It is 25 years since Gay Byrne published his autobiography with Gill Books, The Time of My Life (1987) but in a new book based on his popular RTÉ television series, The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne, he shares some of the highlights of his in-depth conversations with well-known names from all walks of public life, alongside personal memories and insights from those encounters.
The Meaning of Life: Conversations on love, beliefs, morality, grief and everything in between will be launched in October, as Gay Byrne embarks on the eighth season of the successful RTÉ series.
Twenty-four interviews from the show are included and Gay Byrne introduces each one with reflections on his relationship with the guest and what he learned from his conversation with them. He says,
“What emerges is a universal discussion on the questions we all have cause to wrestle with, on occasion – questions about the way the experiences of a lifetime shape, and are shaped by, our beliefs, opinions and values – things we can all relate to as we strive to live a meaningful life.”
Through wide-ranging discussions, the book considers the big questions: What’s it all about? Why am I here? Is there a god? What happens when we die?
Readers can re-experience and ponder at their leisure the lives and beliefs of household names, including Colin Farrell, Norah Casey, Mary McAleese, Martin Sheen, Andrea Corr, Bob Geldof, Terry Wogan, Mark Patrick Hederman, Maeve Binchy, Tommy Tiernan, Bertie Ahern, Sir Michael Parkinson, Niall Quinn, Sinead O’Connor, Sir Richard Branson, Brendan O’Carroll and Gabriel Byrne.
Publisher Nicki Howard says:
’Although it’s a book about outwardly exceptional people, what we discover from reading the interviews is that, like us all, they too have battled with the universal struggles we all face. A wide range of beliefs and ideas have been distilled onto the pages of this book: and there is much insight to be gained from it as we reassess what’s really important in life.’
The Meaning of Life will be published in October 2013.
For further information please contact Teresa Daly, Communications Manager, Gill Books, 01 500 9521, 086 838 3559.
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