1d:I[74646,["6689","static/chunks/b536a0f1-9412656bf7e39e5d.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F","299","static/chunks/299-4a927526bb13011c.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F","2972","static/chunks/2972-4852d0f0cf4049dc.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F","1722","static/chunks/1722-0eddc10022ae8baa.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F","9453","static/chunks/9453-332042ff34709ca2.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F","5131","static/chunks/5131-1305a5bc456eea8a.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F","8248","static/chunks/8248-980431f721dc1179.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F","7325","static/chunks/7325-bc1222303a3e1100.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F","7238","static/chunks/7238-438ac6081848d462.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F","2305","static/chunks/2305-81fbf2ccf50ff48f.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F","9111","static/chunks/9111-bff14c13c37160a5.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F","397","static/chunks/397-b15d8d130b12d029.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F","2567","static/chunks/app/author/%5Bid%5D/page-f36129aa31e89f11.js?dpl=dpl_HjWtqNyfDH3vmcE8eQw68ivcJr1F"],"default"] 1e:T59c,Over 100 extraordinary people. One profound question. Countless life-affirming answers.

Including letters from Julian Fellowes, President Jimmy Carter, Adam Grant, Jane Goodall, Bindi Irwin, Pico Iyer, Hilary Mantel, Jodi Picoult, Astro Teller, Edward O. Wilson and more.

When James Bailey was feeling lost in life, he was inspired by philosopher Will Durant's project, conducted in the 1930's, to write to one hundred luminaries in arts, politics, religion, sport and sciences, challenging them to respond to a direct yet fundamental question—What is the meaning of life? The response was more remarkable than he could have ever imagined.

A decade on, James had garnered an incredible collection of replies, collated here for the first time. By turns thought-provoking, amusing and enlightening, these letters from scientists, writers, campaigners,

James Bailey

Books by James Bailey

The Meaning of Life Answers to Life's Biggest Questions from the World's Most Extraordinary People