Author releases book exploring the meaning of life

An author has written a book which features more than 100 people's individual perspectives on what the meaning of life is, including former US President Jimmy Carter and former British Prime Minister Sir John Major.

James Bailey, from Bristol, estimates he sent handwritten letters to more than 1,000 people who he thought had led "interesting" lives.

Mr Bailey, 33, said he began working on "The Meaning Of Life" 10 years ago when he was feeling "lost and disillusioned" after graduating from university.

Other people who contributed included survivors of Auschwitz and the 9/11 and 7/7 terrorist attacks.

Mr Bailey found a project led by a philosopher in the early 1930s which had compiled ideas behind the meaning of life from notable figures of the time, and said he thought it would be interesting to find out what people think nowadays.

The author, who has already published two fictional novels, had a range of responses to his letters ranging from "there is no meaning to life" to more insightful answers.

"It's nice to be able to share the advice and wisdom with other people and I hope it finds its audience and it finds people who it can help, like it helped me," he said.

Mr Bailey said the project gave him purpose after university and said, as people wrote back, he "took a little bit" of wisdom and advice from each one.

"I think my meaning is probably different now than it was 10 years ago... I think that's interesting to consider.

"It's definitely narrowed down the things that make me happy," he said.

Mr Bailey said letters from the people who had survived Auschwitz and the terrorist attacks were particularly "inspirational".

"You have to really appreciate life - I've definitely tried to take that on board," he said.

The book, published by Hachette, was released on 3 April.

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