Ludwig also provides a brief, quite brilliant exposition and critique of the concept of an 'authentic' self, noting that it is rooted in a male Victorian ethos and that it has been overshadowed by the more contemporary American notion of self-invention. Ludwig's beautifully written and intellectually provocative book is one of those rare works that offer fresh, profound insights, moving the reader to think probingly about his or her own life and self. ~ Kirkus Reviews on How Do We Know Who We Are?: A Biography of the Self (1997)