School of Life – serie

From the author of The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read and The Book You Want Everyone You Love* To Read.There is no simple set of instructions that can guarantee sanity. But if you want to overcome emotional difficulties and become happier, psychotherapist Philippa Perry argues that there are four cornerstones to sanity you can influence to bring about change.By developing your self-observation skills, examining how you relate to others, breaking out of your comfort zone and exploring new ways of defining yourself, Philippa demonstrates that it is possible to become a little less tortured and a little more fulfilled.How to Stay Sane is at once a brilliant explanation of our minds and a profoundly useful guide to facing up to the many challenges life throws our way.The School of Life looks at new ways of thinking about life’s biggest questions. Discover more fascinating books from the series with How to Be Alone and How to Think More About Sex.

From the author of The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read and The Book You Want Everyone You Love* To Read.There is no simple set of instructions that can guarantee sanity. But if you want to overcome emotional difficulties and become happier, psychotherapist Philippa Perry argues that there are four cornerstones to sanity you can influence to bring about change.By developing your self-observation skills, examining how you relate to others, breaking out of your comfort zone and exploring new ways of defining yourself, Philippa demonstrates that it is possible to become a little less tortured and a little more fulfilled.How to Stay Sane is at once a brilliant explanation of our minds and a profoundly useful guide to facing up to the many challenges life throws our way.The School of Life looks at new ways of thinking about life’s biggest questions. Discover more fascinating books from the series with How to Be Alone and How to Think More About Sex.

In this rigorous and supremely honest book Alain de Botton helps us navigate the intimate and exciting – yet often confusing and difficult – experience that is sex.Few of us tend to feel we’re entirely normal when it comes to sex, and what we think we’re supposed to be feeling rarely matches up with the reality. How to Think More About Sex argues that 21st-century sex is ultimately fated to be a balancing act between love and desire, adventure and commitment.Covering topics that include lust, fetishism, adultery and pornography, Alain de Botton frankly articulates the dilemmas of modern sexuality, offering insights and consolation to help us think more deeply and wisely about the sex we are, or aren’t, having.The School of Life looks at new ways of thinking about life’s biggest questions. Discover more fascinating books from the series with How to Stay Sane and How to Be Alone.

Society has a deep fear of ageing. Old age is increasingly viewed as a biomedical problem, something to be avoided at all costs and then vanished away by medicine. Anne Karpf urges us to change our narrative. Exploring how our outlook on ageing is historically determined and culturally defined, she draws upon case studies, old and new, to suggest how ageing can be an actively enriching time of immense growth. She argues that if we can recognize growing older as an inevitable part of the human condition, then the great challenge of ageing turns out to be none other than the challenge of living.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched January 2014:How to Age by Anne KarpfHow to Develop Emotional Health by Oliver JamesHow to Be Alone by Sara MaitlandHow to Deal with Adversity by Christopher HamiltonHow to Think About Exercise by Damon YoungHow to Connect with Nature by Tristan Gooley

A deep knowledge of our natural environment is no longer a vital part of everyday survival, certainly for those of us living in cities and working in weatherproof offices. Unless we have an inherent love of the great outdoors, do we really need to connect with nature? Bestselling author Tristan Gooley believes that real connection, no matter how small, can enrich us as individuals, allowing us to see every living thing in its own intricate network. Offering a host of techniques, he helps us awaken our senses and deepen our understanding of nature's cycles, conflicts and relationships. By cultivating the right mindset we can gain a better appreciation of the world, both indoors and outdoors.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched January 2014:How to Age by Anne KarpfHow to Develop Emotional Health by Oliver JamesHow to Be Alone by Sara MaitlandHow to Deal with Adversity by Christopher HamiltonHow to Think About Exercise by Damon YoungHow to Connect with Nature by Tristan Gooley

It can often seem as though existence is split in two: body and mind, flesh and spirit, moving and thinking. In the office or at study we are 'mind workers', with superfluous bodies. In the gym we stretch, run and lift, but our minds are idle. Damon Young challenges this idea, revealing how fitness can develop our bodies and minds as one. Exploring exercises and sports with the help of ancient and modern philosophy, he uncovers the pleasures, virtues and big ideas of fitness. By exercising intelligently, we are committing to wholeness: enjoying and enhancing our full humanity.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched January 2014:How to Age by Anne KarpfHow to Develop Emotional Health by Oliver JamesHow to Be Alone by Sara MaitlandHow to Deal with Adversity by Christopher HamiltonHow to Think About Exercise by Damon YoungHow to Connect with Nature by Tristan Gooley

