Picture this: Denis Diderot, one of the great minds of the Enlightenment, is given a gorgeous, luxurious scarlet dressing gown. He loves it. But when he puts it on and looks around his study, disaster strikes. Suddenly, his old, comfortable chair looks shabby. His worn desk seems pathetic. The prints on his wall appear cheap. The new robe doesn't fit into his old life; it makes everything else look bad.

The Story

This sets off a chain reaction. To match the splendor of the robe, Diderot replaces his chair with an elegant leather one. The new chair demands a better desk. The new desk needs finer books and richer artwork. Before he knows it, his entire familiar, cozy workspace has been transformed into a stiff, showroom-perfect—and deeply expensive—cabinet of curiosities. He's surrounded by beautiful objects, but he's miserable. He's lost the easy comfort where he could think and work. He spends all his time worrying about damaging his new possessions. The essay is his lament for his old robe and the simple, authentic life it represented.

Why You Should Read It

What's amazing is how modern this feels. Diderot perfectly captures that itch we all know: you get one new thing, and it throws your whole world out of balance. He's not just talking about furniture; he's talking about how our possessions change us. His new stuff made him anxious and pretentious. His old robe let him be himself. It’s a sharp, personal look at how chasing luxury can rob us of real comfort and peace of mind. You'll laugh in recognition, then maybe glance nervously at your own latest online purchase.

Final Verdict

This is a tiny book with a huge idea. It's perfect for anyone who feels overwhelmed by clutter or the pressure to have nicer things. If you like philosophy but hate stuffy writing, Diderot is your guy—he's witty, self-deprecating, and tells a great story. History lovers will enjoy this intimate peek into an 18th-century brain wrestling with a very 21st-century problem. Mostly, it's for anyone who needs a reminder that the best things in life aren't always things. Read it in one sitting, and you might just look at your favorite old sweater with new respect.