Book description
The Architecture of Happiness
is Alain de Botton's exploration of the hidden links between
buildings and our well being
Bestselling author Alain de Botton has written about love, travel,
status and how philosophy can console us. Now he turns his attention
to one of our most intense but often hidden love affairs: with our
houses and their furnishings. He asks: What makes a house truly
beautiful?Why are many new houses so ugly?Why do we argue so bitterly
about sofas and pictures - and can differences of taste ever be
satisfactorily resolved?Will minimalism make us happier than
ornaments?
To answer these questions and many more, de Botton looks at
buildings across the world, from medieval wooden huts to modern
skyscrapers; he examines sofas and cathedrals, tea sets and office
complexes, and teases out a host of often surprising philosophical
insights. The Architecture of Happiness will take you on a
beguiling tour through the history and psychology of architecture and
interior design, and will forever alter your relationship with
buildings. It will change the way you look at your current home - and
help you make the right decisions about your next one.
'Engaging and intelligent . . . full of splendid ideas, happily and
beautifully expressed'Independent
Alain de Botton was born in 1969 and is the author of non-fiction
essays on themes ranging from love and travel to architecture and
philosophy. His bestselling books include Essays in Love;
The Romantic Movement; Kiss and Tell; Status
Anxiety; How Proust Can Change Your Life; The
Pleasures and Sorrows of Work; The Art of Travel; The
Architecture of Happiness and Religion for Atheists. He
lives in London and founded The School of Life (www. theschooloflife.
com) and Living Architecture (www. living-architecture. co. uk). For
more information, consult www. alaindebotton. com.
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
,
Status Anxiety
and
On Seeing and Noticing
. He lives in London.
