A Therapeutic Journey: Lessons from the School of Life
nonfiction · First published 2023
Author guide
Alain de Botton Books in Order
Alain de Botton was born in Zurich in 1969 and lives in London. He writes fiction and essayistic nonfiction about love, travel, architecture, work, philosophy, religion, art, literature, media, and emotional life. He founded The School of Life, an organization devoted to practical emotional education, and Living Architecture. His writing combines personal observation, philosophical reflection, cultural criticism, and accessible self-help.
fictionnonfictionessaysphilosophyliterary criticismpsychologyself-help
Catalog record updated .
Alain de Botton's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Essays in Love
The first book and an accessible introduction to de Botton's distinctive blend of narrative, philosophy, and psychological observation.
How Proust Can Change Your Life
A concise, widely representative introduction to his approach to literature, philosophy, and practical living.
The School of Life: An Emotional Education
A broad overview of his later work on emotional intelligence, relationships, work, failure, and self-understanding.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (15)
- Essays in Love
novel · 1993
- The Romantic Movement: Sex, Shopping, and the Novel
novel · 1994
- Kiss & Tell
novel · 1995
- How Proust Can Change Your Life
nonfiction · 1997
With an introduction by comedian and novelist David Baddiel A novel in seven volumes, Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time is considered a major literary work of the twentieth century. And even more crucially, one that you should have…
- The Consolations of Philosophy
nonfiction · 2000
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…
- The Art of Travel
nonfiction · 2002
This title takes us on a journey through the satisfactions and disappointments of travelling. Dealing with such topics as airports, exotic carpets and mini-bars it reveals the hidden motivations, expectations and complications of our…
- Status Anxiety
nonfiction · 2004
This is a book about an almost universal anxiety that rarely gets mentioned directly: 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.…
- The Architecture of Happiness
nonfiction · 2006
One of the great but often unmentioned causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our environment: the kinds of walls, chairs, buildings and streets that surround us.And yet a concern for architecture and design is too often…
- The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work
nonfiction · 2009
We spend most of our waking lives at work — in occupations often chosen by our unthinking sixteen-year-old selves. And yet we rarely ask ourselves how we got there or what it might mean for us.Equally intrigued by work's pleasures and its…
- A Week at the Airport: A Heathrow Diary
nonfiction · 2009
- Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believer's Guide to the Uses of Religion
nonfiction · 2012
- How to Think More about Sex
nonfiction · 2012
A guide to sexual behavior for the twenty-first century argues that modern sexuality must strike a balance between love and desire, and between adventure and commitment, and discusses such topics as rejection, pornography, and adultery.
- The News: A User's Manual
nonfiction · 2014
Alain de Botton explores our relationship with 'the news' in this book full of his trademark wit and wisdom. Following on from his bestselling Religion for Atheists, Alain de Botton turns now to look at the manic and peculiar positions…
- The Course of Love
novel · 2016
We all know the headiness and excitement of the early days of love. But what comes after? In Edinburgh, a couple, Rabih and Kirsten, fall in love. They get married, they have children but no long-term relationship is as simple as happily…
- A Therapeutic Journey: Lessons from the School of Life
nonfiction · 2023
Essays and speeches (1)
- The School of Life: An Emotional Education
essay collection · 2019
Collaborations (1)
- Art as Therapy
co-authored nonfiction · 2013
Frequently asked questions about Alain de Botton
Who is Alain de Botton?
Alain de Botton is a Swiss-born writer and philosopher based in London. His essayistic work examines how philosophy and culture can illuminate everyday life.
Sources: alaindebotton.com (opens in a new tab)kcl.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
Where was Alain de Botton born, and what did he study?
He was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1969. He studied History at the University of Cambridge and completed an MPhil in Philosophy at King’s College London in 1992.
Sources: alaindebotton.com (opens in a new tab)kcl.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
What influences Alain de Botton’s approach to philosophy?
His approach applies ideas from philosophy, literature, art, and psychology to practical concerns such as relationships, work, status, architecture, and emotional life. He describes this project as a “philosophy of everyday life.”
Sources: alaindebotton.com (opens in a new tab)kcl.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
What is Alain de Botton’s role at The School of Life?
Alain de Botton founded The School of Life in 2008 with colleagues from the arts, education, and cultural sectors. The organization provides emotional education by applying psychology, philosophy, and culture to everyday life.
Sources: theschooloflife.com (opens in a new tab)kcl.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
What honors has Alain de Botton received?
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, recognizing his contributions to literature and public understanding of architecture.
Sources: rsliterature.org (opens in a new tab)riba.org (opens in a new tab)