How to Be a (Happy) Skeptic: The Power of Doubt in a Meaningful Life--Lessons from Cicero's Philosophy

Celebrated CUNY philosopher Massimo Pigliucci investigates the practical applications of Cicero's skepticism, weaving together ancient wisdom, personal narrative, and practical insights to help readers find meaning through doubt

You may have picked up this book because you're searching for a philosophy of life. Beware that it is dangerous to accept a philosophical or religious practice without questioning it. Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers believed that, without a healthy amount of doubt, you could be tricked into thinking you have found the ultimate Truth--and the danger of absolute faith is no less threatening today.

In How to Be a (Happy) Skeptic, philosopher Massimo Pigliucci reveals the way to a meaningful, happy life through the power of curiosity and doubt with the ancient Roman public advocate, orator, statesman, and thinker Marcus Tullius Cicero as his guide. Cicero lived in turbulent times at the end of the Roman Republic. Though he mostly lived as a Stoic, Cicero also followed Plato's Skeptical Academy, believing a spirit of inquiry and an open-minded attitude were the secrets to living well.

Weaving Cicero's biography with deep investigations of his published works, Pigliucci explores the foundations for a good life: from how to formulate our values to how to nurture friendships; from being a good citizen and fighting for social justice to handling grief, pain, and even death. Taking a page from Cicero's book, we, too, can adopt a practical philosophy of reason and common sense.

Author: Massimo Pigliucci
Publisher: Tarcher
Published: 06/16/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.60w x 1.40d
ISBN: 9798217179671

About the Author
Massimo Pigliucci is an author, blogger, and podcaster, as well as the K. D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His academic work is in evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophy. His books include the bestselling How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books, 2017) and Beyond Stoicism--A Guide to the Good Life with Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans, and Other Ancient Philosophers (with Gregory Lopez and Meredith Kunz, The Experiment, 2025). He has been published in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Big Think, among others. He lives in New York City.