This is one of a series of short books on different themes. The books take a variety of topics and give definitions and scenarios and sets them against the overall theme.

The book is fascinating with many strange tangents and avenues. There are words like kintsugi, monasteries, philosophical meditation, home… each looking at how we see serenity and how important it is. I’ve taken loads of notes, especially on philosophical meditation - there are excellent questions to ask to focus your thoughts.

This is a small book but it’s packed with ideas and information.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

Essential Ideas: Serenity - The school of life

I really enjoyed this installment from the school of life, I found it very insightful. It was a very easy read and I finished it in one sitting, it had a very friendly vibe to it. There are lots of tips from this book that I personally feel I need to adapt into my daily practice, and hopefully this will improve my own well being and of those around me. Many thanks to The School of Life for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions

It's a small book that you can read quickly in the evening. It was an occasionally interesting read, though at times a bit dull, almost as if there was less effort put into some of the topics covered. Overall, it seemed like a useful text, although the information felt somewhat haphazard in certain sections, lacking the care present in other parts. So, it’s a pleasant read but certainly not an essential piece of nonfiction.

A review will be published on Thursday, November 14 on my blog (medium.com/@inabookhole).

In the classical way of the School of Life's books, this is a collection of tiny essays and ideas the authors hold close to the concept of Serenity.

With a distinct stoic flavour, this is a helpful guide to make a reader think about these ideas, how they apply to one's life and how, through them, one can foster more serenity.

I am grateful to have received this book in order to share my view on it, I appreciated its calm, realistic and down to earth approach.

Essential Ideas: Serenity is third book from series of Essential Ideas by The School of Life. It's compact and gives you easier explanation about what serenity is, defined by The School of Life. I guess, there are several ideas that already expanded into another book. I think, this book is supposed to be read by those who want to try The School of Life as their philosophical guidance but still in doubt to read their older series.

All books by The School of Life are always thought provoking and this one is no exception. I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book is short and does not need a long time to read from cover to cover. There are 25 topics related to Serenity discussed in this book. The issues I like the most are "Philosophical Meditation, Phones, and Plan B," coincidently ordered in a row. We can live more in ease and serenity if we do simple things like putting away our phones, meditating, and enjoying small pleasures.

Serenity is a topic that experts do not often explore. I believe serenity holds a crucial part in our lives such as our routine, managing our anger, and making decisions. This series can be an open door for more people to get to know The School of Life and go through the other specific books that someone needs the most. It's like a screening of our soul and emotional state what is lacking in our life and blocks the path to our happiness.

As the content is not that deep, readers can follow up on the more detailed topics that are available from The School of Life.
Thank you, Net Galley and The School of Life for providing ebook ARC.

I really enjoyed this pocket-sized book from The School of Life. It's a perfect little collection of essays that offer practical advice on how to stay calm and manage anxiety. What I loved most is how it breaks down the idea of serenity into simple, actionable steps. The focus on gaining perspective, understanding fears, and surrounding yourself with supportive people really resonated with me. It’s a quick but meaningful read that leaves you feeling equipped to face life with a calmer, more peaceful mindset. Perfect for anyone looking to reduce daily stress and embrace a bit more tranquility.

What a calming writing for bed night!

Lately, my thought was so full. So many things happen lately, that's why I give a try self-healing books to organize my mind. This book is one of the calming. I don't know, when I read this book, I imagine my ideal life about having quiet and serene life.

"Some problems we face during the day can be traced to simple fact: that we have not had enough sleep the night before", really hits me. I realized, if I have bad mood all day, most of it because I have not enough sleep that's why I don't have much energy to face the day.

Really good book for accompanying before sleep!

Thank you NetGalley and The School of Life for the ARC!

Serenity is something I try to achieve in my life. It's hard not getting affected by what people say or comment about us. This book made me realise that if I only focus my mind on other things like how animals and nature live in the moment. Or if I think about how vast the universe is then I will feel so small and it will make me humble as to what I am going through. Or how I should appreciate simple quiet and domestic things in life.

We always hear these things but it's good to be reminded of how we can achieve serenity in life.

Some of my favourite quotes from the book:
"A small pleasure is a great pleasure in waiting; it is a true source of joy that has not yet received the collective acknowledgement it is due."

"In the presence of the sublime, we are made to feel desperately small. In most of life, a sense of our smallness is experienced as a humiliation – when it happens, for example, at the hands of a professional enemy or a concierge. But the impression of smallness that unfolds in the presence of the sublime has an oddly uplifting and profoundly redemptive effect. We are granted an impression of our complete nullity and insignificance in a grander scheme, which relieves us from an often oppressive sense of the seriousness of all our ambitions and desires and of all our rivals and heroes."

"Everything that happens to us, or that we do, is of no consequence whatever from the point of view of the universe. We are granted a perspective within which our own concerns are mercifully irrelevant."

"In the face of vast things, the grades of human status lose meaning."

Overall, this book is a good read!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

This title in the Essential Ideas series is another good addition to it.
It is insightful, thought-provoking and fun to read (ironically). The structure is great as always.
I will this were a bit longer and more detailed since serenity is a less frequently covered topic.