In an age of self-exposure, what does it mean to be authentic? For existential philosopher Simone de Beauvoir, authenticity is not the revelation of a true self, but an exhilarating quest towards creating who you want to be. Offering a lively introduction to Beauvoir's worldview, Skye Cleary takes us through some of life's major relationships and milestones—friendship, marriage, children, death—and makes a compelling case that Beauvoir's ideas can help us become more conscious of living purposefully, thoughtfully, and with vitality. "Sits at the intersection of biography, philosophy, and self-help, yet it transcends all three. Cleary successfully fuses philosophical analysis, personal insight, and cultural commentary."—Los Angeles Review of Books