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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9781433222979

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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 numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including On Love, How Proust Can Change Your Life, The Consolations of Philosophy, The Art of Travel, and The Course of Love. He lives in London where he founded the School of Life, an organization devoted to fostering emotional health and intelligence. More can be found at AlainDeBotton.com. Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist's very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.

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