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Status Anxiety

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Status Anxiety

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

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER

From one of our greatest voices in modern philosophy, author of The Course of Love, The Consolations of Philosophy, Religion for Atheists and The School of Life - Alain de Botton sets out to understand our universal fear of failure - and how we might change it

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.

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.

©2004 Alain de Botton (P)2004 Penguin Audio Philosophy Society

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Critic reviews

'De Botton's gift is to prompt us to think about how we live and how we might change things' The Times

'He 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
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Most relevant  
Another great work from Alain De Botton. Growing ever more essential as the world tends toward an insatiable desire for the bourgeoisie.

Essential

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I read this many years ago and it's fair to say it changed my view on what's important. It was good to listen to it again. Thanks to the writer.

Makes you think

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Finally helped me to fully understand many things, including Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. I know this book has been a help to several friends and acquaintances

Vitally important

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another amazing work by the author
beautiful reading too
helps to digest the idea of death assists on the constant anxiety of daily struggles at work

fantastic book and beautiful reading

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Light and well read by the author.
Easily understandable.
Not lost in scholorly details but dealing with
important issues relevant to a truly social life.

Please read this.

excellent

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Alain de Bottin is intelligent and educated, and it is a pleasure to listen to his lucid, honest and sympathetic analysis of the human need for status. It has long been observed that there is a contradiction between the amount of goods enjoyed by our society and the happiness delivered by this material success. This book goes a long way towards explaining that conundrum.

Talking about taboos

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I generally enjoy the author's work. But this reads like an academic dissertation. If you are in search of any practical guidance, look elsewhere.

An academic treatise of little practical worth

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Good listen. Quality recording. The subject matter refers to some interesting further reading or listening.

Interesting

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It is worth listening to this - if for no other reason, in order to consider an alternative perspective..

Wonderful

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Too short. It’s not a book but a pamphlet. I’ll repeat that , too short not a book but a pamphlet

Pamphlet

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