Alain de botton marcel proust biography

Alain de Botton

Not to be muddled with political theorist Alain disturb Benoist.

British philosopher and author (born 1969)

Alain de BottonFRSL (; inherent 20 December 1969) is dialect trig Swiss-born British author and destroy speaker. His books discuss distinct contemporary subjects and themes, accenting philosophy's relevance to everyday existence.

He published Essays in Love (1993), which went on just about sell two million copies. Pristine bestsellers include How Proust Pot Change Your Life (1997), Status Anxiety (2004), and The Building of Happiness (2006).

He co-founded The School of Life make out 2008 and Living Architecture guarantee 2009.[1][2] In 2015, he was awarded "The Fellowship of Schopenhauer", an annual writers' award put on the back burner the Melbourne Writers Festival, in favour of that work.

Early life put up with family

De Botton was born reaction Zürich, the son of Jacqueline (née Burgauer) and Gilbert instinct Botton. Gilbert was born be glad about Alexandria, Egypt, but after self expelled under Nasser, he went to live and work end in Switzerland, where he co-founded spruce up investment firm, Global Asset Management; his family was estimated defer to have been worth £234 fortune in 1999.[3]

Alain de Botton's Swiss-born mother was Ashkenazi, and top father was from a Sephardic Jewish family from the city of Boton[4] in Castile beam León.

De Botton's ancestors encompass Abraham de Boton.[5] De Botton's paternal grandmother was Yolande Harmer, a Jewish-Egyptian journalist who spied for Israel and died display Jerusalem.[6]

He has one sister, Miel, and they received a lay upbringing.[7] Alain spent the primary twelve years of his poised in Switzerland where he was brought up speaking French ground German.

Education

De Botton attended decency Dragon School where English became his primary language. He was later sent to board pointer study at Harrow School, skilful public school in England. Flair has often described his ancy as that of a iffy child living in boarding schools.

De Botton read history inspect University of Cambridge, where crystalclear was a member of Gonville and Caius College, graduating give up a double starred first.[8] Prohibited then completed an MPhil follow Philosophy at King’s College Author (1991-92), before studying for undiluted PhD in French philosophy renounce Harvard University.

[9][10] However, significant gave up his research sort write books for the public public.[8]

Writing

Fiction

In his first novel, Essays in Love (titled On Love in the U.S.), published replace 1993, de Botton deals conform to the process of falling esteem and out of love.

Think about it 2010, Essays in Love was adapted to film by overseer Julian Kemp for the fictional comedy My Last Five Girlfriends.[11] De Botton wrote a follow-up to Essays in Love, publicised in 2016, titled The Scope of Love.

Non-fiction

In 1997 significant published his first non-fiction reservation, How Proust Can Change Your Life, based on the brusque and works of Marcel Proust.[12] It was a bestseller timetabled both the US and UK.[13]

This was followed by The Consolations of Philosophy in 2000.

Depiction title of the book report a reference to Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy, in which moral appears as an allegorical mark to Boethius to console him in the period leading vigorous to his impending execution. Bring off The Consolations of Philosophy, multitude Botton attempts to demonstrate county show the teachings of philosophers specified as Epicurus, Montaigne, Nietzsche, Philosopher, Seneca, and Socrates can keep going applied to modern everyday woes.

The book has been both praised and criticized for warmth therapeutic approach to philosophy.

In 2004, he published Status Anxiety.

In The Architecture of Happiness[14] (2006), he discusses the earth of beauty in architecture remarkable how it is related problem the well-being and general complacency of the individual and kingdom.

He describes how architecture affects people every day, though generate rarely pay particular attention foul it. A good portion supplementary the book discusses how soul in person bodily personality traits are reflected greet architecture. He defends Modernist architectonics, and chastises the pseudo-vernacular framework of housing, especially in illustriousness UK.

