Alain de Botton
Encyclopedia
Alain de Botton is a Swiss
writer, television presenter, and entrepreneur, resident in the UK.
His books and television programs discuss various contemporary subjects and themes in a philosophical
style, emphasizing philosophy's relevance to everyday life. In August 2008, he was a founding member of a new educational establishment in central London called The School of Life
. In May 2009, he was a founding member of a new architectural organization called "Living Architecture
". In October that year, de Botton was appointed an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects
, in recognition of his services to architecture.
, De Botton comes from a Sephardic Jewish family, originating from a small Castilian
town of Boton (now vanished) on the Iberian peninsula
. He is the only son of his father, banker Gilbert de Botton
who co-founded Global Asset Management with Jacob Rothschild and Mark Weinberg
. Alain's father and mother, Jacqueline Burgauer, married in 1962. He has one sister Miel
.
De Botton spent the first eight years of his life in Switzerland
where he learned to speak French and German. He was sent to the Dragon School
, a boarding school in Oxford
, where he learned to speak English. Describing himself as a shy child, he subsequently boarded at Harrow School
. He achieved a double starred first
in history at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
(1988–1991) and completed his master's degree
in philosophy at King's College London
(1991–1992). He began a PhD
in French philosophy
at London University, but gave up research to write books for the general public.
Ambivalence is apparent in the following example,
Negative reviews allege that de Botton tends to state the obvious from a position of privilege and have characterized some of his books as pompous and lacking focus.
His books include black-and-white photographs punctuating the text.
s in which his own experiences and ideas are interwoven with those of artists, philosophers and thinkers. These have been called a "philosophy of everyday life
."
.
. It is a mixture of a "self-help" envelope and analysis of one of the most revered but unread books in the Western canon, In Search of Lost Time
. It was a bestseller in the US and UK.
This was followed by The Consolations of Philosophy
in 2000. The title of the book is a reference to Boethius
's Consolation of Philosophy
, in which philosophy appears as an allegorical
figure to Boethius to console him in the period leading up to his impending execution. Though sometimes described as works of popularization, Proust and Consolations were attempts to develop original ideas about friendship, art, envy, desire, and inadequacy, among other things, with the help of thoughts of other thinkers. In The Consolations of Philosophy, de Botton attempts to demonstrate how the teachings of philosophers such as Epicurus
, Montaigne, Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, Seneca
, and Socrates
can be applied to modern everyday woes such as unpopularity, feelings of inadequacy, financial worries, broken hearts, and the general problem of suffering. The book has been both praised and criticized for its therapeutic approach to philosophy.
De Botton then returned to a more lyrical, personal style of writing. In The Art of Travel, he looked at themes in the psychology of travel: how we imagine places before we see them, how we remember beautiful things, what happens to us when we look at deserts, stay in hotels, and go to the countryside.
In Status Anxiety
(2004), de Botton examines an almost universal anxiety that is rarely mentioned directly: what others think of us; about whether we're judged a success or a failure, a winner or a loser.
In The Architecture of Happiness
(2006), he discusses the nature of beauty in architecture and how it is related to the well-being and general contentment of the individual and society. He describes how architecture affects people every day, though people rarely pay particular attention to it. A good portion of the book discusses how human personality traits are reflected in architecture. He ends up defending Modernist architecture
, and chastising the pseudo-vernacular architecture
of housing, especially in the UK. "The best modern architecture," he argues, "doesn't hold a mirror up to nature, though it may borrow a pleasing shape or expressive line from nature's copybook. It gives voice to aspirations and suggests possibilities. The question isn't whether you'd actually like to live in a Le Corbusier
home, but whether you'd like to be the kind of person who'd like to live in one."
In The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work (2009), a survey of ten different jobs, including accountancy, rocket science and biscuit manufacture, which includes two hundred original images and aims to unlock the beauty, interest and occasional horror of the modern world of work.
In response to a question about whether he felt "pulled" to be a writer, de Botton responded:
In August 2009, de Botton replied to a competition advertised among British literary agents by BAA, the airport management company, for the post of "writer-in-residence" at Heathrow Airport. The post involved being seated at a desk in Terminal 5, and writing about the comings and goings of passengers over a week. De Botton was duly appointed to the position. The result was the book, A Week at the Airport, published by Profile Books in September 2009. The book features photographs by the documentary photographer Richard Baker, with whom de Botton also worked on The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work.
