Articles on: Books

Shakespeare's Guide to Living the Good Life

Life Lessons for Comedy, Tragedy, and Everything in Between

By Kim Bradley.

“Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful” (Measure for Measure, act 3, scene 1)

So says Shakespeare, whose plays and poems remain as beloved in the twenty-first century as they were in the sixteenth. For all the years between us, the world he inhabited was much like our own—afflicted by political turmoil, divisiveness, war, extreme weather, recurrent plagues, the fouling of natural resources on which everyone relied, and discrimination against people who were different. The bard’s remedy for these troubles was to offer respite and inspiration to his audience through his writing. In this book, author Kim Bradley teases out the inspirational messages in Shakespeare’s works. Every chapter is a journey through one of his most notable plays, each with actionable life lessons to be learned from his writing. “Yes, there is sickness, death, conflict, and division in today’s world,” Bradley writes. “But there are also sunrises, starry skies, families, friendships, laughter, and love. Shakespeare invites us to enjoy the latter while acknowledging the former and shows how balancing an appreciation for both is key to living the good life.”

About the author

Kim Bradley

Kim Bradley is an author, lawyer, blogger, and Shakespeare enthusiast who has immersed herself in the heart-based wisdom of the Bard of Avon for more than four decades. She graduated with dual degrees in English and political science from Duke University, where she studied the plays of William Shakespeare and their effects on American literature and modern life.

Website: https://www.kim-bradley.com/

Updated on: 25/05/2026

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