Status Anxiety

by Alainde Botton (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2004

  $4.47

  'Every adult life could be said to be defined by two great love stories. The first ? the story of our quest for sexual love ? is well known and well-charted. The second ? the story of our quest for love from the world ? is a more secret and shameful tale. And yet this second love story is no less intense than the first.? This is a book about an almost universal anxiety that rarely gets mentioned directly: an anxiety about what others think of us; about whether we?re judged a success or a failure, a winner or a loser. This is a book about status anxiety. Alain de Botton, bestselling author of The Consolations of Philosophy and The Art of Travel, asks where worries about our status come from and what if anything we can do to surmount them. With the help of philosophers, artists and writers, he examines the origins of status anxiety ? ranging from the consequences of the French Revolution to our secret dismay at the success of our friends ? before revealing ingenious ways in which people have learnt to overcome their worries in their search for happiness. We learn about sandal-less philosophers and topless bohemians, about the benefits of putting skulls on our sideboards and of looking at ruins.

• Used

  Paperback
  2005

  $4.24

  In Status Anxiety, bestselling author Alain de Botton sets out to understand our universal fear of failure - and how we might change. We all worry about what others think of us. We all long to succeed and fear failure. We all suffer - to a greater or lesser degree, usually privately and with embarrassment - from status anxiety. For the first time, Alain de Botton gives a name to this universal condition and sets out to investigate both its origins and possible solutions. He looks at history, philosophy, economics, art and politics - and reveals the many ingenious ways that great minds have overcome their worries. The result is a book that is not only entertaining and thought-provoking - but genuinely wise and helpful as well. Clever, wise. De Botton's gift is to prompt us to think about how we live and how we might change things. (The Times). De Botton analyses modern society with great charm, learning and humour. His remedies come as a welcome relief when most books offering solutions to the stresses of life recommend the lotus position. (Daily Mail). Measured, amused, compassionate...de Botton is a surefooted discoverer of the pungent but less well known quote. (Daily Telegraph). A purveyor of serious buy playful manuals for living. (GQ). Turned me into a fan, for its range, insight, wit and sheer usefulness. (Daily Express).

• New

  Paperback
  2005

  $12.97

  In Status Anxiety, bestselling author Alain de Botton sets out to understand our universal fear of failure - and how we might change. We all worry about what others think of us. We all long to succeed and fear failure. We all suffer - to a greater or lesser degree, usually privately and with embarrassment - from status anxiety. For the first time, Alain de Botton gives a name to this universal condition and sets out to investigate both its origins and possible solutions. He looks at history, philosophy, economics, art and politics - and reveals the many ingenious ways that great minds have overcome their worries. The result is a book that is not only entertaining and thought-provoking - but genuinely wise and helpful as well. Clever, wise. De Botton's gift is to prompt us to think about how we live and how we might change things. (The Times). De Botton analyses modern society with great charm, learning and humour. His remedies come as a welcome relief when most books offering solutions to the stresses of life recommend the lotus position. (Daily Mail). Measured, amused, compassionate...de Botton is a surefooted discoverer of the pungent but less well known quote. (Daily Telegraph). A purveyor of serious buy playful manuals for living. (GQ). Turned me into a fan, for its range, insight, wit and sheer usefulness. (Daily Express).