. He also travels extensively to lecture on his works. He owns and helps run his own production company, Seneca Productions, making television documentaries based on his works.
– a new cultural enterprise based in central London aiming to offer instruction on how to lead a fulfilled life. In an interview with
" – which proposes to build a series of innovative houses in the UK using leading contemporary architects. These include Peter Zumthor
, MVRDV
, JVA, NORD and Michael and Patti Hopkins. The houses will be rented out to the general public. De Botton's aim is to improve the appreciation of good contemporary architecture – and seems a practical continuation of his theoretical work on architecture in his book The Architecture of Happiness. In October 2009, de Botton was appointed an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects
, in recognition of his services to architecture.
is a prominent patron of the arts and competition bridge player. De Botton lives in London with his wife Charlotte and their children.
series A Point of View.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
writer, television presenter, and entrepreneur, resident in the UK.
His books and television programs discuss various contemporary subjects and themes in a philosophical
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
style, emphasizing philosophy's relevance to everyday life. In August 2008, he was a founding member of a new educational establishment in central London called The School of Life
The school of life
The School of Life is a social enterprise founded in 2008 and based in a small shop in Central London. The School offers a variety of programmes and services concerned with how to live wisely and well, addressing such questions as why work is often unfulfilling, why relationships can be so...
. In May 2009, he was a founding member of a new architectural organization called "Living Architecture
Living Architecture
Living Architecture is a not-for-profit holiday home rental company in the UK.It was founded by philosopher and writer Alain de Botton, who launched the scheme in 2010 as the first programme of its kind...
". In October that year, de Botton was appointed an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
, in recognition of his services to architecture.
Early life
Born in 20 December 1969 in ZurichZürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, De Botton comes from a Sephardic Jewish family, originating from a small Castilian
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
town of Boton (now vanished) on the Iberian peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
. He is the only son of his father, banker Gilbert de Botton
Gilbert de Botton
Gilbert de Botton was a financial pioneer in the 20th century, who is considered the inventor of the open architecture model of asset management....
who co-founded Global Asset Management with Jacob Rothschild and Mark Weinberg
Mark Weinberg
-Early life and education:Weinberg was born in South Africa and educated at King Edward VII School in Johannesburg. He received degrees in Commerce and Law and practised as a barrister...
. Alain's father and mother, Jacqueline Burgauer, married in 1962. He has one sister Miel
Miel de Botton
Miel de Botton is a Swiss contemporary art collector, and philanthropist, who lives in London. De Botton is the daughter of the pioneer of open architecture asset management Gilbert de Botton and his first wife Jacqueline Burgauer. When her father died, in 2000, the family was left a trust fund of...
.
De Botton spent the first eight years of his life in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
where he learned to speak French and German. He was sent to the Dragon School
Dragon School
The Dragon School is a British coeducational, preparatory school in the city of Oxford, founded in 1877 as the Oxford Preparatory School, or OPS. It is primarily known as a boarding school, although it also takes day pupils...
, a boarding school in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, where he learned to speak English. Describing himself as a shy child, he subsequently boarded at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
. He achieved a double starred first
British undergraduate degree classification
The British undergraduate degree classification system is a grading scheme for undergraduate degrees in the United Kingdom...
in history at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college is often referred to simply as "Caius" , after its second founder, John Keys, who fashionably latinised the spelling of his name after studying in Italy.- Outline :Gonville and...
(1988–1991) and completed his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in philosophy at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
(1991–1992). He began a PhD
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in French philosophy
French philosophy
French philosophy, here taken to mean philosophy in the French language, has been extremely diverse and has influenced Western philosophy as a whole for centuries, from the medieval scholasticism of Peter Abelard, through the founding of modern philosophy by René Descartes, to 20th century...
at London University, but gave up research to write books for the general public.
Writing
De Botton has written in a variety of formats to mixed response. Positive reviews of de Botton's books claim that he has made literature, philosophy and art more accessible to a wider audience.Ambivalence is apparent in the following example,
De Botton's idea of bringing philosophy to the masses and presenting it in an nonthreatening manner (and showing how it might be useful in anyone's life), is admirable; the way he has gone about it is less so. —The Independent
Negative reviews allege that de Botton tends to state the obvious from a position of privilege and have characterized some of his books as pompous and lacking focus.
