Overview

The Architecture of Happiness is a dazzling journey through the philosophy and psychology of architecture and the indelible connection between our identities and our locations. One of the great but often unmentioned causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our environment: the kinds of walls, chairs, buildings, and streets that surround us. And yet, a concern for architecture is too often described as frivolous, even self-indulgent. Alain de Botton starts from the idea that where we are heavily influences who we can be, and argues that it is architecture'stask to stand as an eloquent reminder of our full potential. Whereas many architects are wary of openly discussing the word beauty, this book has at its center the large and na├�ve question: What is a beautiful building?

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9781433222962

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Reviews

"""De Botton has a marvelous knack for coming at weighty subjects from entertainingly eccentric angles."" -- ""Seattle Times"" ""Elegant...Unusual...full of big ideas."" -- ""New York Sun"" ""Entertaining and stimulating...The strength of his book is that it encourages us to open our eyes and really look at the buildings in which we live and work."" -- ""Publishers Weekly"" ""Narrator Simon Vance proves both professorial and affable as the book explores these fascinating topics, educating the listener with facts and insights...De Botton's essay holds a mirror to the human spirit as it is expressed in our architecture."" -- ""AudioFile"" ""Time after time, his descriptions neatly capture the distinctiveness and character of even the most unusual buildings...[The book succeeds] through his quiet intelligence, passionate conviction, and the charm of a personality lightly tinged with melancholy."" -- ""Washington Post"" ""With originality, verve, and wit, de Botton explains how we find reflections of our own values in the edifices we make...Altogether satisfying."" -- ""San Francisco Chronicle"""

Author Information

Alain de Botton is the author of many books, including The School of Life, The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, The Course of Love and Religion for Atheists and is a bestselling author in 30 countries. He lives in London. Simon Vance is a stage, TV, and film actor who has narrated more than 200 audiobooks for which he has won multiple AudioFile Earphone Awards and Audie nominations. He has also been selected as an AudioFile Golden Voice. Formerly a BBC Radio newsreader in London, he now resides in Northern California.

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