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The School of Life

An Emotional Education

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The School of Life

By: Alain De Botton, The School of Life (PRH Rights)
Narrated by: Alain de Botton, Charlie Anson
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

*Introduction narrated by Alain de Botton*

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

The essential guide to how to live wisely and well in the twenty-first century - from Alain de Botton, the bestselling author of The Consolations of Philosophy, The Art of Travel and The Course of Love

This is an audiobook about everything you were never taught at school. It's about how to understand your emotions, find and sustain love, succeed in your career, fail well and overcome shame and guilt. It's also about letting go of the myth of a perfect life in order to achieve genuine emotional maturity. Written in a hugely accessible, warm and humane style, The School of Life is the ultimate guide to the emotionally fulfilled lives we all long for - and deserve.

This audiobook brings together ten years of essential and transformative research on emotional intelligence, with practical topics including:

- how to understand yourself
- how to master the dilemmas of relationships
- how to become more effective at work
- how to endure failure
- how to grow more serene and resilient

©2019 Alain de Botton (P)2019 Penguin Audio Consciousness & Thought Personal Development Personal Success Philosophy Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Self-Esteem Emotion Witty Inspiring Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

"What he has managed to do is remarkable: to help us think better so that we may live better lives." (Irish Times)

"A serious and optimistic set of practical ideas that could improve and alter the way we live." (Jeanette Winterson, The Times)

"Alain de Botton likes to take big, complex subjects and write about them with thoughtful and deceptive innocence." (Observer)

All stars
Most relevant  
Funny and wise: all we want to be. Articulates the home truths we all know but never admit in a gentle, understanding coaxing way.

Funny and wise: all we want to be.

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The narration is excellent. Very easy to listen to and helps you digest. It’s full of Aha! moments and realisations... I’ve read it twice already! I thoroughly enjoyed each chapter and didn’t want it to end. I highly recommend this book!

Fantastic read

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I've never read anything quite like it - wide-ranging, very personal and eclectic, but hard to pin down. A bit of a whirlwind. Many fascinating ideas and insights, but also moments of 'what it is this guy on?' I was occasionally irritated by what felt like a 'snowflaky' attitude but I also laughed out loud at frequent, witty and ironic turns of phrase. Alain de Botton sometimes seems to be from another planet or century to the run of mankind with whom he so earnestly wants to share his experience and wisdom. He refers to memories of a distant or demanding father in his book-lined study, and the boy in corduroy trousers (crying to nanny?) His selection of life's problems tend to be rather esoteric - jealousy that another author may have sold more books, being snubbed by important peple at conferences, or being dissapointed at the pleasures of fame - rather than not being able to pay the gas bill, or being made redundant - that make your average Joe sad. I don't want to criticise though, as I found this book extremely engaging and thoughtful, even when I disagreed with some of de Botton basic assumptions. Despite being obviously very well-read, I wondered why he did not pay enough attention to evolutionary psychology. It's not the most recent batch of parents that f us up (as de Botton assumes), it goes back all the way to apes and beyond. We are badly adjusted human beings for good evolutionary reasons. Anyway, enough of my blathering - read it for yourself because it is worth much, much more than £7.99.

Wierd but wonderful

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It's proper food for thoughs, it's a relief and a confort book to help accepting our self and each other.

To read at least once in a lifetime

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A must read for anyone who is serious about reflecting on the things that matter in our life. With wit and eloquence Alain de Botton helps us to think about how we think about ourselves, what work means to us, how we form relationships and why we are all crazy in our own way.

What an amazing book.

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A beautiful book on living an emotionally balanced and enriched life. Definitely worth a list en

A brilliant listen!

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On of the best books I’ve read in 2020. A book filled with hope and great insights about day-to-day life.

Wonderful!

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This book will help the listener accept, at least in part, some of the chaos we live within. We’re all a bit of a nitwit, and Alain de Botton explains how that’s a good thing.
10/10 would listen again.

Well explained and well referenced!

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I'm somewhat a weirdo and seemingly share most values and judgements with Allan. It's surprising to read ideas of such clear-sightedness and written with eye for the practical and livable. It articulates most of my hunches about the adverse effects of romanticism, consumerism and tradition on our lives. This was the chief reason why it was such a captivating experience to read. The book lives up to the quality standards of regular School or Life videos.

Yes to all the advice in here!

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It is a "How to..." book with great intelligence and vast cultural background. A listener does not feel like being talked down to, but rather talked with. All the aspects of our life are touched upon with good analysis and interesting examples. It is a helpful guide at this anxious time of ours.

Helpful insights and pleasant listening!

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