Alain de Botton. Brief biography of the writer. Best Books

Alain de Botton is a British writer of Swiss descent. He is in the Royal Literary Society, studying philosophy, working as a television presenter, and also engaged in entrepreneurship. From his pen came the famous English-language bestsellers, in which the author spoke about various aspects of modern life. Alain always emphasizes in his speeches that philosophy is inextricably linked with our everyday life.

Brief biographical information

Alain de Botton was born in 1969, on December 20. The boy's father, Gilbert, was expelled from Egypt. The country's second president, Nasser Hussein, issued a decree on the removal of Sephardic Jews, including Alain's father. His childhood years, the future writer spent in Zurich (Switzerland). When the boy was eight years old, he moved with his family to England. Already in his teens, Alain had a great desire to learn about the world and himself. He enrolled at King's College, University of London, which graduated in 1991, receiving a master's degree in philosophy.

First book

The young man wrote his first novel at the age of twenty-three. It was called "Experiments of Love." Immediately after its release, the book won the hearts of many people. Critics, romantics and aesthetes on both sides of the Atlantic were delighted with the peculiar style of writing. The story is from the first person. The book can be identified with a popular treatise, which is filled with illustrated diagrams, diagrams and drawings, or with a column of a psychologist printed in a fashion magazine. The first work of the author is filled with original comparisons, universal situations, as well as witty and perceptive observations of de Botton himself. Alain in his work brings examples of statements of great people, not only about love, but about life in general. But these are just a few of the striking discoveries that the reader can find in this book. The circulation of the edition was two million copies.

About philosophy and travel

In 2002, de Botton wrote a book called The Art of Traveling. This work of the writer is intended for those who are "lost" in life and can not find their place. The book raises important questions. Why does a person have a "desire to change places"? Is it possible to go on a trip without leaving your apartment? Why in the period of wanderings a person perceives the world around him absolutely differently than in everyday life? The writer helps the reader to understand himself, to find answers to the above questions. Moreover, "The art of traveling" is a book, after reading that a person realizes that you can go on a journey with the goal not only to rest and save new impressions, but also in order to get rid of prejudices and to experience moments of complete happiness.

About the role of architecture in human life

In 2006, a new work by a British writer was published, in which he shared his observations on the relationship between architecture and the internal state of man, entitled "The Architecture of Happiness." The influence of surrounding buildings on what a person can become is the idea that feeds de Botton's book. The author is sure that architecture has an important task. It should remind people of the wealth of their potential. The architect is obliged to design the building so that its appearance promotes a sense of happiness. This book of the writer is a kind of travel on architecture, its philosophy and psychology. The aim of the author's work is to change the attitude of a person to his home, streets, surrounding structures, and eventually to himself.

A popular book about philosophy

In 2000, Alain de Botton wrote a book entitled Consolation by Philosophy. Every person from time to time faces difficulties in their lives. Insecurity, unrequited love, poverty are problems with which philosophy can help. This science teaches that through the dark clouds of adversity the rays of the sun must break out. Great thinkers emerged from the most difficult positions with philosophical tranquility. They firmly believed that a person can overcome any circumstances. Under the pen of de Botton, philosophy has become a real art of life.

The main ideas and tasks of the writer

Alain de Botton received his Ph.D. in Philosophy. But he gave up his career at the university, because he decided to work for the benefit of the mass audience. Popularization of classical literature, philosophy and art is the main task of the writer. Most of de Botton's works contain the theses of artists and great thinkers. The author of books on everyday philosophy lectures at universities around the world, and also collaborates with the media. Moreover, he opened his own production company, which produces television programs based on his works. To date, de Botton books are very popular. After all, they allow the reader to look at himself and the world in a new way.