Alain de Botton

For anyone who ever wondered what Marcel Proust had in mind when he wrote the one-and-a-quarter-million words of In Search of Lost Time (while bedridden, no less), Alain de Botton has the answer. For, in this stylish, erudite and frequently hilarious book, de Botton dips deeply into Proust’s life and work—his fiction, letter, and conversations—and distills from them that rare self-help manual: one that is actually helpful.Here, tendered in prose almost as luminous as it’s subject’s, is advice on cultivating friendships, suffering successfully, recognizing love and understanding why you should never sleep with someone on the first date. And here, too, is a generously perceptive literary biography that suggests that the master is as relevant today as he was in fin de siècle Paris. At once slyly ironic and genuinely wise, How Proust Can Change Your Life is an unqualified delight.

“Every adult life could be said to be defined by two great love stories. The first—the story of our quest for sexual love—is well known and well charted. . . . The second—the story of our quest for love from the world—is a more secret and shameful tale. And yet this second love story is no less intense than the first.”This is a book about an almost universal anxiety that rarely gets mentioned an anxiety about what others think of us, about whether we’re judged a success or a failure, a winner or a loser. This is a book about status anxiety.Alain de Botton, best-selling author of The Consolations of Philosophy and The Art of Travel , asks—with lucidity and charm—where our worries about status come from and what, if anything, we can do to surmount them. With the help of philosophers, artists and writers, he examines the origins of status anxiety (ranging from the consequences of the French Revolution to our secret dismay at the success of our friends) before revealing ingenious ways in which people have been able to overcome their worries in the search for happiness. We learn about sandal-less philosophers and topless bohemians, about the benefits of putting skulls on our sideboards, and about looking at ancient ruins.The result is a book that isn’t just highly entertaining and thought-provoking, but that is genuinely wise and helpful, too.

Essays in Love will appeal to anyone who has ever been in a relationship or confused about love. The book charts the progress of a love affair from the first kiss to argument and reconciliation, from intimacy and tenderness to the onset of anxiety and heartbreak. The work’s genius lies in the way it minutely analyses emotions we’ve all felt before but have perhaps never understood so well: it includes a chapter on the anxieties of when and how to say ‘I love you’ and another on the challenges of disagreeing with someone else’s taste in shoes. While gripping the reader with the talent of a great novelist, de Botton brings a philosopher’s sensibility to his analysis of the emotions of love, resulting in a genre-breaking book that is at once touching and thought-provoking.

The Achitecture of Happiness is a dazzling and generously illustrated journey through the philosophy and psychology of architecture and the indelible connection between our identities and our locations.One of the great but often unmentioned causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our the kinds of walls, chairs, buildings, and streets that surround us. And yet a concern for architecture is too often described as frivolous, even self-indulgent. Alain de Botton starts from the idea that where we are heavily influences who we can be, and argues that it is architecture's task to stand as an eloquent reminder of our full potential.

Alain de Botton's The Consolations of Philosophy takes the discipline of logic and the mind back to its roots. Drawing inspiration from six of the finest minds in history - Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche - he addresses lack of money, the pain of love, inadequacy, anxiety and conformity. De Botton's book led one critic to call philosophy 'the new rock and roll'.

The news is everywhere. We can’t stop constantly checking it on our computer screens, but what is this doing to our minds? We are never really taught how to make sense of the torrent of news we face every day, writes Alain de Botton (author of the best-selling The Architecture of Happiness), but this has a huge impact on our sense of what matters and of how we should lead our lives. In his dazzling new book, de Botton takes twenty-five archetypal news stories—including an airplane crash, a murder, a celebrity interview and a political scandal—and submits them to unusually intense analysis with a view to helping us navigate our news-soaked age. He raises such questions as Why are disaster stories often so uplifting? What makes the love lives of celebrities so interesting? Why do we enjoy watching politicians being brought down? Why are upheavals in far-off lands often so boring? In The News: A User’s Manual, de Botton has written the ultimate guide for our frenzied era, certain

What is art for? In the engaging, lively, and controversial new book, bestselling philosopher Alain de Botton, with art historian John Armstrong, proposes a new way of looking at art, suggesting that it can be useful, relevant, and - above all else - therapeutic for its audiences.De Botton argues that certain great works of art offer clues on managing the tensions and confusions of everyday life. Art as Therapy is packed with 150 examples of outstanding art, with chapters on Love, Nature, Money, and Politics outlining how these works can help with common difficulties. For example, Vermeer's Girl Reading a Letter helps us focus on what we want to be loved for; Serra's Fernando Passoa reminds us of the importance of dignity in suffering; and Manet's Bunch of Asparagus teaches us how to preserve and value our long-term partners.De Botton demonstrates how art can guide and console us, and along the way, help us to better understand both art and ourselves.

Any Baedeker will tell us where we ought to travel, but only Alain de Botton will tell us how and why. With the same intelligence and insouciant charm he brought to How Proust Can Save Your Life, de Botton considers the pleasures of anticipation; the allure of the exotic, and the value of noticing everything from a seascape in Barbados to the takeoffs at Heathrow. Even as de Botton takes the reader along on his own peregrinations, he also cites such distinguished fellow-travelers as Baudelaire, Wordsworth, Van Gogh, the biologist Alexander von Humboldt, and the 18th-century eccentric Xavier de Maistre, who catalogued the wonders of his bedroom. The Art of Travel is a wise and utterly original book. Don’t leave home without it.

Modern love is never easy. Society is obsessed with stories of romance, but what comes after happily ever after?This is a love story with a difference. From dating to marriage, from having kids to having affairs, it follows the progress of a single ordinary relationship: tender, messy, hilarious, painful, and entirely un-Romantic. It is a love story for the modern world, chronicling the daily intimacies, the blazing rows, the endless tiny gestures that make up a life shared between two people. Moving and deeply insightful, The Course of Love offers us a window into essential truths about the nature of love.

What if religions are neither all true or all nonsense? The boring debate between fundamentalist believers and non-believers is finally moved on by Alain's inspiring new book, which boldly argues that the supernatural claims of religion are of course entirely false – and yet that religions still have some very important things to teach the secular world. Religion for Atheists suggests that rather than mocking religions, agnostics and atheists should instead steal from them – because they're packed with good ideas on how we might live and arrange our societies. Blending deep respect with total impiety, Alain (a non-believer himself) proposes that we should look to religions for insights into, among other concerns, how to:- build a sense of community- make our relationships last- overcome feelings of envy and inadequacy- escape the twenty-four hour media- go travelling- get more out of art, architecture and music- and create new businesses designed to address our emotional needs.For too long non-believers have faced a stark choice between either swallowing lots of peculiar doctrines or doing away with a range of consoling and beautiful rituals and ideas. At last, in Religion for Atheists, Alain has fashioned a far more interesting and truly helpful alternative.

We spend most of our waking lives at workâ in occupations most often chosen by our inexperienced younger selves. And yet we rarely ask ourselves how we got there or what our jobs mean to us. The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work is an exploration of the joys and perils of the modern workplace, beautifully exploring what other people wake up to do each dayâ and nightâ to make our frenzied world function. With a philosophical eye and his signature combination of wit and wisdom, Alain de Botton leads us on a journey around an eclectic range of occupations, from rocket scientist to biscuit manufacturer, from accountant to artistâ in search of what makes jobs either soul-destroying or fulfilling.

Covering such topics as adultery, lust, pornography and impotence, Alain de Botton argues that 21st century sex will always be a balancing act of trust versus risk, and of primal desire versus studied civility. By examining sex from a subjective perspective, he uncovers new ideas on how we can achieve that balance.

In the summer of 2009, Alain de Botton was installed in the middle of Heathrow's Terminal Five on a raised platform with a laptop connected to screens, enabling passengers to see what he was writing and to come and share their stories. He provides an extraordinary mediation upon the nature of place, time and our daily lives.

In The Romantic Movement , Alain de Botton explores the progress of a love affair from first meeting to breaking up, intercut with musings on the nature of art of love. The relationship between Alice, an advertising executive, and Eric, a banker, is examined at every stage, supplemented by quizzes and line drawings by the author and commentary by a chorus of great philosophers, from Descartes to Plato to Aretha Franklin. The Romantic Movement will charm readers and lovers alike with wit, insight, and intelligence.

In On Seeing and Noticing , Alain de Botton takes everyday concerns such as expressing sadness or being romantic and dispenses advice and observations based on the works of some of history's greatest writers, artists and thinkers.

Alain de Botton's redemptive volume charts a course from collapse to recovery with kindness, compassion and wisdom.“Alain de Botton, one of our era’s most uncommonly perceptive, lyrical, and lucid existential contemplatives.” — The MarginalianA Therapeutic Journey follows the arc from mental crisis and collapse, to convalescence and recovery. Written with kindness, knowledge and sympathy, it is both a practical guide and a source of consolation and companionship in what might be some of our loneliest, most anguished moments.In this blueprint for enduring a period of mental anguish, Alain de Botton explores how we can cope with a variety of forms of mental pain and illness, from the mild to the severe. It considers how and why we might become ill; how we can explain things to friends, family and colleagues; how we can find our ways towards recovery; and how we can build resilience, so as to live wisely alongside our difficulties.At heart this is a book about redemption—about regaining the thread of our lives, rediscovering meaning, and finding our way back to connection, warmth and joy.An invaluable literary companion through the loneliness of mental illness.

Dr. Samuel Johnson observed that everyone's life is a subject worthy of the biographer's art. Accused by a former girlfriend of being unable to empathize, the narrator of Alain de Botton's Kiss & Tell takes Johnson's idea to heart and decides to write about the next person who walks into his life.He meets Isabel Rogers, a production assistant at a small stationery company in London, apparently an ordinary woman. But as the biographer's understanding of Isabel deepens, she becomes remarkable. Her smallest quirks, private habits, and opinions become worthy of the most painstaking investigation-and unexpectedly attractive to her biographer.

A bold rethinking of the wedding ceremony - and what comes before and after - designed to prepare us for modern marriage.Many couples today feel uncomfortable with the rituals traditionally associated with getting married. The old ceremonies can feel too overtly religious and out of step with the complexities of contemporary relationships. In response to this dilemma, The School of Life has rethought the ideal wedding day and redesigned the entire process from scratch.The book begins by proposing new methods of psychological preparation, providing practical advice on how to prepare not only for the day of the wedding, but for the long marriage that follows. Also included is a practical and thoughtfully redesigned wedding ceremony, covering everything from picking a venue to writing vows and selecting readings.With their trademark wisdom and warmth, The School of Life presents a bold rethinking of one of humankind's most important and popular rituals.

Curiously practical—this no-nonsense blend of literary biography and self-help unravels how interesting life can be if only you could resist the impulse to rush through the mundane rituals of modern life. Every morning, Marcel Proust sipped his two cups of strong coffee with milk, ate a croissant from one boulangerie, dunking it in his coffee as he slowly read the day’s paper with great care—poring over each headline and section. Only Alain de Botton could have pulled so many useful insights from the oeuvre of one the world’s greatest literary masters. Fascinating and vital, How to Take Your Time will urge you to find the wisdom in defying “the self-satisfaction felt by ‘busy’ men—however idiotic their business—at ‘not having time’ to do what you are doing.” A Vintage Shorts Wellness selection. An ebook short.

Als je ergens hulp bij kunt gebruiken dan is het wel het opvoeden van kinderen. Een fijn de ideale opvoeding bestaat niet. Op zijn kenmerkende lichtvoetige wijze geeft Alain de Botton levenslessen aan ouders, waaronder hoe je ‘nee’ moet zeggen, hoe je onder de oppervlakte van ‘slecht’ gedrag moet kijken om de kern van wat er aan de hand is te vinden, hoe je een kind kunt aanmoedigen om oprecht aardig te zijn en hoe je om moet gaan met puberale humeurigheid. In plaats van te streven naar perfectie, zo betoogt De Botton, is het in feite de taak van elke ouder om een kind voorzichtig te begeleiden in de onvolmaakte aard van alles.Goed genoeg ouderschap is een intelligente gids voor het opvoeden van een kind dat op een dag zal terugkijken op zijn kindertijd met precies de juiste mix van dankbaarheid, humor en liefde

کتاب حاضر ترجمه ای است از سمینارهایی که آلن دوباتن در باب مضامینی که با کتاب هایش و نه لزوماً محدود به آن ها ارائه کرده است.مضامین این سخنرانی های درست مثل کتاب هایش کوششی است در راستای پیوند فلسفه با زندگس روزمره. دوباتن در این سخنرانی ها از عشق های نافرجام رومانتیک و چرایی شکست های مکررمان می گوید. از نقش رسانه می گوید و می کوشد بی اینکه مفاهیم هزار بار مکرر در باب خیانت رسانه ها را یادآوری کند، به ما بیاموزد خبرها را چطور بخوانیم که مصرف کننده ی صرف نباشیم. بی اینکه ضعف و ترس ناشی از زندگی مدرن را بی اهمیت بداند و جستجو در یافتن جواب سرگشتگی هایمان را در کتاب های خودیاری یه سخره بگیرد، از نقش یگانه ی هنر در غلبه بر ناکامی روزمره می گوید. از تأثیر بی بدیل طراحی و معماری بر روح و روانمان سخن می گوید و مهم تر از همه ملال زندگی روزمره را به رسمیت شناخته و شکوه آن را گوشزد می کند. اگر خواننده ی کتاب های تسلی بخشی های فلسفه، جستارهایی در باب عشق، هنز چگونه می تواند زندگی شما را دگرگون کند و جز آن یوده باشید خواندن این مقالات در حکم صیقلی است بر آموخته هایتان و تگر این مواجهه ی نخست شما با دوباتن باشد، به قطع هر مقاله محرک خواندن کتاب از او خواهد بود.

A practical guide to finding fulfilling work - by understanding yourself.The idea that work might be fulfilling rather than just necessary is a recent invention. These days, in prosperous areas of the world, we don't only expect to get paid, we also expect to find meaning and satisfaction. It's a big ask and explains why so many people have an identity crisis in their work lives.A Job To Love is designed to help us better understand ourselves in order to find a job that is right for us. It explores the myths, traps and confusions that get in our way, and shows us how to develop new, effective attitudes and habits.

Dit is een boek over ziek worden. Over de weg kwijtraken en alle hoop verliezen. Over het gevoel dat we onszelf en iedereen teleurgesteld hebben. Maar het is ook een boek over beter worden. Over de draad weer oppakken, nieuwe vormen van zingeving ontdekken en de terugweg naar verbinding en vreugde vinden.Alain de Botton neemt ons mee op zijn reis naar een gezonde geest; van crisis tot herstel, van de momenten waarop we beseffen dat het allemaal te veel wordt tot de dagen dat we eindelijk het gevoel hebben weer in balans te zijn. De kunst van het helen is zowel een bron van kameraadschap op onze eenzaamste momenten – of het nu gaat om een relatiebreuk, een tegenslag in onze carrière of om alledaagse zorgen – als een praktische gids om wanhoop om te zetten in hoop. We volgen allemaal onze eigen route naar herstel. Dit boek is voor iedereen die grip op de zijne wil krijgen.

هدف از انتشار مجموعه مدرسه زندگی پرورش هوش عاطفی به یاری فرهنگ است. باورمان این است که طیفی از جدی‌ترین معضلات ما نتیجه فقدان خودشناسی، همدلی و ارتباط است. فعالیت‌های ما در ده مرکز در اقصی نقاط جهان انجام می‌شود، از جمله لندن، آمستردام، سئول و ملبورن. فیلم سازی، برگزاری کلاس‌ها، ارائه خدمات درمانی و تولید سلسله‌ای از محصولات در عرصه روانشناسی از دیگر فعالیت‌های ماست. موسسه انتشاراتی مدرسه زندگی به انتشار آثاری در باب مهم‌ترین مسائل حیات فرهنگی و عاطفی معاصر می‌پردازد. مبنای انتشار عناوین، ارائه سرگرمی، آموزش، تسلی‌بخشی و دگرگونی در زندگی خوانندگان است.

Was nicht teuer ist, ist nichts wert. Wenn wir so denken, erfahren die schönen und nützlichen Dinge um uns herum nicht die Wertschätzung, die sie verdienen – zum Beispiel der Nachthimmel, Bleistifte, Spiegeleier, Reißverschlüsse oder Hand-in-Hand-Gehen. Dieser Essay spürt auf, warum wir uns von unserer Umgebung entfremden und nach Dingen verzehren, die exotisch, teuer oder unerreichbar scheinen. „Der wahre Wert der Dinge“ führt uns zurück zu uns selbst. Mit Beispielen aus der Literatur, der Wirtschaft und mit gesundem Menschenverstand weckt er unsere Neugier für die verborgene Schönheit der Alltagswelt und unser Interesse an dem, was wir haben.