A deep knowledge of our natural environment is no longer a vital part of everyday survival, certainly for those of us living in cities and working in weatherproof offices. Unless we have an inherent love of the great outdoors, do we really need to connect with nature? Bestselling author Tristan Gooley believes that real connection, no matter how small, can enrich us as individuals, allowing us to see every living thing in its own intricate network. Offering a host of techniques, he helps us awaken our senses and deepen our understanding of nature's cycles, conflicts and relationships. By cultivating the right mindset we can gain a better appreciation of the world, both indoors and outdoors.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched January 2014:How to Age by Anne KarpfHow to Develop Emotional Health by Oliver JamesHow to Be Alone by Sara MaitlandHow to Deal with Adversity by Christopher HamiltonHow to Think About Exercise by Damon YoungHow to Connect with Nature by Tristan Gooley

No matter how insulated we are by wealth or friends we can all expect to undergo some form of loss, failure or disappointment. The common reaction is to bear it as best we can - some do this better than others - and move on with life. Christopher Hamilton proposes a different response to adversity. Focusing on the arenas of family, love, illness and death, he explores constructive ways to deal with adversity and embrace it to derive unique insight into our condition. Offering examples from history, literature and science, he suggests how we might recognize it as a precious source of enlightenment, shaping our very existence.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched January 2014:How to Age by Anne KarpfHow to Develop Emotional Health by Oliver JamesHow to Be Alone by Sara MaitlandHow to Deal with Adversity by Christopher HamiltonHow to Think About Exercise by Damon YoungHow to Connect with Nature by Tristan Gooley

Happiness is a loaded term that means different things to different people. To some, it might mean life satisfaction, to others, a fleeting moment of joy. Rather than seeking to be happy, Oliver James encourages us to cultivate our emotional health. Outlining the five elements of good emotional health - insightfulness, a strong sense of self, fluid relationships, authenticity and playfulness in our approach to life - he offers strategies for optimizing each characteristic to live more fulfilling lives. Helping us to understand the impact our emotional baggage has on our daily interactions, he reveals how to overcome unhelpful patterns and become more self-aware - revitalizing our approach to life.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched January 2014:How to Age by Anne KarpfHow to Develop Emotional Health by Oliver JamesHow to Be Alone by Sara MaitlandHow to Deal with Adversity by Christopher HamiltonHow to Think About Exercise by Damon YoungHow to Connect with Nature by Tristan Gooley

In this rigorous and supremely honest book Alain de Botton helps us navigate the intimate and exciting – yet often confusing and difficult – experience that is sex.Few of us tend to feel we’re entirely normal when it comes to sex, and what we think we’re supposed to be feeling rarely matches up with the reality. How to Think More About Sex argues that 21st-century sex is ultimately fated to be a balancing act between love and desire, adventure and commitment.Covering topics that include lust, fetishism, adultery and pornography, Alain de Botton frankly articulates the dilemmas of modern sexuality, offering insights and consolation to help us think more deeply and wisely about the sex we are, or aren’t, having.The School of Life looks at new ways of thinking about life’s biggest questions. Discover more fascinating books from the series with How to Stay Sane and How to Be Alone.

By indulging in the experience of being alone, we can be inspired to find our own rewards and ultimately lead richer, fuller lives.Our fast-paced society does not approve of solitude; being alone is so often considered anti-social and some even find it sinister. Why is this so when autonomy, personal freedom and individualism are more highly prized than ever before? Sara Maitland answers this question in How to Be Alone by exploring changing attitudes throughout history. Offering experiments and strategies for overturning our fear of solitude, she helps us to practise it without anxiety and encourages us to see the benefits of spending time by ourselves.The School of Life looks at new ways of thinking about life’s biggest questions. Discover more fascinating books from the series with How to Stay Sane and How to Think More About Sex.

