"How to Live a Good Life" – Book Launch of Mārcis Auziņš' New Work

On December 11th, a book launch event for Professor Mārcis Auziņš' latest book "How to Live a Good Life" will take place in the Small Aula of the University of Latvia (UL). The event will include discussions about the book and the search for a good life, with music by another Mārcis Auziņš – a guitarist who has developed a close collaboration with the professor in performances that blend science and music.

"The search for a good life can be both very rational and emotionally irrational. The taste of life can be found in small things, like preparing and enjoying a cup of green tea according to an ancient Chinese ritual on a rainy autumn morning, as well as in larger things," said Professor Auziņš about his latest work. These seemingly different approaches to perceiving the world are linked to both a scientifically rational and artistically emotional perspective. However, when looking into the life stories of great artists and scientists and trying to understand and appreciate what they have created, it repeatedly becomes clear how rational artists can be and how irrationally great scientists can express themselves.

"To put it briefly – these essays are my reflections on the milestones of my life, thoughts that have occurred at various times. More or less, more often or less often, this happens to everyone. Whether there will be a 'word' before the milestone is something each person must decide for themselves," said Auziņš.

As the author notes, although the world is changing rapidly, he still believes that the book is the highest form that a text can take. This is one of the reasons why he agreed to the suggestion of the director of the Jumava publishing house, Juri Visockis, to gather essays that have been published over time in the portal lsm.lv, in magazines, most frequently in Klubs, and in other media, into one unified book.

"Mārcis Auziņš is a Master at simply, captivatingly, and provocatively telling stories about Great Truths. Listening to his narrative, I imagine him as a player of Hesse's glass beads or a delicate improviser of jazz music. This book opens the possibility to enjoy all of that in the form of essays," says Ilmārs Latkovskis, head of the Meditation Room at the National Library of Latvia and host of the TV show Great Truths, describing Auziņš' latest work.

Meanwhile, the Rector of the University of Latvia, Professor Gundars Bērziņš, comments: "An ancient piece of wisdom tells us – if you don't know what to do, do the right thing. Mārcis Auziņš' reflections on a good and virtuous life, published over many years and in various formats, are characterized by empathy and goodwill, which peacefully coexist with the precise viewpoint of a scientist, elegantly balancing on the line between the rational and the irrational. Therefore, it is a pleasure to see these essays now published together in a book – the highest form that, in the author's words, a text can take."

The book presentation at the University of Latvia’s Small Aula will take place on December 11th at 16:00. During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the book and have it signed by the author. Later, the book will be available from the Jumava publishing house and other bookstores.