This was an interesting read. A view on living wisely from a 17th century Jesuit priest, who was a rebel in his own time.

The bite-sized insights run the gamut of life, and while some don't really resonate for everyone, a majority of them are certainly as applicable to our modern world as they were in Gracian's time.

I can see myself dipping into this on occasions when I need reminders about how to handle the challenges of life, and what kind of person I want to be if I aspire to living a life focused on wisdom - which I do.

Definitely not what I was expecting, but not an unpleasant read overall. These 300 maxims written by Baltasar Gracian dictate how to navigate an imperfect world with practicality, rather than (what I'm sure Gracian would have deemed) idealism or, worse yet, naivety. The writing style has a matter-of-fact feel to it, with only the occasional indulgence in lyricism. Gracian was a Jesuit, so dispassionate writing didn't really surprise me, though.
As for the teachings themselves, they were a little harsher than I anticipated. A great majority focused on using people to one's advantage, bordering on manipulation. Gracian doesn't write maliciously, but it's hard not to adopt a sense of pessimism as you read his estimations of humanity, life, and the skills and subterfuge necessary to prosper. It's not all dark; more than once, he extols characteristics like virtue, wisdom, and honor, and reiterates their importance to become an optimal human being. It's a quick read and offers a different perspective from the usual philosophical suspects. Maybe I'll read it again if I can stop perceiving offenses toward optimism from it.

This book was recommended to me. I read through it and I think it's the original Chicken Soup for the Soul, which would make it more Ancient Scrolls for the Soul. Matter-of-fact advice to apply to life. It's a coffee table piece that you can pick up and skim through at random. It wasn't life altering, but I understand how it can be used as a tool to better yourself.