How to Stop Living and Start Worrying

The question of how to lead a happy and meaningful life has been atthe heart of philosophical debate since time immemorial. Today,however, these questions seem to be addressed not by philosophersbut self-help gurus, who frantically champion the individual'squest for self-expression and self-realization; the desire tobecome authentic.
Against these new age sophistries, How to Stop Living andStart Worrying tackles the question of 'how to live' by forcingus to explore our troubling relationship with death. For Critchley,philosophy begins with the question of finitude and with hisunderstanding of a key classical theme - that to philosophize is tolearn how to die. Learning how to accept both our own and others'mortality as a part of life also raises the question of how tolove. Critchley argues that the act of love requires us to give upsomething of ourselves, to lose control so as to be open to thedemands of love. We will never be equal to this demand and so weare brought face to face with our own limitations - one form ofwhich is what Critchley calls our 'originary inauthenticity'. Byscrutinizing the very nature of humour, Critchley explores what weneed to laugh at ourselves and presents the need to confront theinescapable ridiculousness of life.
Reflecting on the work of over 20 years, this book provides aunique, witty and erudite introduction to the thought of SimonCritchley. It includes a revealing biographical conversation withCritchley and a fascinating debate with the critically acclaimednovelist Tom McCarthy about the nature of authenticity. Takentogether the conversations give an intimate portrait of one of themost lucid, provocative and engaging philosophers writingtoday.