The Consolations of Philosophy

The "Consolations of Philosophy" is Alain de Botton's internationally bestselling guide to life. It is the inspiration for the TV series "Philsophy: A Guide to Happiness. Alain de Botton, bestselling author of "How Proust Can Change Your Life", has set six of the finest minds in the history of philosophy to work on the problems of everyday life. Here then are Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer and Nietsche on some of the things that bother us all: lack of money, the pain of love, inadequacy, anxiety; the fear of failure and the pressure to conform. "Singlehandedly, de Botton has taken philosophy back to its simplest and most important purpose: helping us live our lives". ("Independent"). "No doubt about it, philosophy is the new rock and roll and Alain de Botton is its Colonel Tom Parker ...A pleasure to read. And good writing, like good philosophy, is always a consolation". (John Banville, "Irish Times"). "Few discussions on the great philosophers can have been so entertaining ...an ingenious, imaginative book". (Humphrey Carpenter, "Sunday Times"). "Witty, thoughtful, entertaining ...a stylish book, which manages to make philosophy both enjoyable and relevant".
(Anthony Clare, "Literary Review"). "Gentle, helpful and humane ...De Botton's instinct is surely right: if we are to bring philosophy to life we should look again at those thinkers who have sought to be not clever or paradoxical, but simply wise". (Roger Scruton, "Mail on Sunday"). Alain de Botton was born in 1969 and is the author of non-fiction essays on themes ranging from love and travel to architecture and philosophy. His bestselling books include "Essays in Love"; "The Romantic Movement"; "Kiss and Tell"; "Status Anxiety"; "How Proust Can Change Your Life"; "The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work"; "The Art of Travel"; and, "The Architecture of Happiness and Religion for Atheists". He lives in London and founded The School of Life and Living Architecture.