Books like The Shrink and the Sage: A Guide to Modern Dilemmas

It's hard to know whether or not to label something like this as a self-help book; it is, after all, subtitled "A Guide to Living." At the same time, there's no prescription, although there are preferences, such as stoicism and Aristotle.The book presents alternate views on specific topics by a psychotherapist (Antonia Macaro) and a philosopher (Julian Baggini) and is written in a casual, informative mode that seems a feature of Baggini's writing, although he could have excellent editors. It starts off with "Being the best you can" – a contentious phrase in my view – and the many topics include happiness, status, emotions, gut feelings, meaning etc. The authors alternate beginning each chapter. There are also explanations of psychology for philosophers and philosophy for psychotherapists. Needless to say, there is some overlap between the two, given that philosophy originally covered both fields.Both authors explain as best they can their profession's approach to the different topics, in readable and clear prose. Plusses and minuses are provides amidst several comments. This book contains a superb brief critique of research findings that is a useful reference ro refer to every time someone makes a claim about the way to live, or what people think, or how they act.A very enjoyable read, and the structure enables the reader to dip in and out of the book without losing the plot, as it were.