The Consolations of Philosophy (Vintage International) by Alain De Botton

Alain de Botton's The Consolations of Philosophy is a non-fiction work structured around six philosophers — Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer, and Nietzsche — each paired with a common human affliction, from unpopularity and financial anxiety to heartbreak and suffering. Originally published by Hamish Hamilton in 2000 and subsequently reissued by Penguin Books, it drew glowing praise from major outlets for its charm, playfulness, and accessibility, while a minority of academic critics argued its popularising approach came at the cost of philosophical rigour. It remains one of the more widely read and discussed attempts to bring ancient and modern philosophy into the orbit of everyday emotional life.

Reviewed Jun 9, 2026