Know Yourself: A path to self-knowledge

by The School of Life

154 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2026

About the author

The 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.

Reviews

[deja · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sections on childhood, parenting styles, etc. are genuinely good, especially the impact on attachment styles and communication in relationships. That stuff makes it worth picking up.

The writing gets in its own way though. The book speaks in absolutes too often, leans on certain phrases too heavily, and some sentences ramble enough to warrant a reread.

It was research-heavy in a textbook kind of way - it’s informative, but don’t expect it to be super captivating or entertaining.

Thank you Edelweiss and publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Ro U]

I’m always a little vulnerable to books like this - anything promising self-awareness and deeper understanding of myself is basically an automatic yes. And Know Yourself definitely fits the classic The School of Life style: calm, reflective, and gently therapeutic.

There’s a lot to appreciate here - I liked the the sections on childhood, attachment, and how our unconscious patterns shape our relationships. At its best, it feels like low-key therapy in book form. It's thoughtful, validating, and occasionally hitting on something that makes you pause.

That said, if you’ve read a lot in the self-development space, this might feel a bit familiar. I kept hoping for a new insight or perspective, but most of it covered ground I’d already seen before. It also leans a little dense and research-heavy at times, which can make it feel more like a textbook than something you can’t put down.

Thank you Netgalley and the School of Life for the ARC!

Overall, not a bad read, especially if you’re newer to this kind of work. But for seasoned self-reflection enthusiasts, it may feel more like a refresher than a revelation.

[Eviana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book The School of Life is a meaningful gift for me. I really like how it touches on psychology in a thought-provoking way and goes into detail about understanding our inner lives. I agree that we all need to at least try to understand ourselves better.

However, this book wasn’t really a match for me. I found the reading somewhat difficult, and I think it might have been better with simpler explanations or more relatable examples. Also, as someone who has read many books by The School of Life, I felt that this one was a bit lacking and didn’t offer much that felt new.

Still, if you are looking for this specific topic, this book is useful and a good place to start.

Thank you to The School of Life and NetGalley for providing a digital ARC.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a bad book. It felt a little dense at times. Lots of facts and not so much narrative. There was some really nice text around love and attachment - for example - The most tender thing we might hear from a lover is that we are weird yet interesting, a mess yet vibrant, silly yet charming. Overall, I found it well researched but not a very entertaining read. Thanks to NetGalley and The School of Life for the ARC.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find the 'School of Life' books really hit and miss. Usually the books that allow you to journal (like a workbook-style) are great, but the books about a specific topic I find quite dull and waffly.
This book was super interesting and really made me think. The prompts allow you to delve deeper into your thoughts and feelings. You get to know more about you!
I received this book as an electronic copy (ARC) but I will be buying a physical copy so I can take full advantage of the journaling.

I would definitely recommend as a fun project to allow you to do a deep dive into who you are!