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Renaissance Wisdom: How to Flourish in the Modern Day
Renaissance How to Flourish in the Modern Day is an exploration of the Renaissance psyche and of the ancient texts and wisdom that inspired it. Out of the darkness of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance emerged as a beacon of light in the Western world. Humankind was once again reconnected to its highest potentials and men like Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci were produced from the brilliance of the day. The Renaissance (French word for rebirth) was not merely a genesis of a new mindset that changed the world, but it was a rebirth of the same wisdom that allowed the ancient worlds of Greece and Rome to thrive and flourish as well. Much of this wisdom is profiled within the pages of Renaissance How to Flourish in the Modern Day and it provides a modern reader with guidance on how to apply these lessons to their own life. Debut author, Shane Sorensen, provides not only a detailed view into the history of the Renaissance, but also profiles the time period’s greatest minds and looks at how ancient wisdom inspired their lives. Finally, after taking the reader throughout the history of the period, readers are provided with several key ideas and philosophies of the Renaissance and shown both historical examples in practice and also how a modern reader may apply these ideas to their own lives today. Renaissance How to Flourish in the Modern Day is both teacher and guide of the Renaissance spirit and shows one how to unlock the full spirit of the Renaissance so that they may flourish in all the brilliance of the Renaissance age.
- GenresPhilosophyHistory
222 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2022
36 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 25, 2022
Before Renaissance Wisdom was a book, it existed as an Instagram profile. You often see pages sharing quotes on Instagram, but Renaissance Wisdom was more than that. It was more than a quote – it was a story, an anecdote with a lesson – and that is what drew me in. Coincidentally, at the time when I started following the page, I privately experienced one misfortune after another and was disillusioned with basically everything. So, even though I was interested in philosophy from before, at this point in my life I felt each post spoke to me. It was fascinating and comforting to know that some of the great historical figures experienced the same trials and tribulations in their lives as some modern day regular person. It encouraged me to look inward and work on myself, and I took a few advices from renaissance men and stoics.
Since then, I was eagerly awaiting the book. I finally got the book this month and I read it in a few days. It was an easy and pleasant read. I already know some history, art history and philosophy, but I still learned a few new things. I honestly kind of wished the book was thicker, and I really hope there will be more books around the same/similar topic(s) in the future (please?)! In a way, I am already trying to apply this „renaissance wisdom“ in my life, so the book strengthened my beliefs and my way of life. But I think there are many people who need this wisdom more than me. Today, in these „modern times“ we are mostly living superficial lives centered around material things and just inflating our egos. No wonder so many people feel lost, empty, depressed and see no meaning in life. How did we come to this? We are living in the 21st century thinking we're the smartest humans have ever been, but we are so disconnected from ourselves, and we almost completely forgot the wisdom possessed by the humanity. I am baffled how some people who lived such a long time ago „figured things out“ and we just decided to forget that.
READ THIS BOOK.
The book is mainly focused on Florence, Italy during the renaissance period, but you will also experience some wisdom from Ancient Greece and Rome. Because, that is exactly the thing – just as we, the people of today have forgotten the wisdom of the past, so have people before us. After some time spent in the „dark“ Middle Ages some people got tired of living like that and decided to remember and learn from antiquity and luckily! – because we got to have renaissance. I honestly feel we are again stuck in some „dark ages“ despite all the progress, technology, this and that we're so proud of. But where is the humanity, where is the wisdom, where are the true values, where is contentment with life…? People need a wake-up call, and it starts with the individual.
Let's bring about a new renaissance, hm?
Since then, I was eagerly awaiting the book. I finally got the book this month and I read it in a few days. It was an easy and pleasant read. I already know some history, art history and philosophy, but I still learned a few new things. I honestly kind of wished the book was thicker, and I really hope there will be more books around the same/similar topic(s) in the future (please?)! In a way, I am already trying to apply this „renaissance wisdom“ in my life, so the book strengthened my beliefs and my way of life. But I think there are many people who need this wisdom more than me. Today, in these „modern times“ we are mostly living superficial lives centered around material things and just inflating our egos. No wonder so many people feel lost, empty, depressed and see no meaning in life. How did we come to this? We are living in the 21st century thinking we're the smartest humans have ever been, but we are so disconnected from ourselves, and we almost completely forgot the wisdom possessed by the humanity. I am baffled how some people who lived such a long time ago „figured things out“ and we just decided to forget that.
READ THIS BOOK.
The book is mainly focused on Florence, Italy during the renaissance period, but you will also experience some wisdom from Ancient Greece and Rome. Because, that is exactly the thing – just as we, the people of today have forgotten the wisdom of the past, so have people before us. After some time spent in the „dark“ Middle Ages some people got tired of living like that and decided to remember and learn from antiquity and luckily! – because we got to have renaissance. I honestly feel we are again stuck in some „dark ages“ despite all the progress, technology, this and that we're so proud of. But where is the humanity, where is the wisdom, where are the true values, where is contentment with life…? People need a wake-up call, and it starts with the individual.
