The Hidden Pleasures of Life: A New Way of Remembering the Past and Imagining the Future - Softcover

Theodore Zeldin has been named 'one of the forty world figures whose ideas are likely to have a lasting relevance to the new millennium' (Independent on Sunday), and 'one of Britain's leading intellects' (Management Today). His books Conversation and An Intimate History of Humanity are international bestsellers. For his studies of France he has been called 'a modern Balzac', 'not just funny, [but also] intelligent, loving, caustic, learned, light-hearted, serious, brilliant' - and he has been made a Commander of the Legion d'Honneur. He has won the Wolfson Prize for history, been elected to the British Academy and the European Academy and been awarded the CBE. He is an Emeritus Fellow of St Antony's College and an Associate Fellow of Green Templeton College in Oxford.

Scintillating ... prophetic ... engaging. Financial Times. A masterpiece. The Times. A challenge and a success ... He is particularly good and funny on work and the apparently catastrophic affair we are having with management science. Literary Review. Without question the wisest book of the year ... at once learned and delightful ... a cure for the prevailing gloom, always on the side of joy, openness, enquiry and freedom ... The guide we need to the art of living. Le Grand Journal, Canal+, Paris. One of the best books of the year. An erudite and mouth-watering manifesto for a new art of living. Le Point Magazine, Paris. Captivates by its brilliance and profundity. El Mundo, Madrid. Delightful and endlessly fascinating. Jewish Chronicle. Theodore Zeldin, philosopher and author of many books, including "An Intimate History of Humanity" has many new ideas that can truly set you thinking ... New mantras for this age. The Hindu, India. A truly wonderful book. Even the contents gave me shivers of excitement. If your wish is to be alive then read this book. Richard Watson, scenario planner and future trends author. A priceless gem, a book that remains in the heart and mind like few others...incredibly inspiring ... I would almost compare it to Montaigne and his Essays... often ironical, never banal ... accessible to anyone, should absolutely be read, reread and studied in depth. V. Petricciulo, Scientific adviser, European Research Council. When readers start asking themselves the questions it poses, they find themselves living differently. A transformative book, full of wisdom that can be enjoyed by anyone from teenagers to centenarians. Margaret Heffernan, CEO, entrepreneur, author, TV producer. This book is unique in providing new frames to guide us in discovering how we want to live our lives. Ron Emerson, Chairman, British Business Bank. Essential reading. I am glad I read it now, but it's one I wish I could have encountered as a teenager ... I argued with this book, I lived it ... An enriching journey that will last a lifetime. Sion Hamilton, Head of Retail, Foyles.