Alain de Botton (School of Life founder; author) has written 15 books about the philosophy of living – such as The Art of Travel; Status Anxiety; Art as Therapy; and The Course of Love – but he has recently turned his focus to mental health and how philosophy can be used as a therapeutic aid. Alain argues that a mental breakdown can provide the opening a despairing soul seeks. Indeed, anxiety so often is its own fix.
We sat down in WeAre8’s London office for this two-way conversation about the philosophical wisdoms we personally use to have a life of meaning in the face of despair. We also talk about the writing process (and why it’s a salve), the healing effects of figs and dark chocolate, how to love, plus a super fresh take on “adult boredom” (embrace your impatience, get to the point!).
SHOW NOTES
If you need to know a bit more about me… head to my "about" page
For more such conversations subscribe to my Substack newsletter, it’s where I interact the most!
Get your copy of my book, This One Wild and Precious Life
Let’s connect on Instagram and WeAre8
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
THIS WILD ELECTION: EP 6, What if Anthony Albanese becomes PM? with Karen Middleton
THIS WILD ELECTION: EP 5, Who *actually* is Scott Morrison? Sean Kelly explains
THIS WILD ELECTION: EP 4, Things have got dodgy, we need an ICAC with teeth, with Mike Seccombe
THIS WILD ELECTION: EP3, So what are these independents about, with Grattan Institute CEO Danielle Wood
THIS WILD ELECTION: EP 2, You’re not imagining it, things have got pretty bad... with Jan Fran and Zara Seidler
THIS WILD ELECTION: Ep 1, I’m doing an election mini-series for everyone who gives a sh*t about where Australia is heading!
SARA NESS: How to “win" difficult conversations
PETE DAVIS: A scientific (and spiritual) case to quit flaking... and commit already!
JASON HICKEL: Degrowth economics! It’s wild, it could save us…
PETER SINGER: How much should you be giving to charity to be a 'good person'?
JOHANN HARI: THIS is why you're finding the world too much
AMY REMEIKIS: Decodes the sexual violence clusterf*** in Parliament House
BRIAN KLASS: Why so many leaders in 2022 are dodgy, awful humans
SISTER HELEN PREJEAN: The radical (!) nun who wrote ‘Dead Man Walking’
BONUS EPISODE 3: Tips and guided meditation for anxiety
BONUS EPISODE 2: How to do a morning routine plus a guided meditation
BONUS EPISODE 1: Tips and guided meditation for travel
Wild with Sarah Wilson, season 3 announcement
EMILY ATKIN: The best case ever for climate rage!
DAN BUETTNER: The Blue Zones guy shows us the trick to adding 10 years to our lives
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Hamish & Andy
The Howie Games
Motley Fool Money
Just the Gist
The Briefing