The Consolations of Philosophy

In The Consolations of Philosophy, Alain de Botton draws on insights from several different philosophers (Montaigne, Schopenhauer, Socrates, Seneca, etc.) to offer consolations for various personal difficulties — unpopularity, a lack of money, inadequacy, frustration, and a broken heart. His subject is too broad and his readings of each philosopher are embarrassingly shallow — the Marxism section alone justifies every negative review de Botton has received — but there is just enough of his trademark insight and wit to make it a worthwhile book.