Meaning of Life

Terry Eagleton is John Edward Taylor Professor of English at the University of Manchester. His recent publications include Holy Terror (2005); The English Novel: An Introduction (2004); After Theory (2003); Sweet Violence: The Idea of the Tragic (2002); The Idea of Culture (2000); The Illusions of Postmodernism (1996); and Literary Theory: An Introduction (1996).

A charming personal voyage round himself, I can only say it left me thoroughly surprised - and delighted. Simon Jenkins, TLS Books of the Year wonders never cease. This is popular philosophy by an amateur in the best sense of the word, a man who clearly loves the stuff and writes plain English...[Eagleton] makes his case well and with a light touch. Simon Jenkins, The Guardian (Review) It is a stimulating and often entertaining, if at times rather breathless, Cook's tour around the chief monuments of western philosophy and literature...The Meaning of Life is unusual and refreshing. John Gray, The Independent The book's a little gem. Suzanne Harrington, Irish Examiner (Cork) A lively starting point for late-night debate. John Cornwell, Sunday Times Warm intellectual pleasure...meticulous treatment of the subject...It looks like Eagleton got it right. Mario Pisani, The Financial Times His witty eclecticism is perfect for such a lofty subject Leopold Froehlich, Playboy It dazzles... The name Terry Eagleton...assures us of stimulation, style, sparkling, sometimes acerbic, wit, and wide-ranging erudition. In other words he is eminently readable...[a] commendably pocket-sized book. Gordon Parsons, Morning Star

• Preface ; 1. Questions and Answers ; 2. The Problem of Meaning ; 3. The Eclipse of Meaning ; 4. Is Life What You Make It?