The desire for fulfilling work is one of the great aspirations of our age and this inspirational book reveals how one might make it a reality. It explores the competing claims we face for money and status while doing something meaningful and in tune with our talents. Drawing on wisdom about work that is to be found in sociology, psychology, history and philosophy, Roman Krznaric sets out a practical and innovative guide to negotiating the labyrinth of choices, overcoming the fear of change, and finding a career that makes you thrive.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched May 2012: How to Stay Sane by Philippa PerryHow to Find Fulfilling Work by Roman KrznaricHow to Worry Less About Money by John ArmstrongHow to Change the World by John-Paul FlintoffHow to Thrive in the Digital Age by Tom ChatfieldHow to Think More About Sex by Alain de Botton

Our world is, increasingly, a digital one. Over half of the planet’s adult population now spend more of their waking hours ‘plugged in’ than not, whether to the internet, mobile telephony, or other digital media. To email, text, tweet and blog our way through our careers, relationships and even our family lives is now the status quo. But what effect is this need for constant connection really having? For the first time, Tom Chatfield examines what our wired life is really doing to our minds and our culture - and offers practical advice on how we can hope to prosper in a digital century.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched May 2012:How to Stay Sane by Philippa PerryHow to Find Fulfilling Work by Roman KrznaricHow to Worry Less About Money by John ArmstrongHow to Change the World by John-Paul FlintoffHow to Thrive in the Digital Age by Tom ChatfieldHow to Think More About Sex by Alain de Botton

We all want to live in a better world, but sometimes it feels that we lack the ability or influence to make a difference. John-Paul Flintoff offers a powerful reminder that through the generations, society has been transformed by the actions of individuals who understood that if they didn’t like something, they could change it. Combining fresh new insights from history, politics and modern culture, this book will give you a sense of what might just be possible, as well as the inspiration and the courage you need to go about improving and changing the world we live in.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched May 2012:How to Stay Sane by Philippa PerryHow to Find Fulfilling Work by Roman KrznaricHow to Worry Less About Money by John ArmstrongHow to Change the World by John-Paul FlintoffHow to Thrive in the Digital Age by Tom ChatfieldHow to Think More About Sex by Alain de Botton

Our world is, increasingly, a digital one. Over half of the planet’s adult population now spend more of their waking hours ‘plugged in’ than not, whether to the internet, mobile telephony, or other digital media. To email, text, tweet and blog our way through our careers, relationships and even our family lives is now the status quo. But what effect is this need for constant connection really having? For the first time, Tom Chatfield examines what our wired life is really doing to our minds and our culture - and offers practical advice on how we can hope to prosper in a digital century.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched May 2012:How to Stay Sane by Philippa PerryHow to Find Fulfilling Work by Roman KrznaricHow to Worry Less About Money by John ArmstrongHow to Change the World by John-Paul FlintoffHow to Thrive in the Digital Age by Tom ChatfieldHow to Think More About Sex by Alain de Botton

Break free of your destructive relationship with money, and learn how money can actually make you happy with How to Worry Less About Money.Our relationship with money is one that lasts a lifetime, yet traditionally books on the subject tend to take one of two routes: a) how to get more, or b) how to deal with less.John Armstrong turns these approaches upside down, and looks not at money itself, but at how we relate to it and the meaning we attach to it. How does it drive us and frighten us? Can it change the world for the better? And how much do we actually need?Offering surprisingly helpful new insights and liberating advice, this book will encourage you to redefine your feelings about money, and ultimately enable you to discover what is really important to you in life.Continue your self-help journey with other titles from The School of Life series: How to Stay Sane, How to Find Fulfilling Work and How to Change the World.

The School of Life offers radical ways to help us raid the treasure trove of human knowledge' Independent on SundayHenri Bergson was a French professor and philosopher. Born in Paris in 1859 to a Polish composer and Yorkshire woman of Irish descent, his revelatory ideas of life as ceaseless becoming and the importance of attention, learning, humour and joy brought him incredible fame and media celebrity. Here you will find insights from his greatest works.The Life Lessons series from The School of Life takes a great thinker and highlights those ideas most relevant to ordinary everyday dilemmas. These books emphasize ways in which wise voices from the past have urgently important and inspiring things to tell us.'thoroughly welcoming and approachable ... Perhaps the finest, certainly the most exuberant, of the volumes is Michael Foley's Life Lessons from Bergson ... If the six books in the Life Lessons series can teach even a few readers to pay passionate heed to the world - to notice things - they will have been an unquestionable success' John Banville, Prospect'there is a good deal to be learned from these little primers' Observer

