My recent reading of Montaigne has increased my interest in how simple, straightforward “how to live” advice is made available. In our era we rely on data to validate our claims, so contemporary advice takes on a different hue. I was struck by this when I came across The Ψ Project blog and a list of findings from studies during the year that yielded insights both useful and interesting. (These were originally assembled by David DiSalvo at Psychology Today.)
Here’s a sample from that list for 2010 which reads a bit like the 16th century guidance provided by Montaigne referenced in two earlier posts, here and here:
We spend almost half of our time awake lost in day-dreams…. And it doesn’t make us happy.
We’re happier when we’re busy, but are wired to be lazy.
The rich have no need to develop empathy. The poor do.
Forgive yourself for procrastinating, and the procrastination will stop.
Note: You can read DiSalvo’s list for 2009 here. A few samples:
If you have to choose between buying something or spending the money on a memorable experience, go with the experience.
Turns out, saying you’re sorry really is important—and not just to you
If you’re preparing for a specific challenge, make sure you prep for that challenge and not just ones like it.
It would not come to my mind to associate the contemplative self irony of Montaigne, with the oversea obsession to squeeze life into these usual 12,5 points to success self promotions.
But I can for sure see why the middle class prefers the last kind of pretend wise sentences, to his self questioning rhetoric with real impacting engagement at his lifetime .
And, YES, the “rich” have to develop empathy, even for themselves, as a disconnected social isolationism can be considered as a form of inner missing/poverty.
Yes, absolutely, this is no replacement for Montaigne. But our era has a different dewpoint on these things.
“our” era? Sounds a bit like the “we” I never feel included in. I, personally resisted to drop my critical “Montaigne” inspired spirit at the garderobe of neoliberalism.
To be honest, I think this was, is, and remains a middle class sheep attitude, who assumes that she is the majority and by that determinating the seriousness of reality.
How many crashes does it require till they wake up to my era?