In On Seeing and Noticing, Alain de Botton takes everyday concerns such as expressing sadness or being romantic and dispenses advice and observations based on the works of some of history's greatest writers, artists and thinkers.
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Product Description
About the Author
Alain de Botton was born in 1969. He is the author of Essays in Love, The Romantic Movement, Kiss and Tell, How Proust Can Change Your Life, The Consolations of Philosophy, The Art of Travel and Status Anxiety. He lives in London.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By HORAK
Format:Paperback
The author starts by reflecting on sadness and states that sad works of art do not always make us sad and that sad books actually tend to console readers who are in a sad mood. He gives the example of Edward Hopper who took an interest in cars and trains since travelling tends to put us in a melancholy and introspective mood conducive to internal conversation.
The author's next topic is authenticity and he examines how this notion fluctuates in our daily social intercourse. He then reflects on the relationship between work and the feeling of happiness with the help of authors like St Augustine, B. Franklin, Diderot or Rousseau, reminding us that workers are mere tools in a process in which their own happiness is incidental at best. Thus we shouldn't rely on work to deliver happiness which should make it more bearable.
The pleasure of visiting a zoo may be marred by the fact that animals seem more human and humans more animal in such a place.
Or the fact that certain boring places like Zurich still feature a certain degree of charm. The final part is devoted to comedy. The author shows that humour is a way of anchoring criticism and is an attempt to name anxiety about status.
An interesting little publication full of wisdom which shows how knowledgeable Mr De Botton is.
The author's next topic is authenticity and he examines how this notion fluctuates in our daily social intercourse. He then reflects on the relationship between work and the feeling of happiness with the help of authors like St Augustine, B. Franklin, Diderot or Rousseau, reminding us that workers are mere tools in a process in which their own happiness is incidental at best. Thus we shouldn't rely on work to deliver happiness which should make it more bearable.
The pleasure of visiting a zoo may be marred by the fact that animals seem more human and humans more animal in such a place.
Or the fact that certain boring places like Zurich still feature a certain degree of charm. The final part is devoted to comedy. The author shows that humour is a way of anchoring criticism and is an attempt to name anxiety about status.
An interesting little publication full of wisdom which shows how knowledgeable Mr De Botton is.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An amazing series of essays on, well, just being. from the pleasures of sadness to the charm of boring places to being a single man (a chapter i read over and over sighing on its uncannuly accurate observations)this book covers covers a variety of situations and episodes on the human condition and leaves you feeling adn thinking on a different level. if you can find it (this book was a limited edition as part of the penguin 70th anniversary celelbrations) buy it. at £1.50 it has to be the best puond fo rpound buy ever! enjoy
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Andrew Doran
Format:Paperback
Picked this up to sample de Botton's work. It's a good, very quick read with interesting views on a variety of topics such as the honesty of relationships, airports, going to the zoo and the boring-ness of Zurich. Will try one of his full-length books at some point.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Okay
The summary as written on line prepared one for this book. No great surprises. Enjoyable to read if this is your taste in literature
Published 6 months ago by pat neale
2.0 out of 5 stars
Aestheticism rather than philosophy
A short and sweet book, elegantly written and nice little encouragement to appreciate the things we normally see as routine. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Ms. Anya C. Martin
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