What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Be a (Happy) Skeptic: Cicero and the Power of Curiosity for a Purposeful Life
Updating ancient philosophy with modern cognitive and social science, a leading philosopher reveals how a sceptical approach is the perfect guide to a good life
The ancient Greeks and Romans devised an approach to life based on the notion that we don't know as much as we think we do, and that adjusting our beliefs to the evidence while keeping in mind that we could be wrong about things is the path to a happy and meaningful life and a just society.
In HOW TO BE A (HAPPY) SKEPTIC, philosopher and scientist Massimo Pigliucci adopts as his guide the ancient Roman public advocate, orator, statesman and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero to reveal the benefits of cultivating curiosity and doubt in the pursuit of knowledge throughout our life.
Following Cicero's life and works, Pigliucci explores the foundations for a good life, from how to formulate our values to how to nurture friendships, from how to be a good citizen and fight for social justice to how to handle grief, pain and even death - all the while setting this ancient wisdom in the context of modern knowledge.
The ancient Greeks and Romans devised an approach to life based on the notion that we don't know as much as we think we do, and that adjusting our beliefs to the evidence while keeping in mind that we could be wrong about things is the path to a happy and meaningful life and a just society.
In HOW TO BE A (HAPPY) SKEPTIC, philosopher and scientist Massimo Pigliucci adopts as his guide the ancient Roman public advocate, orator, statesman and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero to reveal the benefits of cultivating curiosity and doubt in the pursuit of knowledge throughout our life.
Following Cicero's life and works, Pigliucci explores the foundations for a good life, from how to formulate our values to how to nurture friendships, from how to be a good citizen and fight for social justice to how to handle grief, pain and even death - all the while setting this ancient wisdom in the context of modern knowledge.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
Massimo Pigliucci
82 books1,255 followers[NOTE: I do not update here, because GR is owned by Amazon. Please follow me over at TheStoryGraph instead!]
Massimo Pigliucci is an author, blogger, podcaster, as well as the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York.
His academic work is in evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophy. His books include How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books) and Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (University of Chicago Press).
His new book is How to Be a (Happy) Skeptic: The Power of Doubt in a Meaningful Life (Penguin).
Massimo Pigliucci is an author, blogger, podcaster, as well as the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York.
His academic work is in evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophy. His books include How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books) and Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (University of Chicago Press).
His new book is How to Be a (Happy) Skeptic: The Power of Doubt in a Meaningful Life (Penguin).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
No one has reviewed this book yet.