The Consolations of Philosophy

From the best-selling author of How Proust Can Change Your Life, this is a wonderfully witty and enlightening look at how philosophy can console, inspire and motivate us in even our darkest hours.

A captivating trip through 2,400 years of Western Philosophy, Alain de Botton's keenly awaited new book draws on the lives and work of six key philosophers to examine in turn six of our most common problems: Socrates on unpopularity; Epicurus on not having enough money; Seneca on frustration; Montaigne on inadequacy; Schopenhauer on having a broken heart; and Nietzsche on difficulties.

With his distinctive combination of wit, wisdom and invention, Alain de Botton has written his finest book to date - both an indispensable compendium of advice on how to deal with some of our most familiar woes and a dazzling introduction to the history and uses of philosophy.