"The Hidden Pleasures of Life" by Theodore Zeldin - one philosophical book I listened, that makes us ponder over life.

The writer explores the choices people face, when they feel powerless, lonely, or underestimated, or are disgusted by a life style that is unsuitable for them.

It looks at people as they appear to belong to large groups, such as nations or religion. Why has the pleasure of laughing at human foolishness done so little to prevent this foolishness?

In the history of the relationships between men and women, he finds indications of how stupid habits can gradually be abandoned.

The writer dissects the modern work culture and how the word "business", which originally meant anxiety, worry, overzealousness and hardship, could have a new meaning.

The final chapters are about spending time. According to the writer, even by aging, it is possible to see progress and the thought of imminent death no longer seems so black and white.

Today's people are different than they used to before, because they have been transformed by education and access to information, experiences and expectations, that never existed before. More and more new people are coming into the world, who are no longer content with being caught up in a livelihood for which they cannot use their talents, doing it in a way, that was invented long ago for much more humble beings. The "meaning of life" is no longer as clear as it once was thought to be. People feel insecure about what might be the broader purpose of their lives beyond the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Previous beliefs threaten to collapse, leaving people alone. The writer explores alternatives to "running away from the treadmill" and "alternative lifestyle."

The motivation for writing this book was, that the writer wanted to understand what a perfect life could be.

I listened to it myself in audio, a light philosophical book, that makes us ponder over what's important in life.