Let's bring about a new renaissance, hm?
September 9, 2022
This is a book about the rise of the Renaissance in a city of Italy named Florence
The author claims that the original era of the Renaissance is basically from this city.
🔖This city previously was part of Rome But after the collision of Rome new country formed Italy and the name of this city become Florence.
🔖When I began reading this book I felt, it is a book of wisdom but the author turns table after 30 pages and this book turn out to the mostly a history book on how the old brilliant thinker started the revolution of the Renaissance by their thoughts, words, writing and lifestyle after the great dark ages.
✍️Author says that-
"A large part of the Renaissance movement was the study of the ethical teachings of people like Cicero, Plato, Aristotle, and Seneca."
📘This book become factual in the middle and it was a biography of all the thinkers who worked hard to bring a golden century of Renaissance to future generations.
🔖Every story begins with these personalities-birth, influences, and struggling life, and ends with their great work.
🔖But if you have patience enough and can dig deeper this book has some really valuable assets inside after every 20-30 pages of historical facts.
There are snippets of wisdom and great thoughts that can change your whole perspective on whole Western philosophy.
🔖This book conveys the message about self-awareness, the true meaning of life and questioning things that we start believing blindly.
Why knowing about Renaissance is important still in this age.
Who can this book 👇
If you are interested in the historical facts with the touch of the wisdom of old age philosophy go for it. Especially about the birth of
' Renaissance' then go for it.
Disclaimer⚠️
Have a lot of patience, otherwise please don't read it.
The author claims that the original era of the Renaissance is basically from this city.
🔖This city previously was part of Rome But after the collision of Rome new country formed Italy and the name of this city become Florence.
🔖When I began reading this book I felt, it is a book of wisdom but the author turns table after 30 pages and this book turn out to the mostly a history book on how the old brilliant thinker started the revolution of the Renaissance by their thoughts, words, writing and lifestyle after the great dark ages.
✍️Author says that-
"A large part of the Renaissance movement was the study of the ethical teachings of people like Cicero, Plato, Aristotle, and Seneca."
📘This book become factual in the middle and it was a biography of all the thinkers who worked hard to bring a golden century of Renaissance to future generations.
🔖Every story begins with these personalities-birth, influences, and struggling life, and ends with their great work.
🔖But if you have patience enough and can dig deeper this book has some really valuable assets inside after every 20-30 pages of historical facts.
There are snippets of wisdom and great thoughts that can change your whole perspective on whole Western philosophy.
🔖This book conveys the message about self-awareness, the true meaning of life and questioning things that we start believing blindly.
Why knowing about Renaissance is important still in this age.
Who can this book 👇
If you are interested in the historical facts with the touch of the wisdom of old age philosophy go for it. Especially about the birth of
' Renaissance' then go for it.
Disclaimer⚠️
Have a lot of patience, otherwise please don't read it.
July 15, 2022
📚 𝐍𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲.
The book discusses the ideas of some great minds from history like Da Vinci, Giovanni Manetti, Galileo, Raphael, Shakespeare, Leon Alberti, and many others. It explores these ideas and philosophies that sparked one of the greatest revolutions of human thought. By exploring the life of these people, their ideas, values, thinking, beliefs, it teaches you some great lessons about life, mindset, and ethics.
There is so much to learn from these great personalities. Reading the works of the greats that came before us, or when reading about their lives, we can find poignant examples of how it might be best for us to live as well. We can gain some wisdom from their experience.
The book focuses on a very specific time period and people (especially the city of Florence between the years of 1350 and 1500). It discusses the history of the Renaissance and the people of Florence that helped the culture of the Renaissance to flourish.
It’s a well researched book and events are lucidly written. I can’t believe it’s the first book of the author Shane Sorensen. I felt like reading a book written by an expert in this subject.
The book will be beneficial to anyone who practice and applies these ideas into his life. If you have interest in reading philosophy and wants to understand the ideas and beliefs of these legends who changed the world, then you will love reading it.
The book discusses the ideas of some great minds from history like Da Vinci, Giovanni Manetti, Galileo, Raphael, Shakespeare, Leon Alberti, and many others. It explores these ideas and philosophies that sparked one of the greatest revolutions of human thought. By exploring the life of these people, their ideas, values, thinking, beliefs, it teaches you some great lessons about life, mindset, and ethics.
There is so much to learn from these great personalities. Reading the works of the greats that came before us, or when reading about their lives, we can find poignant examples of how it might be best for us to live as well. We can gain some wisdom from their experience.
