NEW!
COURSE & COMMUNITYHow to Live a Good Life (According to 7 of the World’s Wisest Philosophies)
Unlock instant access to 56 concise, self-paced lessons on Stoicism, Existentialism, Buddhism and beyond. Join 500+ members inside:
★★★★★ (100+ reviews for our courses)
Course materials are hosted on our online learning platform, Philosophy Break Academy, and are accessible forever from any device.
Course materials are hosted on our online learning platform,
Philosophy Break Academy, and are accessible forever from any device.
Latest Course Reviews:
★★★★★ Enriching
The course was very interesting and enriching. I loved the easy understanding of complex theories. My favorite chapters were on Aristotle and the Existentialists. Because they come closest to my personal moral beliefs. And the other chapters gave me new knowledge. Thank you. Keep going. Can't wait for the next course.VERIFIED BUYER
Tony D. on 21 August 2024★★★★★ Concise and beautiful
I’m really enjoying my How to lead a Good Life course - frankly, been trying to read philosophy for a decade and gave up - but what I read here is concisely and beautifully described for a lay person like me to appreciate. Thank you!VERIFIED BUYER
Rajeev S. on 22 July 2024★★★★★ Very good
Very good and stimulating, I will have to do again as so much to think through. Easy to follow, arguments and ideas explained well, this bear of little brain was able to work through things without having too much of a panic. I thought the chapter on Confucius interesting, especially as it was new to me. Thank you.VERIFIED BUYER
Ian H. on 31 January 2024Does this sound like you?
You’re a thoughtful person striving for a meaningful and fulfilling life, but are put off by shallow self-help tactics
You’re keen to understand what the best philosophical wisdom says about how to live a good life, but don’t have time to wade through all the books and secondary literature
You want the nuance, but don’t want to invest thousands in academia
We understand completely
That’s why we’ve designed this course to offer clarity and nuance, without demanding huge time, effort, or cost commitments:
➤ Quick, effortless insight
Your time is precious. Unlock rich understanding of philosophy’s greatest wisdom in hours rather than years.
➤ Cut through the noise
No filler; no fluff. See exactly what the wisest and most influential philosophies say about how to live a good life.
➤ Enrich your life
Appreciate precisely why philosophy routinely changes people’s perspectives, and will perhaps change your own.
100+ reviews for our courses:
★★★★★ Powerful - learned a great deal
VERIFIED BUYER
Mart W. on 25 April 2024★★★★★ Excellent materials
VERIFIED BUYER
Rene G. on 12 April 2024★★★★★ Just what I was looking for
VERIFIED BUYER
Julie S. on 14 April 2024★★★★★ Perfect introduction
VERIFIED BUYER
Sophie D. on 18 February 2024★★★★★ Really well put together
VERIFIED BUYER
Jared L. on 24 May 2023★★★★★ Perfect difficulty level
VERIFIED BUYER
Jonathon B. on 27 August 2023Discover how the great philosophers think you can live a happy, meaningful life, with instant access to:
➤ 56 concise lessons
56 self-paced lessons organized into 7 succinct chapters (each chapter is a 60-min read).
➤ 7 philosophies
Crystal clear insight into 7 crucial global philosophies, distilling millennia of wisdom.
➤ 7 reading lists
7 curated reading lists for effective further exploration of each philosophy covered.
➤ 8 guided discussions
Community-driven reflections on each philosophy, plus a final summary discussion.
1Aristotle: achieving excellence (8 lessons)
If you want to achieve excellence and happiness in all that you do, Aristotle has some common-sense advice that will help. Chapter 1 distills his deeply influential philosophy across 8 lessons.
2Epicureanism: living for pleasure (7 lessons)
If relaxing and cultivating a tranquil mind are more your thing, Epicurus will be your guide. Chapter 2 outlines Epicureanism's simple yet profound recipe for happiness across 7 lessons.
3Stoicism: beating anxiety (8 lessons)
If you are anxious about the future, and often worry about things that are out of your control, the Stoics may help you reframe your concerns. Chapter 3 concisely packages their practical wisdom across 8 lessons.
4Buddhism: ending suffering (9 lessons)
If everyday life leaves you with a faint buzz of dissatisfaction and you're not sure why, the Buddha may provide some insight. Chapter 4 sheds light on the Buddhist path to enlightenment across 9 lessons.
5Confucianism: growing morally (8 lessons)
If you want to find ways to feel more connected to the important people in your life, and promote the moral growth of all, Confucius has some ideas. Chapter 5 shows why Confucianism was the dominant way of life in China for millennia across 8 lessons.
6Existentialism: overcoming nihilism (9 lessons)
If you feel like life is meaningless and all your projects ultimately lack purpose, you might find some relief in existentialism. Chapter 6 distills the philosophies of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, and more across 9 lessons.
7Effective Altruism: doing good better (7 lessons)
If you are sold on the idea of doing good in the world, but feel powerless about making any kind of difference on the global stage, effective altruism might be the framework you’re looking for. Chapter 7 investigates this powerful, yet increasingly controversial, approach to the good life across 7 lessons.
Course materials are hosted on our online learning platform, Philosophy Break Academy, and are accessible from any device
Philosophy Break Academy is your interactive learning and community space for all things philosophy, where you can take self-paced courses, track your progress, and discuss materials with other members. By purchasing this course, you unlock lifetime access to Philosophy Break Academy.