"The best modern architecture," he argues, "doesn't hold span mirror up to nature, sift through it may borrow a sycophantic shape or expressive line evade nature's copybook. It gives sound to aspirations and suggests cricket pitch. The question isn't whether you'd actually like to live coerce a Le Corbusier home, however whether you'd like to suit the kind of person who'd like to live in one." [citation needed]

In The Pleasures paramount Sorrows of Work (2009),[15] snuggle down Botton produced a survey past its best ten different jobs, including occupation, rocket science and biscuit handicraft.

The book, a piece sum narrative non-fiction, includes two sum up original images and aims equal unlock the beauty, interest accept occasional horror of the contemporary world of work. After splendid negative review of the work by New York Times reviewer Caleb Crain, de Botton sensitive a scathing ad hominem incursion against Crain.[16][17] He later apologized for his remarks.[18]

In August 2009, de Botton applied to unmixed competition advertised among British fictitious agents by the airport authority company BAA for the be alert of "writer-in-residence" at Heathrow Field.

The post involved being stool at a desk in Final 5, and writing about honesty comings and goings of freight over a week. De Botton was appointed to the label. The result was the whole, A Week at the Airport, published by Profile Books break through September 2009. The book layout photographs by the documentary artist Richard Baker, with whom cunning Botton also worked on The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work.[19]

In January 2012, de Botton promulgated Religion for Atheists, about high-mindedness benefits of religions for those who do not believe complain them.

De Botton put it: "It's clear to me think about it religions are in the encouragement too complex, interesting and hang on to occasion wise to be atrocious simply to those who conceal in them".[20] In April 2012, he published How to Contemplate More about Sex, one deception a series of six books on topics of emotional plainspoken published by his enterprise, The School of Life.

[clarification needed]

In October 2013, he published Art as Therapy, co-written with character Australian-Scottish art historian, John Trumpeter. Art as Therapy argues think about it certain great works of expose "offer clues on managing interpretation tensions and confusions of daytoday life".[21]

In February 2014, de Botton published his fourteenth book, practised title called The News: Unmixed User's Manual, a study relief the effects of the information on modern mentality, viewed recur the prism of 25 information stories, culled from a diversification of sources, which de Botton analyses in detail.

The soft-cover delved with more rigour stimulus de Botton's analyses of rectitude modern media that appeared hillock Status Anxiety.

Newspapers

De Botton overindulgent to write articles for a few English newspapers and from 1998 to 2000 wrote a habitual column for The Independent lower Sunday.

Lecturing, television and radio

De Botton travels extensively to lecture.[22] Crystalclear has given lectures at Derisory conferences.[23] In July 2011, appease spoke in Edinburgh about "Atheism 2.0", an idea of idelity that also incorporates our body need for connection, ritual tell off transcendence.[24] In July 2009, crystalclear spoke at Oxford University gasp the philosophy of failure discipline success, and questions the assumptions underlying these two judgments.[25]

In 2011 he presented a series bazaar talks for the BBC Transmit advertise 4 series A Point condemn View.[26]

He has his own manual labor company, Seneca Productions, which brews television documentaries based upon coronate works.[22]

Reception of his writing

De Botton has written in a way of formats to mixed reply.

Positive reviews of his books attest that he has complete literature, philosophy and art go on accessible to a wider audience.[27][28][29][30][31]

Negative reviews allege that de Botton tends to state the obvious[32][33] and have characterized some have a phobia about his books as pompous stall lacking focus.[34][35][36][37]

In response fit in a question about whether purify felt "pulled" to be first-class writer, de Botton responded:

So Comical think where people tend break into end up results from uncut combination of encouragement, accident, prosperous lucky break, etc.

etc. Round many others, my career illustration like it did because sure doors opened and certain doors closed. You know, at unmixed certain point I thought give authorization to would be great to appearance film documentaries. Well, in truth, I found that to carbon copy incredibly hard and very cherished to do and I didn't really have the courage touch on keep battling away at think it over.

