The Art of Living
A book of everyday ethics by a man whom Pope John Paul II called “one of the greatest ethicists of the twentieth century,” The Art of Living is Dietrich von Hildebrand’s essential guide to the moral life.
The author is true to his title. Hildebrand writes about virtue with an artist’s flair. He shows us the moral life as it is—and so we can see the overwhelming appeal of every virtue, every value. It is the art of living virtuously that makes love possible and leads us to friendship and communion—with God and neighbor. A better life, the life we want, begins in these luminous pages.
Scott Hahn
Now available in audiobook.
Listen to the first chapter of The Art of Living below, or the download the entire book on audible.
Reviews & Commentary
From scholars, students, and readers
The essays contained in this book are masterfully presented to be as practical as they are substantial.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, Catholic or not, who is looking for an easy entry-point into practical philosophy. The essays are very easy to digest, but contain much wisdom packed into a very short read.
David Breerwood
Amazon ReviewJust brilliant from start to finish. Hildebrand always gets me to see things more deeply or to see things for the first time. I am still thinking about what he had to say.
Jeff Miller
Goodreads ReviewThe Art of Living, available in this new edition, contains in miniature the whole of Dietrich von Hildebrand’s ethical philosophy—a blessing, since his larger works, such as Ethics and Aesthetics, may be a daunting mountain to climb for the student uninitiated into the methods of realist phenomenology.
This book is beautiful. The cover, the pages, the paper are all a delight to behold. Fitting that the first essay on reverence. It is philosophy and thick with meaning, but not philosophy beyond the non-philosophers reach. Von Hildebrand does not waste words. I would read it again.
Kathryn C.
Amazon ReviewHildebrand’s thoughts are expressed in gentle prose that makes The Art of Living a pleasure to read.
What I appreciate most about the Hildebrands’ writing here is Clarity. Do you realize what is most important? Do you truly appreciate just how valuable these things are? Then you must respond accordingly if you desire to live well. This book helped me significantly to better understand these concepts.
Highly recommended.
David Matias
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