Go from Being Curious about Philosophy to Harnessing Its Most Powerful Ideas
Start now, and by this time next week, you’ll understand philosophy’s top practical wisdom, enjoy a philosophically-enriched view on the world, and know the best next steps for continuing your journey.
Course Reviews
★★★★★ Enriching
The course was very interesting and enriching. I loved the easy understanding of complex theories. My favorite chapters were on Aristotle and the Existentialists. Because they come closest to my personal moral beliefs. And the other chapters gave me new knowledge. Thank you. Keep going. Can't wait for the next course.VERIFIED BUYER
Tony D. on 21 August 2024★★★★★ Concise and beautiful
I’m really enjoying my How to lead a Good Life course - frankly, been trying to read philosophy for a decade and gave up - but what I read here is concisely and beautifully described for a lay person like me to appreciate. Thank you!VERIFIED BUYER
Rajeev S. on 22 July 2024★★★★★ Very good
Very good and stimulating, I will have to do again as so much to think through. Easy to follow, arguments and ideas explained well, this bear of little brain was able to work through things without having too much of a panic. I thought the chapter on Confucius interesting, especially as it was new to me. Thank you.VERIFIED BUYER
Ian H. on 31 January 2024★★★★★ Excellent
This course experience was awesome! I gained game changing insights which were profound and very helpful. I understand myself and the world I live in much better now! Easy to navigate. Displayed well. Sharing comments was easy. I had two favorite chapters...Stoicism and Existentialism. I think these chapters address the vagaries of life and the human condition in the most practical and meaningful way. These philosophical constructs were real eye openers for me. Excellent work!VERIFIED BUYER
Christopher R. on 21 December 2023★★★★★ Really enjoyed
Really enjoyed the course and have followed up with some of the recommended books. I found the overlap between different philosophies really interesting despite coming from different cultures and times eg Buddhism, Stoicism and existentialism.VERIFIED BUYER
Barry K. on 11 December 2023★★★★★ Best introduction
Excellent course experience. I enjoyed all the chapters, but existentialism was my favorite - the best introduction to the topic I have read. The course covers things in good depth, and was easy to navigate on my laptop. The writing is excellent too - not always the case online (or in philosophy, for that matter).VERIFIED BUYER
Linda S. on 22 August 2023★★★★★ Excellent value
First class course experience, from content to delivery, and excellent value for money. Chapters all clear, accessible and very useful. I'm teaching an introductory philosophy group on this subject, and this course has given me a brilliant resource to dip into.VERIFIED BUYER
Jim M. on 28 July 2023★★★★★ Highly recommend
Very good. I really appreciate how this course allowed me to have a glimpse into certain topics which are otherwise quite intimidating for me to get into. My overall experience of the course is very positive, and I highly encourage anyone with interest in philosophy to take it up.VERIFIED BUYER
Lee J. on 18 July 2023Understand Exactly How the Great Philosophers Think You Can Live a Good Life
Start now, and by this time next week, you’ll understand philosophy’s top practical wisdom, enjoy a philosophically-enriched view on the world, and know the best next steps for continuing your journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this course for?
This course is for anyone striving to live a happy, meaningful life and curious about what the best philosophical wisdom has to say about the subject. You may have read some philosophy, or you may have never engaged with the subject before: either way, we’ve distilled seven of the world’s wisest and most important philosophical approaches so you can reflect on and enrich your own personal philosophy in accessible, organized fashion, and efficiently learn and discuss some of the best wisdom from history.
How long does it take to do the course?
The course is broken into seven distinct chapters, each of which takes about 60 minutes to read through. We recommend reading a maximum of one or two chapters per day to let each philosophy sink in. At the end of each chapter, we also present questions to reflect on and a space for community discussion. So, with daily reading, the course may take a week or so to complete. You have access to course materials forever, so don’t worry if you miss a day — you can take the course at your own pace.
How is the course delivered?
Course materials are hosted on our online learning and community platform, Philosophy Break Academy. They are optimized for easy reading on any device — be it desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile — and are even printable, so you can consume them however you like.
Can I take the course on mobile?
Yes, course materials are optimized for easy reading on any device, and you can also download an app-version of our online learning platform, Philosophy Break Academy, so that you can keep on learning even when you’re on the move.
Who created the course?
This course is brought to you by Philosophy Break, a self-funded social enterprise dedicated to getting more people engaged with philosophy. Course content is put together by the founder of Philosophy Break, Jack Maden, who received an MA in Philosophy from the University of Southampton in 2014, and has been producing educational resources and writing about philosophy ever since. Having obtained great value researching philosophy at postgraduate level, Jack wanted to share the subject’s riches with a wider audience, and created Philosophy Break in 2018. This course is the result of years of research and refinement to make philosophy’s profound and important wisdom as relevant, interesting, and engaging to today’s digital world as possible.
Where do profits from the course go?
Philosophy Break is a self-funded social enterprise, so we put all proceeds straight back into funding our mission of engaging more people with philosophy. By purchasing a course, you help support us on that mission.
Have a question not answered here? Simply drop us an email, and we’ll be happy to answer!
It’s Time to Begin Your Philosophical Journey
Start now, and by this time next week, you’ll understand philosophy’s top practical wisdom, enjoy a philosophically-enriched view on the world, and know the best next steps for continuing your journey.
