Alain de Botton | The Course of Love

“With originality, verve, and wit” (San Francisco Chronicle), Alain de Botton’s internationally bestselling nonfiction books examine love, work, friendship, travel, and the other fundamentals of everyday life. These works include On Love, How Proust Can Change Your Life, Status Anxiety, and The Architecture of Happiness. The cofounder of the acclaimed School of Life, a London-based international organization dedicated to a new vision of education, de Botton is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. His new novel charts the parabolic romantic partnership of an Edinburgh couple from puppy love through the pressures of their average daily existence.

Recorded June 15, 2016

The views expressed by the authors and moderators are strictly their own and do not represent the opinions of the Free Library of Philadelphia or its employees.

[MurrayDancey]

Alain needs to repeat this lecture every year to keep it showing up for people on their YouTube algorithm ❤

[julie]

I love his touch of irony and humour about human frailties and conditions while he teaches us to understand ourselves and others better.

[alebeau]

I could literally listen to that man read the phone book... It's just so insightful and intelligent and it just has a strong drawing effect...

[elvansavkl]

he is so right on so many levels. I wish I knew him 20 years ago.

[jimicunningable]

I talked to Dr de Botton at some CC here in IL while he was on an early book tour. He was most generous with his time to the students and fans. He's an excellent author and thinker.

[susanbernard]

Everything Alain has to say about relationships and love is absolutely true. Thank you for enlightened discourse.

[prateekagar]

Alain, you are a blessing from the lord!

[larainehruby]

I am a romantic from the Love generation of San Francisco in the late 60s, early 70s. Now that 7 decades have passed since each parent took turns traumatizing me, I am convinced that the ideal love affair (that lasts while on earth) would be, after the Initial Crush, to buy houses right next door to each other and pay surprise visits in order to be Re-traumatized “that special way” over and over and . . . What bliss!

[Thank-u-so-much-for-everything]

Blind faith in others is not true love but trying to understand others is true form of love.
Trying to understand others can't produce hate or fear except love and kindness in us.

[beldonhuang]

Indeed, love is not only built on top of sexual/romantic attraction, but also the energy, time and patience that is put into improving and learning about each other and fixing the cracks along the way, which a lot of times is definitely not fun. However, this is exactly where the beauty and meaning of love lies, which is, regardless of our differences, the difficulties we have encountered or will encounter, we still choose to stay with each other and love each other.

[annn]

I actually love this man. He is brilliant!

[janmots]

A very interesting talk. It's true that damaged people sometimes fall in love when they shouldn't. Romanticism is saturated in our media & books. We need a new way of thinking to help ourselves out of this mess.

[justice]

Out of so many love talks your theory on love is the best of the best

[lmansur]

I love him too! So helpful and yet lighthearted! ...and funny when we see how we dramatize life and make it so complex! He takes the rug right from under us and wakes us up.

[CHPCHPCHP]

no longer being afraid/embarrassed who you are; brilliant insight!!!!

[benjiang]

He is a great thinker using easy language for all to understand

[lanamuir]

Alain's take on life and love is wonderful beyond words. Whenever I hear anyone mention they are looking for their "soul mate", I cringe. I prefer the word "earth mate", as it's more accurate.

[lynnrich]

I love Before Midnight. Another great film-- eternal sunshine of the spotless mind. It too explores the illusivity of love and memory.

[leannefaulkner-charve]

You’re a legend Alain! You help me understand the human condition!

[NCorteza]

41:00 this section about decoding is so on point