The School of Life offers radical ways to help us raid the treasure trove of human knowledge' Independent on SundayThomas Hobbes was an English philosopher. Born in Wiltshire in 1588, his masterpiece, Leviathan, established the foundation for Western political thought and inspired both hate and awe. He revealed the darker side of human nature and the value of authority. But he also showed us how to flourish, how to be fearless and free, so that our lives need not be 'nasty, brutish and short'. Here you will find insights from his greatest work.The Life Lessons series from The School of Life takes a great thinker and highlights those ideas most relevant to ordinary, everyday dilemmas. These books emphasize ways in which wise voices from the past have urgently important and inspiring things to tell us.'thoroughly welcoming and approachable ... [an] invigorating essay on Hobbes ... If the six books in the Life Lessons series can teach even a few readers to pay passionate heed to the world - to notice things - they will have been an unquestionable success' John Banville, Prospect'[Life Lessons From Hobbes is] the best of this bunch ... trenchantly confronting contemporary political problems ... there is a good deal to be learned from these little primers' Observer'Hannah Dawson is especially good on why Hobbes's theories on the meaning of freedom are so relevant' Evening Standard

The School of Life offers radical ways to help us raid the treasure trove of human knowledge' Independent on SundaySigmund Freud is best known as the father of psychoanalysis. Born in 1856, he was a physiologist, medical doctor and psychologist who spent most of his life in Vienna, Austria. He developed revolutionary ideas about the unconscious mind, repression and the meaning of dreams and the clinical method of treatment through dialogue. Here you will find insights from his greatest works.The Life Lessons series from The School of Life takes a great thinker and highlights those ideas most relevant to ordinary, everyday dilemmas. These books emphasize ways in which wise voices from the past have urgently important and inspiring things to tell us.'Thoroughly welcoming and approachable ... If the six books in the Life Lessons series can teach even a few readers to pay passionate heed to the world - to notice things - they will have been an unquestionable success' John Banville, Prospect'There is a good deal to be learned from these little primers' Observer

The School of Life offers radical ways to help us raid the treasure trove of human knowledge' Independent on SundaySoren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, theologian, literary stylist and social critic. Born in 1813 in Copenhagen, his philosophical work addressed living as a single individual and the importance of personal choice. A famously fierce critic of the idealist thinkers of his time, he is regarded as the first existentialist philosopher. Here you will find insights from his greatest works.The Life Lessons series from The School of Life takes a great thinker and highlights those ideas most relevant to ordinary, everyday dilemmas. These books emphasize ways in which wise voices from the past have urgently important and inspiring things to tell us.'thoroughly welcoming and approachable ... [Robert Ferguson] communicates strongly his enthusiams, indeed his love, for this Manichean of the north, and writes of him beautifully ... If the six books in the Life Lessons series can teach even a few readers to pay passionate heed to the world - to notice things - they will have been an unquestionable success' John Banville, Prospect'there is a good deal to be learned from these little primers' Observer

'The School of Life offers radical ways to help us raid the treasure trove of human knowledge' – Independent on SundayBorn in 1788, Lord Byron was an English poet and a leading figure of the Romantic movement. A prodigious poetic gift and a scandalous private life made him famous throughout Europe, and his masterpiece, Don Juan, became the biggest-selling work of the period. He remains one of the most provocative, seductive voices of world literature.The Life Lessons series from The School of Life takes a great thinker and highlights those ideas most relevant to ordinary, everyday dilemmas. These books emphasize ways in which wise voices from the past have urgently important and inspiring things to tell us.'Thoroughly welcoming and approachable ... [Life Lessons from Byron is] a ringing affirmation of the power of poetry to reach down tot the essence, or at least the essences, of life ... If the six books in the Life Lessons series can teach even a few readers to pay passionate heed to the world - to notice things - they will have been an unquestionable success' – John Banville, Prospect'There is a good deal to be learned from these little primers' – Observer

Happiness is a loaded term that means different things to different people. To some, it might mean life satisfaction, to others, a fleeting moment of joy. Rather than seeking to be happy, Oliver James encourages us to cultivate our emotional health. Outlining the five elements of good emotional health - insightfulness, a strong sense of self, fluid relationships, authenticity and playfulness in our approach to life - he offers strategies for optimizing each characteristic to live more fulfilling lives. Helping us to understand the impact our emotional baggage has on our daily interactions, he reveals how to overcome unhelpful patterns and become more self-aware - revitalizing our approach to life.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched January 2014:How to Age by Anne KarpfHow to Develop Emotional Health by Oliver JamesHow to Be Alone by Sara MaitlandHow to Deal with Adversity by Christopher HamiltonHow to Think About Exercise by Damon YoungHow to Connect with Nature by Tristan Gooley

By indulging in the experience of being alone, we can be inspired to find our own rewards and ultimately lead richer, fuller lives.Our fast-paced society does not approve of solitude; being alone is so often considered anti-social and some even find it sinister. Why is this so when autonomy, personal freedom and individualism are more highly prized than ever before? Sara Maitland answers this question in How to Be Alone by exploring changing attitudes throughout history. Offering experiments and strategies for overturning our fear of solitude, she helps us to practise it without anxiety and encourages us to see the benefits of spending time by ourselves.The School of Life looks at new ways of thinking about life’s biggest questions. Discover more fascinating books from the series with How to Stay Sane and How to Think More About Sex.