His books include black-and-white photographs punctuating the text.
Essays
De Botton has written books of essayEssay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
s in which his own experiences and ideas are interwoven with those of artists, philosophers and thinkers. These have been called a "philosophy of everyday life
Everyday Life
Everyday Life is the first solo album made by Life MC of the British Hip Hop group Phi Life Cypher....
."
Fiction
In his first novel, Essays In Love (titled On Love in the U.S.), published in 1993, De Botton deals with the process of falling in and out of love. The style of the book is unusual because it mixes elements of a novel with reflections and analyses normally found in non-fiction. In 2010, Essays in Love was adapted to film by director Julian Kemp for the romantic comedy My Last Five GirlfriendsMy Last Five Girlfriends
My Last Five Girlfriends, a 2010 film starring Brendan Patricks, is a British Romantic Comedy based on pop-philosopher Alain De Botton's book, Essays In Love My Last Five Girlfriends, a 2010 film starring Brendan Patricks, is a British Romantic Comedy based on pop-philosopher Alain De Botton's...
.
Non-fiction
In 1997 he published his first non-fiction book, How Proust Can Change Your Life, based on the life and works of Marcel ProustMarcel Proust
Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust was a French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his monumental À la recherche du temps perdu...
. It is a mixture of a "self-help" envelope and analysis of one of the most revered but unread books in the Western canon, In Search of Lost Time
In Search of Lost Time
In Search of Lost Time or Remembrance of Things Past is a novel in seven volumes by Marcel Proust. His most prominent work, it is popularly known for its considerable length and the notion of involuntary memory, the most famous example being the "episode of the madeleine." The novel is widely...
. It was a bestseller in the US and UK.
This was followed by The Consolations of Philosophy
The Consolations of Philosophy
The Consolations of Philosophy is a nonfiction book by Alain de Botton. First published by Hamish Hamilton in 2000, subsequent publications have been by Penguin Books....
in 2000. The title of the book is a reference to Boethius
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius, commonly called Boethius was a philosopher of the early 6th century. He was born in Rome to an ancient and important family which included emperors Petronius Maximus and Olybrius and many consuls. His father, Flavius Manlius Boethius, was consul in 487 after...
's Consolation of Philosophy
Consolation of Philosophy
Consolation of Philosophy is a philosophical work by Boethius, written around the year 524. It has been described as the single most important and influential work in the West on Medieval and early Renaissance Christianity, and is also the last great Western work that can be called Classical.-...
, in which philosophy appears as an allegorical
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
figure to Boethius to console him in the period leading up to his impending execution. Though sometimes described as works of popularization, Proust and Consolations were attempts to develop original ideas about friendship, art, envy, desire, and inadequacy, among other things, with the help of thoughts of other thinkers. In The Consolations of Philosophy, de Botton attempts to demonstrate how the teachings of philosophers such as Epicurus
Epicurus
Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher and the founder of the school of philosophy called Epicureanism.Only a few fragments and letters remain of Epicurus's 300 written works...
, Montaigne, Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, Seneca
Seneca the Younger
Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero...
, and Socrates
Socrates
Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary ...
can be applied to modern everyday woes such as unpopularity, feelings of inadequacy, financial worries, broken hearts, and the general problem of suffering. The book has been both praised and criticized for its therapeutic approach to philosophy.
De Botton then returned to a more lyrical, personal style of writing. In The Art of Travel, he looked at themes in the psychology of travel: how we imagine places before we see them, how we remember beautiful things, what happens to us when we look at deserts, stay in hotels, and go to the countryside.
In Status Anxiety
Status Anxiety
Status Anxiety is a nonfiction book by Alain de Botton. It was first published in 2004 by Hamish Hamilton; subsequent publications have been by Penguin Books.-Central thesis:...
(2004), de Botton examines an almost universal anxiety that is rarely mentioned directly: what others think of us; about whether we're judged a success or a failure, a winner or a loser.
In The Architecture of Happiness
The Architecture of Happiness
The Architecture of Happiness is a book by Alain de Botton which discusses the importance of beauty, published by Pantheon Books in 2006...
