New — November 2026

To Taste

On Cooking and the Good Life

A philosopher-chef’s moving meditation on our shared humanity — and how it can be most fully experienced in the making and sharing of food. Philosopher and sous-chef Scott Samuelson invites us into his kitchen, where he blends moving personal stories with insights from some of the world’s greatest thinkers into a rich but simple argument: our daily labor, in making food or otherwise, should connect us with other people. 

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To Taste: On Cooking and the Good Life — book cover New November 2026

Previous Books

All books →
Rome as a Guide to the Good Life — book cover Rome as a Guide to the Good Life 2023 A philosopher’s tour through the Eternal City as a guide to wisdom, beauty, and the examined life. Learn more →
Seven Ways of Looking at Pointless Suffering — book cover Seven Ways of Looking at Pointless Suffering 2018 What the world’s great thinkers have said about the darkest aspect of human experience. Learn more →
The Deepest Human Life — book cover The Deepest Human Life 2014 An introduction to philosophy for everyone — from Socrates to the present on how to live well. Learn more →

“Cooking, especially the elusive decision to season a dish ‘to taste,’ contains the full mystery of human life.”

— Scott Samuelson, To Taste
Scott Samuelson

About Scott

Philosopher, professor,
and sous-chef

Scott Samuelson teaches philosophy at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa City and has worked as a cook in several restaurants. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, the Wall Street Journal, and the Chicago Tribune. He is the author of several books exploring philosophy, suffering, and the examined life.

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Selected Writing & Talks

Essays

Why I Teach Plato to Plumbers The Atlantic The Deep Mystery of Being Alive Plato’s Academy Would You Hire Socrates? Wall Street Journal All essays →

Interviews

The Intersection of Philosophy and Suffering Unsiloed On the Pleasures of Rome The History of Literature Podcast Everyday Philosophy KERA · Texas Public Radio All interviews →

Talks

How Philosophy Can Save Your Life TEDx Bismarck A Refusal to Defend the Humanities Hiett Prize Acceptance Kicking the Bucket List Eastern Illinois University All talks →