When Socrates, apparently the wisest man of antiquity, was asked to define our highest purpose as humans, he responded, To know ourselves. The advice has never been bettered. Without self-knowledge, all other efforts will be in vain.

The second title in the 40 Images series, Self-Knowledge in 40 Images takes us on a tour of certain key ideas that we need to befriend our deeper selves, accompanied by the work of photographers and artists such as David Hockney, Cy Twombly, Edgar Degas, Isabella La Rocca Gonzalez and Elise Corten. Featuring culturally and historically diverse artwork alongside a series of elegant essays inviting contemplation, it helps us to know how our childhoods have shaped us, what difficulties we characteristically experience in relationships and what our purpose should be.

Modern society gives us no shortage of ambitions. We will have landed on the one that can finally bring us peace and freedom when we are ready with the help of this book to begin the inward journey.