March 8, 2005

Self-help Literature

"...no one is able to produce a great work of art without experience, nor achieve a worldly position immediately, nor be a great lover at the first attempt; and in the interval between initial failure and subsequent success, in the gap between who we wish one day to be and who we are at present, must come pain, anxiety, envy and humiliation. We suffer because we cannot spontaneously master the ingredients of fulfilment."

~ by Alain de Botton from the chapter "Consolation for Difficulties" in The Consolations of Philosophy

I have succumbed at last to self-help literature, but at least it's in the form of philosophy (Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, Montaigne, Socrates, Epicurus, and Seneca). I've mentioned before how I scorn self-help books, and here I am in need of some mental propping, some assistance for the churning soul.

Posted by Monoceros at March 8, 2005 9:15 PM
Comments

i can quite appreciate that...

Alain de Botton is quite a household name... the quote is really encouraging. =C)

Posted by: tiggie at March 9, 2005 5:52 AM

do you know which of his books are popular in the UK? I've only recently discovered him - I like "The Art of Travel," "The Consolations of Philosophy" and "How Proust Can Change Your Life."

Glad you liked the quote. =)

Posted by: monoceros at March 9, 2005 7:36 PM

yah, i usually don't like self-help books too. I hate those Anthony Robbins-like kinda books. I think the ones you're reading are a little different lah.

I'll try to find some of Alain de Botton's books the next time i'm at the library.

Posted by: dsd at March 9, 2005 10:06 PM

he also has a new book on 'status-quo'... i think it was reviewed or aired on BBC4...

Posted by: tiggie at March 14, 2005 7:47 AM

Is it called "Status-Quo" in the UK? Funny, in the US, it's called "Status Anxiety." Not sure what the style is like, but if it's anything like "The Consolations of Philosopy," I'd be interested.

Posted by: monoceros at March 14, 2005 10:57 AM

no, i think it's also called "Status Anxiety".
i've not read it but the reviews sound quite good.

a lot of such things make common sense... it kinda needs to be put in words and printed before people are willing to believe the words...

which is why i tend not to read self-help books (i am quite repelled by them; poetry works a lot better for me...) but try to get the gist of what they want to say.

Posted by: tiggie at March 15, 2005 2:56 PM

here is a link to his works... on amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books-uk&field-author=de%20Botton%2C%20Alain/026-9297595-8971631

Posted by: tiggie at March 15, 2005 3:01 PM

Thanks, Tigs. Took a look and it seems interesting. Self-help books - I agree about the things they say that are just common sense. Same goes for certain non-fiction books like Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink," which states things that we already know, though he expresses it so well. His other book, "The Tipping Point" is better.

Posted by: monoceros at March 15, 2005 11:07 PM