No matter how insulated we are by wealth or friends we can all expect to undergo some form of loss, failure or disappointment. The common reaction is to bear it as best we can - some do this better than others - and move on with life. Christopher Hamilton proposes a different response to adversity. Focusing on the arenas of family, love, illness and death, he explores constructive ways to deal with adversity and embrace it to derive unique insight into our condition. Offering examples from history, literature and science, he suggests how we might recognize it as a precious source of enlightenment, shaping our very existence.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched January 2014:How to Age by Anne KarpfHow to Develop Emotional Health by Oliver JamesHow to Be Alone by Sara MaitlandHow to Deal with Adversity by Christopher HamiltonHow to Think About Exercise by Damon YoungHow to Connect with Nature by Tristan Gooley

Society has a deep fear of ageing. Old age is increasingly viewed as a biomedical problem, something to be avoided at all costs and then vanished away by medicine. Anne Karpf urges us to change our narrative. Exploring how our outlook on ageing is historically determined and culturally defined, she draws upon case studies, old and new, to suggest how ageing can be an actively enriching time of immense growth. She argues that if we can recognize growing older as an inevitable part of the human condition, then the great challenge of ageing turns out to be none other than the challenge of living.One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched January 2014:How to Age by Anne KarpfHow to Develop Emotional Health by Oliver JamesHow to Be Alone by Sara MaitlandHow to Deal with Adversity by Christopher HamiltonHow to Think About Exercise by Damon YoungHow to Connect with Nature by Tristan Gooley

Lethargic inactivity can be debilitating and depressing; but for those living in the modern world, the pendulum has swung far in the other direction. We live in a hectic, hyperactive, over-stimulated age. Excessive busyness and overfilled schedules are the norm, as are their effects on our mental and emotional lives. How might we address and counter such problems, for the sake of experiencing our lives more fully?In How to Be Bored, Eva Hoffman explores the importance we place on success, high level function, effectiveness and alertness in today's competitive society. In a world where it is almost impossible to be idle, she draws upon lessons from history, literature and psychotherapy to help us embrace boredom and find meaning in doing nothing - to appreciate real reflection and enjoy the richness of our inner and external lives.

Lethargic inactivity can be debilitating and depressing; but for those living in the modern world, the pendulum has swung far in the other direction. We live in a hectic, hyperactive, over-stimulated age. Excessive busyness and overfilled schedules are the norm, as are their effects on our mental and emotional lives. How might we address and counter such problems, for the sake of experiencing our lives more fully?In How to Be Bored, Eva Hoffman explores the importance we place on success, high level function, effectiveness and alertness in today's competitive society. In a world where it is almost impossible to be idle, she draws upon lessons from history, literature and psychotherapy to help us embrace boredom and find meaning in doing nothing - to appreciate real reflection and enjoy the richness of our inner and external lives.

No one is born to lead. This is the idea at the heart of this thoughtful book on leadership. Popular culture feeds us images of the square-jawed, strong-armed leader - charismatic, powerful, decisive - but the truth is, with the right amount of self-knowledge and authenticity, anyone can be a good leader, even those who don't fit the stereotype.There are countless courses and books available on leadership technique, decision-making and public speaking, but How to Be a Leader aims to give you the tools to understand and bring out your own leadership style. With an in-depth look at what it really means to lead, and the difference between being a manager and being a leader, How to Be a Leader invites you to explore - and accept - the unique leader in you.

Choosing a romantic partner is one of contemporary life's biggest adventures. But other aspects of modern living – being globally more mobile, a fall in religious belief, social liberalization and more job opportunities (but longer working hours) – mean meeting a mate has rarely been so challenging, and rarely so important.In How to Choose a Partner, Susan Quilliam guides us through the process of finding the right partner for us as individuals. The real challenge is that we grow. Drawing upon rich cultural material, psychology and her background in relationship therapy, Susan presents partner choice as a self-development journey, driving us to learn more about ourselves, about other people, about life and the way we want to live.