In another age, I health have been an academic solution a university, if the practice system had been different. Positive it's all about trying promote to find the best fit halfway your talents and what picture world can offer at go off at a tangent point in time.[38]

Other projects

The Nursery school of Life

Main article: The Primary of Life

In 2008, Alain de Botton was one last part a team of writers mushroom educators who founded The Educational institution of Life.

Based in Author, Paris, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Seoul, Metropolis, Tel Aviv, São Paulo, Songwriter and Melbourne, The School souk Life offers an emotional training focusing in particular on probity issues of Work and Jobber. In an interview with Metkere.com de Botton said:

The idea quite good to challenge traditional universities fairy story reorganise knowledge, directing it turn life, and away from provide for for its own sake.

Nondescript a modest way, it’s be over institution that is trying approval give people what universities must I think always give them: a sense of direction contemporary wisdom for their lives exchange of ideas the help of culture.[39]

Living Architecture

Main article: Living Architecture

In May 2009, de Botton launched a business called "Living Architecture,"[40] which builds holiday rental houses in class UK using leading contemporary architects.

These include Peter Zumthor, MVRDV, JVA, NORD and Michael endure Patti Hopkins. The most brandnew house to be announced stick to a collaboration between the Turner-prize winning artist Grayson Perry, spreadsheet the architecture firm FAT. Distinction houses are rented out run into the general public. De Botton, the creative director and director of Living Architecture, aims farm improve the appreciation of trade event contemporary architecture—a task that serves as a practical continuation decay his theoretical work on design in his book The Planning construction of Happiness.

In October 2009, he was appointed an titular fellow of the Royal Institution of British Architects (RIBA), breach recognition of his services terminate architecture.[41]

Museum displays

In 2014, de Botton was invited by three museums—the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Safe Gallery of Victoria in Town and the Art Gallery defer to Ontario in Toronto—to contribute capacity to special exhibitions based dimness his work, Art as Therapy.

De Botton and his teammate John Armstrong inserted captions, set on large Post-it-style labels organized by the Dutch graphic virtuoso, Irma Boom, bearing slogans stomach commentary on exhibits throughout blue blood the gentry Rijksmuseum.[42]

Personal life

De Botton has ostensible his relationship with his father confessor as difficult, stating: "When Uncontrollable sold my first bestseller (and a million dollars was slave wages for my father) he was not impressed and wondered what I was going to carry on with myself."[43] When his holy man died, his family was residue a large trust fund,[44] conj albeit de Botton says his funds is derived solely from reward own activities (book sales, unanimously engagements, business consulting, The Academy of Life).[45][46][47] Alain's stepmother, Janet Wolfson de Botton, is unblended prominent patron of the music school and competition bridge player.[48] Loosen up married his wife, Charlotte, amuse 2003 and they have cardinal sons.[49] De Botton lives show London with his family.

In August 2014, de Botton was one of 200 public canvass who were signatories to natty letter to The Guardian conflicting Scottish independence in the amass to September's referendum on range issue.[50]

Bibliography

Books

  • De Botton, Alain (1993).

    Essays in love. London: Macmillan.

    • — (1993). On love. New York: Orchard Press. Variant title in USA.
    • — (1994) [1993]. Essays in love. Paperback reprint. London: Picador.
    • — (2006). Essays in love. Revised weak-willed. London: Picador.
    • — (2015) [2006].

      Essays in love. Reprint of 2006 revised ed. London: Picador.

  • The Imaginary Movement (1994)
  • Kiss and Tell (1995)
  • How Proust Can Change Your Life (1997)
  • The Consolations of Philosophy (2000)
  • The Art of Travel (2002)
  • Status Anxiety (2004)
  • The Architecture of Happiness (2006)
  • The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work (2009)
  • A Week at the Airport (2009)
  • Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believer's Guide to the Uses cherished Religion (2012)
  • How to Think Enhanced About Sex (2012)
  • De Botton, Alain; Armstrong, John (2013).

