The Midnight Library

A Novel of Regret, Choice, and the Life We Have • by Matt Haig

About This Mind Map

Nora Seed is full of regret. Between life and death she finds a library where every book is a different version of her life-the life if she had stayed in the band, married the man, become a glaciologist. As she tries life after life, she learns that no path is perfect-and that the only life worth living is the one we choose to live now.

The only way to learn is to live. — Mrs. Elm
THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY
The only way to learn is to live.
NORA'S JOURNEY
Chapter 1
Between Life and Death
Nora has lost her job, her brother, her cat. She decides to end her life. Instead she wakes in a library at midnight-between life and death-with a chance to try other lives.
Chapter 2
The Library
Mrs. Elm, Nora's old school librarian, explains the rules: every book is a life Nora could have lived. The Book of Regrets shows what she gave up. Nora can try any life-but she must want to stay in it.
Chapter 3
Regrets & First Lives
Nora tries the life where she stayed in the band with her brother. She tries the life where she married Dan. Each life has its own disappointments-no path is perfect.
Chapter 4
Many Lives
Nora samples more lives: Olympic swimmer, glaciologist, pub owner. She sees that success in one area often means loss in another. The library begins to destabilize-she must choose.
Chapter 5
The Root Life
Nora realizes that the root life-the one she left-is the one where she has the most potential to be present and to help others. It is not the worst life; it is the one she abandoned.
Chapter 6
The Only Life
Nora chooses to return to her original life. She wakes in the hospital. The only way to learn is to live-and the life we have is the one we can now choose to embrace.

Core Stoic Principles