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Essays in Love

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Essays in Love

By: Alain de Botton
Narrated by: James Wilby
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About this listen

Essays in Love is a stunningly original love story. Taking in Aristotle, Wittgenstein, history, religion and Groucho Marx, Alain de Botton charts the progress of a love affair from the first kiss to argument and reconciliation, from intimacy and tenderness to the onset of anxiety and heartbreak.

©1993 Alain de Botton (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Contemporary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Thought-Provoking Heartfelt

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All stars
Most relevant  
It wasn't what I expected, but it was a brilliant balance between being a novel and a psychological analysis of feelings of love.

Great

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A simple love story analysed based on different philosophical schools. James Wilby's performance brought it to life and gave it the vigour that stops you from pausing this book.

Excellent performance and a gripping story

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It’s a very intriguing experience, I think, even a little bit cruel for Chloe. Every feelings they share, love they made, comes into my mind. The gaze, the camel, their personal dictionary, I did reflect a lot of my romance in the past in their stories, anyway a very good delivery!

Journey through a romance

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A beautifully written piece, combining philosophy, psychology, observation and a captivating story absolutely seamlessly, and with such humour and sadness it is unputdownable. The narrator is a skilled storyteller, whose sensitivity to the subject permeates his voice. This book would be perfect for anyone who is single, starting a relationship, in a loving relationship, and in a relationship in trouble who needs some loving guidance and reflection.
But I beg you, do not read/listen to this when you're in the middle of heartbreak. I started listening after watching many School of Life videos on YouTube, finding them fascinating and comforting, and thought this book might help me heal from my break-up from a beloved of 6 years, the wounds of which are only a month old. I got up to a certain point in the story, and suddenly all the pain and grief are just as fresh and overpowering as they were 4 weeks ago when we finally realised, both of us, for the first time, that it was really over. As a consequence I've had a crappy weekend, and feel like I've taken 15 steps back in recovering from this heartbreak.
If I'd waited a few months, when the pain isn't so raw, it would have been immensely healing, but I listened too soon. I'll probably come back to hear the last few chapters in a few months, but for now I just wanted to add a "trigger warning" to this otherwise wonderful book. If your heart is breaking, wait a while. Sending love to all who read this that know the pain I'm feeling right now.

Don't 'read' when your heart is breaking

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But also an extremely thought provoking and beautifully written book which made for very enjoyable listening

Excellent narration

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insightful. I have definitely learnt and understood a lot about the psychological and social mechanisms behind situations in which I have recognised myself and others. the couple's story serves as a prototype with which one can identify at least in some parts. language is nice and philosophical, however sometimes makes it unnecessarily complicated . altogether really good and very grateful for good writings on this topic that concerns all of us, thanks Alain

great listen on philosophy of love & relationships

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Exactly what I was looking for in a time of turbulent love and disappointment. The narration is excellent, both in timing and intonation, and the content is clear, well paced, and delightful to engage with. anyone who's ever been in love, or are looking for love should definitely read it.

Great book.

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In a word: Frustrating. AdB has written some interesting works. This isn't one of them.

The simple story of how a man loved and lost has some merit. But the excessive philosophising is indulgent and tiresome.

Indulgent & self-consciously intellectual

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Alain de Botton meticulously dissects that bizarre and complex creature: the Love Affair. He takes every emotion felt, and every action taken, and - through the magnifying glass of philosophy - analyses the whole process of falling in love. From the moment of the lovers’ first contact, through the heat of their passion, the rage of their arguments and the ridiculousness of their sulks, we hear what the philosophers - ancient and modern - have made of love.

As with everything of Alain de Botton’s that I’ve read, 'Essays in Love' is rich with ideas and beautifully written: he manages to put heart into what could otherwise be rather abstract intellectual concepts. The narrator is somewhat neurotic but in a necessary and likeable way, and I was with him through all of his trials. A wonderful book - brilliantly narrated, too - that is going to stay with me for a long time.

Not for the lonely ...

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A beautiful analysis of one love story. Many of its musings can apply generally. Audio performance was spot on.

A beautiful analysis of one love story

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