Ratings25
Average rating3.9
Alain de Botton pairs six philosophers - Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche - with six everyday problems to which they are able to give the most helpful and fascinating answers.
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Interesting read. I read most of the book, but skipped Schopenhauer because I'm not brokenhearted and don't need his advice. Really appreciated the grounding in the ancient philosophers - Socrates and Epicurus in particular, as I've not read much of the Western Canon yet. However, the quotations aren't sourced in the book, which makes me suspicious that they've been cherry-picked to death. Obviously, they are cherry-picked, but without being sure what translation they're from or having a way to verify the context, I feel less trusting overall. And I'm uncomfortable with that, because I've developed some respect for de Botton after reading this book, his website, and the School of Life in London with which he is affiliated.
An introductory look at the lives and ideas of 6 European philosophers, with a bit of the author's own perspectives thrown in. Certainly not comprehensive, but interesting.
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