(2006), he discusses the nature of beauty in architecture and how it is related to the well-being and general contentment of the individual and society. He describes how architecture affects people every day, though people rarely pay particular attention to it. A good portion of the book discusses how human personality traits are reflected in architecture. He ends up defending Modernist architecture
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
, and chastising the pseudo-vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
of housing, especially in the UK. "The best modern architecture," he argues, "doesn't hold a mirror up to nature, though it may borrow a pleasing shape or expressive line from nature's copybook. It gives voice to aspirations and suggests possibilities. The question isn't whether you'd actually like to live in a Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier , was a Swiss-born French architect, designer, urbanist, writer and painter, famous for being one of the pioneers of what now is called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930...
home, but whether you'd like to be the kind of person who'd like to live in one."
In The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work (2009), a survey of ten different jobs, including accountancy, rocket science and biscuit manufacture, which includes two hundred original images and aims to unlock the beauty, interest and occasional horror of the modern world of work.
In response to a question about whether he felt "pulled" to be a writer, de Botton responded:
So I think where people tend to end up results from a combination of encouragement, accident, and lucky break, etc. etc. Like many others, my career happened like it did because certain doors opened and certain doors closed. You know, at a certain point I thought it would be great to make film documentaries. Well, in fact, I found that to be incredibly hard and very expensive to do and I didn’t really have the courage to keep battling away at that. In another age, I might have been an academic in a university, if the university system had been different. So it’s all about trying to find the best fit between your talents and what the world can offer at that point in time.
In August 2009, de Botton replied to a competition advertised among British literary agents by BAA, the airport management company, for the post of "writer-in-residence" at Heathrow Airport. The post involved being seated at a desk in Terminal 5, and writing about the comings and goings of passengers over a week. De Botton was duly appointed to the position. The result was the book, A Week at the Airport, published by Profile Books in September 2009. The book features photographs by the documentary photographer Richard Baker, with whom de Botton also worked on The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work.
Newspapers, lecturing and television
De Botton writes regular articles for several English newspapers, and from 1998 to 2000, wrote a regular column for The Independent on SundayThe Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
. He also travels extensively to lecture on his works. He owns and helps run his own production company, Seneca Productions, making television documentaries based on his works.
The School of Life
De Botton's project from 2008 is The School of LifeThe school of life
The School of Life is a social enterprise founded in 2008 and based in a small shop in Central London. The School offers a variety of programmes and services concerned with how to live wisely and well, addressing such questions as why work is often unfulfilling, why relationships can be so...
– a new cultural enterprise based in central London aiming to offer instruction on how to lead a fulfilled life. In an interview with
metkere.com de Botton said:The idea is to challenge traditional universities and reorganize knowledge, directing it towards life, and away from knowledge for its own sake. In a modest way, it’s an institution that is trying to give people what universities should I think always give them: a sense of direction and wisdom for their lives with the help of culture.
Living Architecture
In May 2009, de Botton was named as the chief inspiration for a new architecture project called "Living ArchitectureLiving Architecture
Living Architecture is a not-for-profit holiday home rental company in the UK.It was founded by philosopher and writer Alain de Botton, who launched the scheme in 2010 as the first programme of its kind...
" – which proposes to build a series of innovative houses in the UK using leading contemporary architects. These include Peter Zumthor
Peter Zumthor
Peter Zumthor is a Swiss architect and winner of the 2009 Pritzker Prize.-Early life:Zumthor was born in Basel, the son of a cabinet-maker...
, MVRDV
MVRDV
MVRDV is a Rotterdam, Netherlands-based architecture and urban design practice founded in 1991. The name is an acronym for the founding members: Winy Maas , Jacob van Rijs and Nathalie de Vries...
, JVA, NORD and Michael and Patti Hopkins. The houses will be rented out to the general public. De Botton's aim is to improve the appreciation of good contemporary architecture – and seems a practical continuation of his theoretical work on architecture in his book The Architecture of Happiness. In October 2009, de Botton was appointed an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
, in recognition of his services to architecture.
