Alain de Botton

(Zürich, 1969) writes books and makes tv programmes exposing everyday problems with the aid of the ideas of classical writers and philosophers. His latest exploit is the foundation of The School of Life in London in August 2008. De Botton's idea behind it is to reorganize existing university education and to aim it at life (…) and give people a sense of direction and wisdom with the aid of culture.’ De Botton's international breakthrough came in 1997 with the best-seller How Proust Can Save Your Life, followed by Consolations of Philosophy (2000). In both books De Botton looks at feelings such as love, friendship, jealousy and desire from the perspective of thinkers like Seneca, Nietzsche, Stendhal and Proust. De Botton moved to London when he was twelve and studied philosophy and history. He is a columnist for several English newspapers, the Independent on Sunday among others. All his books have been translated in Dutch.