The Metaphysical Store - Consolations of Philosophy

The Consolations of Philosophy

Publisher: Blackstone Audio Inc
Author: Alain de Botton
Narrator: Simon Vance
Length: 6 hours (Unabridged)
Download Price: $13.49
Format: Encoded Windows Media
Only Available in the US and Canada
© 2006 Blackstone Audio Inc

"A fine introduction to the world of philosophy." -- Newsweek

"De Botton, genial, accurate, humane guide to the thinkers at hand, has written
a rich and useful book." -- Washington Post Book Review

"The quietly ironic style and eclectic approach will gratify many postmodern readers.an
enjoyable read with 'a few consoling and practical things' to say." -- Publishers Weekly

Alain de Botton has performed a stunning feat: he has transformed arcane philosophy into something accessible and entertaining, useful and kind.

Drawing on the work of six of the world's most brilliant thinkers, de Botton has arranged a panoply of wisdom to guide us through our most common problems. From the frustration of misplacing your keys to the sadness of losing a loved one, the writings of Seneca can offer consolation.
For the particular agony of not having enough money, Epicurus has a solution that everyone can afford.
And if your life is beset by difficulty after difficulty, wise advice may be found in the words of Nietzsche, the brilliant philosopher whose own life was riddled with poverty, bad health, and excruciating loneliness.

The Consolations of Philosophy is smart, lucid, and pleasing, a rare sort of book that wonderfully fulfills the promise of its title.

Alain de Botton is the author of six books, including On Love, How Proust Can Change Your Life, and The Art of Travel. His work has been translated into twenty languages. He lives in Washington, D.C., and London, where he is an Associate Research Fellow of the Philosophy Programme of the University of London, School of Advanced Study.

Earphones Awards recipient Simon Vance was born in England and worked for the BBC for ten years as a radio news announcer and as a narrator for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London. Besides narrating audiobooks, he is involved in numerous stage-acting projects in the United States and Europe.

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."
-- Albert Einstein

"Come forth into the Light of things. Let Nature be your teacher."
-- William Wordsworth

"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain and our heart is our temple. The philosophy is kindness."
-- Dalai Lama

"There is only one good...knowledge. There is only one evil... ignorance."
-- The Death of Socrates

"The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons."
-- Aristotle