Alain de Botton
“Helping us live our lives” is the purpose of philosophy, says the blurb on the book cover, attributed to Independent. I vaguely remember Plato saying that the purpose of philosophy is to teach us how to die, but let’s assume that Independent is talking about the purpose of philosophy in the context of this book. The intent of the book, therefore, cannot be faulted.
The author, both in terms of content and style of writing aims to make the works of the masters accessible to us. Content both from what he chooses to share from the works as well as the packaging. The human conditions that are addressed are universal and what keeps us up at night – unpopularity, not having enough money, frustration, inadequacy (that’s probably not that universal), a broken heart, and difficulties. In each of these contexts, the author draws from not just the philosophies of Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche but their lives as well. He also uses snippets from his own life to give it a contemporary flavour and wit to make it relatable. So far so good.
What did not work for me was the consolation part. Obviously I did not expect the book to suddenly answer conundrums for me, but the degree of insight offered was significantly lesser than what I had hoped for. It was bordering on self help – that oxymoron of a genre! I think it was also a realisation for me as a reader – packaged philosophy of this doesn’t work for me. My take out from say, Will Durant’s “The Story of Philosophy” was much more substantial. Having said that, it is a reasonably light read that might offer the reader a little solace if the circumstances are right. A delayed flight is an example.
