimiento y madurez emocional.
March 21, 2024
The writers of this Essay Collection, aim to impart their ideas and knowledge to help readers understand the deeper meanings and significance of literature and art.
The writers’ focus is on individual’s personality, resilience, confidence, self-love, love towards others and careers. The essays are well-written and insightful, offering a unique perspective on the subjects they delve into. They also feature helpful references/ quotes/ art pieces from renowned writers and philosophers to support their arguments.
However, the book may not be suitable for those looking for a more comprehensive analysis of literature and art. This is more of a bonus than it is an exploration.
Overall, this book offers a thoughtful and engaging exploration of literature and art that may be of interest to some readers. It’s definitely good for someone looking for a change of pace.
The School of Life is an amazing organisation. I have been watching their philosophical videos on YouTube regularly over the years. They do give you something to think about. And it gives a huge sneak peek of what this book offers.
I received this book from Netgalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own and completely honest.
The writers’ focus is on individual’s personality, resilience, confidence, self-love, love towards others and careers. The essays are well-written and insightful, offering a unique perspective on the subjects they delve into. They also feature helpful references/ quotes/ art pieces from renowned writers and philosophers to support their arguments.
However, the book may not be suitable for those looking for a more comprehensive analysis of literature and art. This is more of a bonus than it is an exploration.
Overall, this book offers a thoughtful and engaging exploration of literature and art that may be of interest to some readers. It’s definitely good for someone looking for a change of pace.
The School of Life is an amazing organisation. I have been watching their philosophical videos on YouTube regularly over the years. They do give you something to think about. And it gives a huge sneak peek of what this book offers.
I received this book from Netgalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own and completely honest.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews