Alain De Botton

"Plotting the course of an affair from the initial delirium of infatuation to the depths of suicidal despair, through a fit of anhedonia--defined in medical texts as a diseae resulting from the terror brought on by the threat of utter happiness--and finally through the terrorist tactics employed when the beloved begins, inexplicably, to drift away, this 'tour de force pelasure ... [is] a dissertation/novel on romantic narcissism that's both intellectually...

A study of architecture examines how we both shape and are shaped by our private homes and public edifices and explains how our stylistic choices can be used to increase our chances of happiness. "The Architecture 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...

From the author of How Proust Can Change Your Life, a delightful, truly consoling work that proves that philosophy can be a supreme source of help for our most painful everyday problems.
Perhaps only Alain de Botton could uncover practical wisdom in the writings of some of the greatest thinkers of all time. But uncover he does, and the result is an unexpected book of both solace and humor. Dividing his work into six sections — each highlighting...

A sly self-help manual for the bookworm distills from the life and work of Marcel Proust--particularly The Remembrance of Things Past--useful directions on such subjects as cultivating friendships and sexual relations.

Two authorities on popular culture reveal the ways in which art can enhance mood and enrich lives - now available in paperback. This passionate, thought-provoking, often funny, and always-accessible book proposes a new way of looking at art, suggesting that it can be useful, relevant, and therapeutic. Through practical examples, the world-renowned authors argue that certain great works of art have clues as to how to manage the tensions and confusions...

A man accused by women of narcissism tries to show more interest in his next one, only to discover women don't like too much attention either. A romantic comedy set in Britain by the author of On Love.

Debut novel of contemporary romance, blending philosophical discourse with the mundane bathos of daily life. Taking in Aristotle, Wittgenstein, history, religion and Groucho Marx, Alain de Botton 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.

"Emotional intelligence affects every aspect of the way we live, from romantic to professional relationships, from our inner resilience to our social success. It is arguably the single most important skill for surviving the twenty-first century. But what does it really mean? One decade ago, Alain de Botton founded The School of Life, an institute dedicated to understanding and improving our emotional intelligence. Now he presents the gathered wisdom...