"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

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

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.