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  • Published: 6 April 2017
  • ISBN: 9781783523603
  • Imprint: Unbound Digital
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 304

Carpe Diem Regained

The Vanishing Art of Seizing the Day



The first ever cultural biography of carpe diem and a call to seize back the true meaning of ‘seize the day’.

Existentialism is back

Carpe diem – ‘seize the day’ – is one of the oldest pieces of life advice in Western history. But its true spirit has been hijacked by ad men and self-help gurus, reduced to the instant hit of one-click online shopping, or slogans like ‘live in the now’. We need to reclaim it to make sense of our complex, confusing times.

The last great expression of carpe diem was in the electrifying existential philosophy of the 1940s. Today it’s an idea that challenges us to confront our mortality and live with greater passion and intention rather than scroll mindlessly on our phones or allow freedom to become a mere choice between brands.

In Carpe Diem Regained, Roman Krznaric reinvents existentialism for our age of information and choice overload. An essential and empowering work of contemporary philosophy, the book unveils the surprising ways of seizing the day that humankind has discovered over the centuries, ones we urgently need to revive.

Carpe diem is the existentialism for our times.

  • Published: 6 April 2017
  • ISBN: 9781783523603
  • Imprint: Unbound Digital
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 304

About the author

Roman Krznaric

Roman Krznaric is a public philosopher who writes about the power of ideas to change society. His books, including Empathy, The Wonderbox and Carpe Diem Regained, have been published in more than 20 languages.

After growing up in Sydney and Hong Kong, Roman studied at the universities of Oxford, London and Essex, where he gained his PhD in political sociology. He went on to found the world’s first Empathy Museum and the digital Empathy Library, and was also a founding faculty member of The School of Life. He is currently a Research Fellow of the Long Now Foundation in San Francisco.


Roman has been named by The Observer as one of Britain’s leading popular philosophers. His writings have been widely influential amongst political and ecological campaigners, education reformers, social entrepreneurs and designers. An acclaimed public speaker, his talks and workshops have taken him from a London prison to Google’s headquarters in California.

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Praise for Carpe Diem Regained

I’ve started reading Roman Krznaric’s Carpe Diem Regained: The Vanishing Art of Seizing the Day – and it’s brilliant. One of those rare books that forces you to ask what the hell you’re doing with your life.

George Monbiot, Guardian

I have always been inspired by carpe diem so I'm delighted to have your book.

Dame Judi Dench

With more than ever distracting us, it’s an insightful guide to staying foc – er, what did you want?

Best Books for Summer, Forbes

A rather wonderful new book is trying to seize back the noble art of day-seizing.

Viv Groskop, The Pool

As always Roman takes a unique look at the world we’ve created. Insightful and thought provoking.

Tim Lovejoy

A profound, playful book for wannabe grown-ups who love life

Sir Tim Smit

Bracing and elegant: a timely corrective to contemporary follies, from mindfulness to workaholism

Sarah Bakewell

Wise and uplifting… the perfect reminder that life is short and fragile

Philippa Perry

Stunningly good… a modern classic of contemporary philosophy

Julia Hobsbawm

Insightful, inspiring and instructive

John Gray