Personal life
When his father died, his family was left a trust fund of over £200 million, although de Botton says his income is derived solely from the proceeds of his book sales. His stepmother Janet de BottonJanet de Botton
Janet Frances de Botton is a British bridge player, collector of contemporary art and a philanthropist.-Life and career:Born Janet Wolfson, de Botton was also formerly known as Janet Green...
is a prominent patron of the arts and competition bridge player. De Botton lives in London with his wife Charlotte and their children.
Publications
- Essays In Love (1993), also published as On Love: A Novel (2006)
- The Romantic Movement (1994)
- Kiss and Tell (1995)
- How Proust Can Change Your Life (1997)
- The Consolations of PhilosophyThe Consolations of PhilosophyThe Consolations of Philosophy is a nonfiction book by Alain de Botton. First published by Hamish Hamilton in 2000, subsequent publications have been by Penguin Books....
(2000) - The Art of Travel (2002)
- Status AnxietyStatus AnxietyStatus Anxiety is a nonfiction book by Alain de Botton. It was first published in 2004 by Hamish Hamilton; subsequent publications have been by Penguin Books.-Central thesis:...
(2004) - The Architecture of HappinessThe Architecture of HappinessThe Architecture of Happiness is a book by Alain de Botton which discusses the importance of beauty, published by Pantheon Books in 2006...
(2006) - The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work (2009)
- A Week at the Airport (2009)
TV series
- Philosophy: A Guide To Happiness (from The Consolations of PhilosophyThe Consolations of PhilosophyThe Consolations of Philosophy is a nonfiction book by Alain de Botton. First published by Hamish Hamilton in 2000, subsequent publications have been by Penguin Books....
)
- Socrates on Self-Confidence
- Epicurus on Happiness
- Seneca on Anger
- Montaigne on Self-Esteem
- Schopenhauer on Love
- Nietzsche on Hardship (featuring Cathal Grealish)
- Status Anxiety (film)Status Anxiety (film)Status Anxiety is a two-hour documentary film written by Alain de Botton and based on the book of the same name, Status Anxiety....
- The Art Of Travel Prix européen de l'essai Charles Veillon
- The Perfect HomeThe Perfect HomeThe Perfect Home is a television series of three 42 minute episodes commissioned for Channel 4 based on the book The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton which first aired in 2006...
(from The Architecture of Happiness)
- Status Anxiety (film)
Radio
In 2011 he presented a series of talks for the BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
series A Point of View.
- What Humanities Should Teach: Arguing teachers of humanities in universities have only themselves to blame for cuts in funding.
- News and Concentration: Examining our inability to concentrate.
- The Ecological Sublime: A philosopher's take on ecological dilemmas.
- Are Museums Our New Churches?: Argues that museums could learn from churches with regard to getting their message across.
- In Praise of the Nanny State: Asks why the idea of a Nanny StateNanny stateA nanny state is the perception of a situation characterised by governmental policies of over-protectionism, economic interventionism, or heavy regulation of economic, social or other nature....
is so unappealing. - On Marriage: Muses on why a bookish life is a poor preparation for marriage.
- In Praise of the Zoo: Muses on the value of exotic animals in giving perspective on our own lives.
- The Art of Conversation: Questions why we put so much effort into social encounters but leave conversation to chance.
- What's in a Marriage?: Argues that expecting one person to be a good partner, lover and parent is, almost, asking the impossible.
- On Social Climbing: Argues that social climbing should be seen as evidence of a natural curiosity about the modern world.
- Modern Parenting: Takes a witty look at modern parenting.
- The Advantages of Pessimism: Why pessimism is the key to happiness.
- A Point of View: podcast
External links
- Living Architecture
- Open Library. Works by de Botton
- Compendium of reviews of The Consolations of Philosophy
- Archived web chat
- Interview with 3AM Magazine (2002)
- Alain de Botton interview: "The City as a Cure for Loneliness"
- Alain de Botton at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Interview with Colin Marshall
- Alain de Botton at TedGlobal filmed on July 2009: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
- Audio: Alain de Botton in conversation on the BBC World Service discussion show The ForumThe Forum (BBC World Service)The Forum is the BBC World Service's flagship discussion programme. It brings together prominent thinkers from different disciplines and different parts of the world to try and create stimulating discussion, informed by highly distinct academic, artistic and cultural backgrounds.-Format:Each...