The School of Life
by The School of Life, Alain de Botton
An emotional-education primer: self-knowledge, relationships, work, calm and culture, written in de Botton's gentle, aphoristic voice. The best single overview of the School's ideas.
Read it if…
you want a thoughtful introduction to emotional intelligence as a philosophy.
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Skip it if…
you want clinical tools.
Try instead: The Complete Essays →
Three things you will actually use
- We are not taught how to live; learn it.
- Self-knowledge first.
- Kindness toward our own folly.
Do this first
Read the self-knowledge section and do one exercise.
Our verdict
Emotional education, gently.
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Compare with other Character books
The Complete Essays
Michel de Montaigne, translated by M. A. Screech · Character
The original essays.
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