My writing always came out of a very personal place, out of an attempt to stay sane. Alain de Botton attemptpersonalplace Change image and share on social
When work is not going well, it's useful to remember that our identities stretch beyond what is on the business card, that we were people long before we became workers - and will continue to be human once we have put our tools down forever. Alain de Botton businesscardcontinue share on social
We are certainly influenced by role models, and if we are surrounded by images of beautiful rich people, we will start to think that to be beautiful and rich is very important - just as in the Middle Ages, people were surrounded by images of religious piety. Alain de Botton agebeautifulimage share on social
All tours are filled with humiliation. My publisher once hired a private jet to fly me to a venue where 1,000 people were waiting. It almost bankrupted him. Alain de Botton 000bankruptfill Change image and share on social
When I see someone like Richard Dawkins, I see my father. I grew up with that. I'm basically the child of Richard Dawkins. Alain de Botton basicallychilddawkin Change image and share on social
Status anxiety definitely exists at a political level. Many Iraqis were annoyed with the US essentially for reasons of status: for not showing them respect, for humiliating them. Alain de Botton annoyanxietyessentially Change image and share on social
Work is a way of bringing order to chaos, and there's a basic satisfaction in seeing that we are able to make something a little more coherent by the end of the day. Alain de Botton basicbringchaos Change image and share on social
I was a very un-literary child, which might reassure parents with kids who don't read. Alain de Botton childkidliterary Change image and share on social
Pick up any newspaper or magazine, open the TV, and you'll be bombarded with suggestions of how to have a successful life. Some of these suggestions are deeply unhelpful to our own projects and priorities - and we should take care. Alain de Botton bombardcaredeeply share on social
It's clear to me that there is no good reason for many philosophy books to sound as complicated as they do. Alain de Botton bookclearcomplicate Change image and share on social