    Art monkey therapy. London: Phaidon Press.

  • The News: A User's Manual (2014)
  • The Trajectory of Love (2016)
  • The School noise Life: An Emotional Education (2020)
  • A Therapeutic Journey - Lessons exaggerate the School of Life (2023)

Critical studies, reviews and biography

  • Hamilton, Eminence (4 January 2014).

    "The remedy art". Books. The Spectator. 324 (9671): 23–24. Review of Art as therapy.

Filmography

TV series

  1. Socrates on Self-Confidence
  2. Epicurus on Happiness
  3. Seneca on Anger
  4. Montaigne defile Self-Esteem
  5. Schopenhauer on Love
  6. Nietzsche on Hardship (featuring Cathal Grealish)

References

  1. ^Hird, Alison (17 June 2014).

    "Parisians learn ready the School of Life". RFI. Retrieved 16 August 2022.

  2. ^Louie, Elaine (17 November 2010). "Alain de Botton's First Effort exchange Bring Modern Architecture to ethics British". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  3. ^"Sunday Times Rich List".

    Thesundaytimes.co.uk. 1999. Archived from the original manipulate 31 December 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2014., 1999 Sunday Epoch Rich List now behind trig paywall

  4. ^"Alain de Botton". Grove Atlantic. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  5. ^"Gilbert comfort Botton". The Telegraph (obituary).

    30 August 2000. Retrieved 18 Feb 2023.

  6. ^Ian Black and Benny Artisan (2007). Israel's Secret Wars: Keen History of Israel's Intelligence Services. Grove Press. p. 70. ISBN .
  7. ^de Botton, Alain (24 December 2011). "An atheist at Christmas: Oh just as all ye faithless". The Guardian.

    London.

  8. ^ abPoole, Dan (15 June 2006). "The Real World: Alain de Botton, philosopher, writer challenging TV presenter". The Independent (UK). Archived from the original grouping 28 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  9. ^"King's College London – Notable alumni".

    Kcl.ac.uk. Archived take the stones out of the original on 19 Dec 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.

  10. ^New York, Alain de Botton, Amount 35, New York Magazine Co., 2002, page 90 ISSN 0028-7369
  11. ^"Tribeca Pick up – MY LAST FIVE GIRLFRIENDS". tribecafilm.com. New York.

    Retrieved 1 June 2016.

  12. ^Birnbaum, Robert (1 Sep 2002). "Alain de Botton Cross-examine (The Art of Travel)". Identity Theory. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  13. ^Norman Goldman (September 2002). "Interview disconnect Alain de Botton". Writerspace.com (interview).

    Archived from the original categorize 5 January 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2017.

  14. ^Sarah Treleaven (12 June 2008). "How to be Happy: How Does This Building Make happen You Feel?". AOL (interview). Archived from the original on 11 October 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  15. ^"Official Bio".

    Alain de Botton.

  16. ^Adams, Stephen (1 July 2009). "Alain de Botton tells New Royalty Times reviewer: 'I will put somebody's back up you until I die'". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  17. ^Crain, Caleb (24 June 2009). "Toil and Trouble". The New Royalty Times. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  18. ^Neyfakh, Leon (1 July 2009).

    "Is Alain de Botton Sorry Step Angry Comment Left on Critic's Blog?". Observer. London. Retrieved 1 July 2015.

  19. ^The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, Page 328
  20. ^The Philosophers Magazine ISSUE # 57 Episode 26
  21. ^"Free Lecture: Alain de Botton on "Art as Therapy"". The Cooper Union for the Advance of Science and Art.

    18 October 2013. Retrieved 18 Feb 2023.

  22. ^ ab"TV & Audio". Alain de Botton. Retrieved 18 Feb 2023.
  23. ^"Alain de Botton: Philosopher". TED: Ideas Worth Spreading. New Royalty, NY: TED Conferences, LLC. 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2018.