The book focuses on a very specific time period and people (especially the city of Florence between the years of 1350 and 1500). It discusses the history of the Renaissance and the people of Florence that helped the culture of the Renaissance to flourish.
It’s a well researched book and events are lucidly written. I can’t believe it’s the first book of the author Shane Sorensen. I felt like reading a book written by an expert in this subject.
The book will be beneficial to anyone who practice and applies these ideas into his life. If you have interest in reading philosophy and wants to understand the ideas and beliefs of these legends who changed the world, then you will love reading it.
January 24, 2023
It’s rare to find a book where the virtues championed within the text are so clearly reflected in the author’s thoughts and stylistic choices. Shane Sorenson, in Renaissance Wisdom, doesn’t just quote historical figures like Epictetus. He takes their words and puts them into action, (which is to say that he doesn’t just explain his philosophy, he embodies it as well).
His personal commitment to the virtues he writes about in this book is evident throughout it. He tells the reader about how important it is to “learn to love learning,” but only after proving his own love of learning in the form of a compelling and meticulously researched recounting of Renaissance history. Similarly, he tells the reader about the value of “questioning everything” and how essential and difficult it is to truly “know thyself,” but only after providing textual and subtextual evidence of his own self-knowledge that he acquired by way of questioning everything. In so many ways, this book feels like a literal and physical representation of the ideas contained within it. Which, in the genres of history, philosophy, and self-help, is an incredibly rare characteristic.
One of my favorite parts of the book was how, in paying special attention to Humanism — a philosophy that focuses on the specific value and potential of individuals — Sorenson chose to focus on specific individuals. I thought it was both interesting and helpful that he made the choice to explain Humanism, a person-focused philosophy, by telling the stories of the people behind it.
So often valuable ideas from history and philosophy, like the many contained within this book, are rendered inaccessible to most people because they’re written about in strictly academic terms. That is not the case here. Right on page 7, Sorenson tells the reader that “This book is not intended to be an academic treatise.” He makes it clear that, instead, this book is meant to be a way for people to discover and learn about powerful ideas — ideas which, if applied in their own lives, can benefit them and the world around them. His conversational and well-researched style aids in the accessibility of the information and helps to create an enjoyable experience for readers of all levels.
The ideas that are discussed in this book offer virtually universal application, and therefore almost any potential reader would benefit in some manner from having read this book. I would personally recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the philosophy and history of the Renaissance, but in a modern way that is easily digestible and applicable to their own lives. And, more specifically, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who feels like they're stuck in "dark" times, and who might be looking for a way to jumpstart their own personal Renaissance.
His personal commitment to the virtues he writes about in this book is evident throughout it. He tells the reader about how important it is to “learn to love learning,” but only after proving his own love of learning in the form of a compelling and meticulously researched recounting of Renaissance history. Similarly, he tells the reader about the value of “questioning everything” and how essential and difficult it is to truly “know thyself,” but only after providing textual and subtextual evidence of his own self-knowledge that he acquired by way of questioning everything. In so many ways, this book feels like a literal and physical representation of the ideas contained within it. Which, in the genres of history, philosophy, and self-help, is an incredibly rare characteristic.
One of my favorite parts of the book was how, in paying special attention to Humanism — a philosophy that focuses on the specific value and potential of individuals — Sorenson chose to focus on specific individuals. I thought it was both interesting and helpful that he made the choice to explain Humanism, a person-focused philosophy, by telling the stories of the people behind it.
So often valuable ideas from history and philosophy, like the many contained within this book, are rendered inaccessible to most people because they’re written about in strictly academic terms. That is not the case here. Right on page 7, Sorenson tells the reader that “This book is not intended to be an academic treatise.” He makes it clear that, instead, this book is meant to be a way for people to discover and learn about powerful ideas — ideas which, if applied in their own lives, can benefit them and the world around them. His conversational and well-researched style aids in the accessibility of the information and helps to create an enjoyable experience for readers of all levels.
The ideas that are discussed in this book offer virtually universal application, and therefore almost any potential reader would benefit in some manner from having read this book. I would personally recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the philosophy and history of the Renaissance, but in a modern way that is easily digestible and applicable to their own lives. And, more specifically, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who feels like they're stuck in "dark" times, and who might be looking for a way to jumpstart their own personal Renaissance.
September 13, 2024
This book is actually great. Or, it has the potential to be great - so do not write it off with a 3-star review. It is just very badly edited. It begins even before the book begins where the "Advisory note" is, telling us that "The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious". They are not, of course, but the author just kept the template text. That is how rushed it was.
