11/10/15 Alain De Botton
- Novelist turned practical philosopher
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- Focused on emotional health through philosophy
- First world problems are a real thing, and a result of advanced civilization. Concerns around relationships, workplace satisfaction, etc.
- Was taught early on that happiness will be found through another. That she would bring personal fulfillment.
- Taught that you will work very stupidly hard until you magically find creativity and financial success.
- Essay – How Proust can change your life.
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- Spent immense time simplifying the book into easy language.
- Felt pressured to prove himself from a very young age.
- All high culture has a richness beyond just entertainment, it has a depth that affects your life.
- The best writers give a presence of the author in the room.
- Initially, philosophy set out to be a therapy for the soul.
- “the great challenge of our own age is to take the good ideas and make them available to a wide public.”
- Out in the streets, the great ideas are harder to find.
- We come from collective societies where our own achievement was only a tiny part of our sense of self.
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- Taking that defining of self from bigger things (religion, nation, family) puts a massive burden on people today, without giving them the guidance on how to navigate it.
- It’s a healthy first step to realize that we are under this pressure.
- Status anxiety begins to diminish the more you know what your path is. The paths of others matter less to you.
- Successful person – taken hold of and fathomed their talents, while reconciling themselves to their weaknesses.
- We don’t put in a pedestal the people of ordinary genius in the business of living. But they are truly successful.
- The word success has been contaminated with extraordinary tales, where in fact it’s about being at peace. People who we deem as successful often lack the inner peace.
- Having success isn’t just about getting what you want, it’s learning to appreciate what you have.
- Documentary: 7 up