The Consolations of Philosophy is a non-fiction book by Alain de Botton. First published by Hamish Hamilton in 2000, subsequent publications (2001 onwards) have been by Penguin Books.
Overview
The Consolations of Philosophy is a non-fiction book by Alain de Botton. First published by Hamish Hamilton in 2000, subsequent publications (2001 onwards) have been by Penguin Books.
Description
The title of the book is a reference to Boethius's magnum opus Consolation of Philosophy, in which philosophy appears as an allegorical figure to Boethius to console him in the year he was imprisoned, leading up to his impending execution.
In Consolations, de Botton attempts to console the reader through everyday problems (or at least help them to understand them) by extensively quoting and interpreting a number of philosophers. These are categorised in a number of chapters with one philosopher used in each.
Consolation for a Broken Heart (Schopenhauer)
Consolation for Difficulties (Nietzsche)
Consolation for Frustration (Seneca)
Consolation for Inadequacy (Montaigne)
Consolation for Not Having Enough Money (Epicurus)
Consolation for Unpopularity (Socrates)