We get in the first part an introduction to the different people in the Renaissance of Florence, that contributed to the golden age. For every single one, there is repetition. Repetition and repetition. Same list of ideas. When referring to another figure, the main things from him is repeated as if the reader did not remember. Maybe an early attempt to use AI to write parts of the chapters without sufficient context? The same facts are given to us many times, instead of weaving the mini-biographies together when they are, after all, related. Then we are going to learn about their wisdom, but rather than learning it from the Renaissance philosophers, the author goes to their source and gives us a guided tour of the ancient philosophers and their ideas instead. how difficult is it to give the ancient ideas more as a voice of the Renaissance philosophers? All while also including quite a lot of... you guessed it: repetitions. Turns out, the Renaissance was not that important after all.
So, it does not give us Renaissance wisdom - it gives us ancient Greek and Roman wisdom.
From there, the last chapter is just a repetition and simple guide on how to apply those into our lives in the hope of a new renaissance.
There are golden nuggets here and there, but the whole short book could have been half the length and delivered much better results. Get some critique, from editors, and listen to their voices. There are parts that seems like the author had written a paragraph or sentence in his notebook, but without edit just put it in there where it fit the most, because it was too good to give up.
You cannot fast-track to write a book about history or ideas and expect it to be a great result.
I just wanted to like this book so much more than what it gave.
We get in the first part an introduction to the different people in the Renaissance of Florence, that contributed to the golden age. For every single one, there is repetition. Repetition and repetition. Same list of ideas. When referring to another figure, the main things from him is repeated as if the reader did not remember. Maybe an early attempt to use AI to write parts of the chapters without sufficient context? The same facts are given to us many times, instead of weaving the mini-biographies together when they are, after all, related. Then we are going to learn about their wisdom, but rather than learning it from the Renaissance philosophers, the author goes to their source and gives us a guided tour of the ancient philosophers and their ideas instead. how difficult is it to give the ancient ideas more as a voice of the Renaissance philosophers? All while also including quite a lot of... you guessed it: repetitions. Turns out, the Renaissance was not that important after all.
So, it does not give us Renaissance wisdom - it gives us ancient Greek and Roman wisdom.
From there, the last chapter is just a repetition and simple guide on how to apply those into our lives in the hope of a new renaissance.
There are golden nuggets here and there, but the whole short book could have been half the length and delivered much better results. Get some critique, from editors, and listen to their voices. There are parts that seems like the author had written a paragraph or sentence in his notebook, but without edit just put it in there where it fit the most, because it was too good to give up.
You cannot fast-track to write a book about history or ideas and expect it to be a great result.
I just wanted to like this book so much more than what it gave.
July 25, 2022
In his book Renaissance wisdom, Shane Sorensen talks about the philosophy of people like Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Petrarch and many more, he teaches us how we can apply those philosophies in our daily lives. Because as is said in this book: “Many people wiser than us throughout history have looked to the past not for things to condemn, but for wisdom worth reviving.” And that is exactly what this book is about.
💡 Renaissance Wisdom is divided into three parts:
Part 1: A brief history of the Renaissance.
Part 2: Renaissance wisdom.
Part 3: Wisdom Reborn.
🧠 Although there were many parts in this book that I loved because of his perspective on life, but the one that stood out to me the most was the part where he talked about how it used to be acceptable that others hold beliefs that might be different from ours, but not anymore. People now a days think that something is either right or wrong and they have forgotten that the person standing across that line that we disagree with is another human being. Shane his mindset really shined through with this statement.
Take aways from this book:
🔺 Every person can achieve the heights of accomplishment if only they believed and applied themselves.
🔺 We once again need stronger individuals - not individuals looking to others for approval, but individuals strong enough to stand on their own and forge themselves into better human beings.
🔺 Don’t point fingers at others for the world’s problems, but first look in the mirror and ask yourself how you can make a difference today.
🔺 The better world that we all want to live in starts with us.
🔺 If you ever want to understand anything complex in life, then you must first understand yourself.
🔺 It is not where we end up that matters; it is the path we travel and who we become along the way that matters most.
This book really surprised me with how good it is and how much wisdom it holds, if you are a fan of antiquity and the wisdom of it, you should get your hands on this 💎
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Through the study of other great minds in history, we may act as sponges and soak up bits of wisdom that they gained through experience.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2022
Highly recommended
I have only recently started reading philosophy and I rate this one of the best. This is because it brings the past into the present and links them together. The language is easy to understand. Most importantly it gives a way forward for everyone, no matter what their beliefs.
I have only recently started reading philosophy and I rate this one of the best. This is because it brings the past into the present and links them together. The language is easy to understand. Most importantly it gives a way forward for everyone, no matter what their beliefs.
October 18, 2022
A delightful read. The author takes you on a concise journey through the renaissance period with practical lessons as souvenirs in your back pocket.
October 21, 2022
I just cant wait to read this book
December 28, 2022
Overview of the Florentine Renaissance meets self-help. It’s OK, a good start. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Not disappointed; not thrilled.
February 24, 2023
Great job by debuting author Shane. He inspires our generation to push forward to our best version of ourselves. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews