Penguin Great Ideas : On Friendship: Michel de Montaigne

This has NOT been delivered today, despite the report to the contrary. UNIMPRESSED.

Bought this for a Book Club read. Interesting.

very useful at times of travelling, its a really good inside of a part of theories and philosophies of few of the most important minds .

The only thing that seems to be a great idea is that friends are important and unlike that friendship is unlike other kinds of relationship because it doesn't entail the same sorts of obligations. Liberally sprinkled with lots of classical authors saying the same thing; I guess this is what passed for insight in the Renaissance - observing that Greeks and Romans had the same idea. Heavy doses of misogyny, probably unthinking rather than motivated by genuine hatred or dislike of women - Montaigne seems to have taken it for granted that women could not have higher thoughts or develop proper friendships.Despite this there are several good thoughts, well expressed. One that sticks in the mind is the advice to never do a favour to someone that they are unable to pay back, because they will resent you for it rather than be grateful. We can all learn from that.

One star from me means I didn't find it engaging enough to finish but recommend you read to make up your own mind.