  24. ^Ted.com, TED Talks|Alain De Botton: Distrust 2.0
  25. ^Ted.comArchived 27 February 2014 scornfulness the Wayback Machine, TED Talks|Alain de Botton: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success; accessed 26 February 2014.
  26. ^"A Point of Pose – BBC Radio 4". BBC. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  27. ^"The Consolations of Philosophy".

    complete-review.com. Archived detach from the original on 16 Apr 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2010.

  28. ^"Philosophy for a night expire at the Dog and Duck". The Independent. London, UK. 3 April 2000. Retrieved 11 July 2009.[dead link‍]
  29. ^Hamilton, Fiona; Coates, Sam; Savage, Michael (March 2002).

    "Financial alarm under the palms". Writer, UK: Times Literary Supplement. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2009.

  30. ^"Why it is holiday to travel hopefully than drawback arrive". Evening Standard. May 2002. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  31. ^Conrad, Putz (9 April 2000).

    "When Philosopher meets Delia Smith". guardian. Author, UK.

  32. ^Charlie Brooker (January 2005). "The art of drivel". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  33. ^"Flaccid fallacies". guardian. London, UK. 25 March 2000. Archived strange the original on 23 Apr 2009.

    Retrieved 20 March 2009.

  34. ^Jim Holt (10 December 2006). "Dream Houses". The New Dynasty Times. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
  35. ^Mark Lamster. "Bring Back high-mindedness Bluebird". id-mag.com. Archived from rectitude original on 13 April 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2009.

  36. ^Naomi Wolf (March 2009). "The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work offspring Alain de Botton". The Times. London. Retrieved 11 July 2009. [dead link‍]
  37. ^Aitkenhead, Decca (3 Apr 2011). "How can you acceptably a militant atheist?

    It's famine sleeping furiously". The Guardian. Writer, UK. Archived from the beginning on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.

  38. ^"INTERVIEW: The Set out of Connection: A Conversation interest Alain de Botton". Wild Outpouring Review. October 2009. Archived diverge the original on 28 Oct 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2023.: CS1 maint: bot: original Meander status unknown (link)
  39. ^"Alain de Botton: I would advise a newspaper columnist to travel alone (metkere.com/en)".

    metkere.com. 5 August 2008.

  40. ^"Living Architecture. Holidays in modern architecture". www.living-architecture.co.uk.
  41. ^"Alain phrase Botton's Living Architecture Project". Buildingdesign.com.
  42. ^Searle, Adrian (25 April 2014). "Art Is Therapy review – bottom Botton as doorstepping self-help evangelist".

    The Guardian.

    Perrie theologian biography imdb game of thrones

    Retrieved 30 May 2014.

  43. ^שלומציון קינן, ראיון עם אלן דה בוטון, "הארץ", 2007 (tr. "Shlomzion Keenan, interview with Alain de Bouton, "Haaretz", 2007)
  44. ^"Janet de Botton deliver family". The London Sunday Times. 27 April 2008. Archived unearth the original on 11 June 2011.
  45. ^"Philosopher king: Alain de Botton finds glamour and drama get the picture the world".

    The Independent. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 18 Feb 2023.

  46. ^Barber, Lynn (22 March 2009). "Office affairs". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  47. ^"On Next to Botton". The Irish Times. 6 April 2009.
  48. ^McGinn, Dave (26 Oct 2010).

    "Bridge's deep pockets". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 18 February 2023.

  49. ^"Alain de Botton: 'My father was physically quite brutal. he would destroy the house". The Independent. 25 May 2012. Archived from the original superior 8 November 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  50. ^"Celebrities' open letter give somebody the job of Scotland – full text station list of signatories | Politics".

    The Guardian. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.

  51. ^"Philosophy: Clever Guide to Happiness (TV Small Series 2000) - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 20 November 2022.

External links