The School of Life
3
Books ReviewedAsk LuvemBooks about The School of Life
- Where should I start?
- We highly recommend starting with A Simpler Life. This book serves as an excellent introduction to the author's core themes, offering practical yet gentle guidance on decluttering not just your physical space, but also your emotional load. It provides immediate takeaways for beginners.
- What's their writing style?
- The School of Life employs a highly empathetic and conversational tone, often blending academic psychology with poignant personal reflection. Their voice feels like that of an insightful friend—thought-provoking without being judgmental or overly clinical.
- Books we've reviewed
- We have covered A Simpler Life, a foundational text for anyone looking to reduce emotional overwhelm. It provides practical strategies for finding peace and clarity in a chaotic modern world.
- What genre do they write?
- They primarily operate within the Self-Help and Personal Development genre. However, due to their nuanced approach, they often border on philosophy and modern humanistic psychology, making them appealing to readers who want thought-provoking reads rather than simple 'how-to' guides.
- How do their books compare?
- Since we have only reviewed one title, A Simpler Life, it represents a cohesive exploration of reducing emotional and mental clutter. This single work establishes the author's focus on practical serenity over deep academic theory.
- What should I read after *A Simpler Life*?
- If you found the focus on emotional decluttering enjoyable, look for works that expand into specific relationship dynamics or existential questions. These areas are natural extensions of seeking greater clarity and ease.
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Great Thinkers: Simple tools from sixty great thinkers to improve by The School of Life
4.6/5
Great Thinkers: Simple Tools from Sixty Great Thinkers to Improve Your Life Today is a wide-ranging illustrated reference book that distils the intellectual canon of The School of Life — drawing on philosophy, political theory, sociology, psychotherapy, art, architecture, and literature — into accessible profiles designed to help readers navigate the dilemmas, joys, and griefs of everyday life.
Reviewed Jun 24, 2026
Big Ideas for Curious Minds: An Introduction to Philosophy by The School of Life
4.8/5
Big Ideas for Curious Minds: An Introduction to Philosophy, written by The School of Life, edited by Alain de Botton, and illustrated by Anna Doherty, distills ideas from 25 philosophers into accessible, self-help-framed chapters designed to help children ages 9 and up engage with fundamental questions about how to live. Publishers Weekly called it "a useful, if narrow, introduction to emotional intelligence via philosophical thought," and critical coverage named it among its Best Children's Books of 2018 — a strong reception for an illustrated children's philosophy title with a distinctly practical bent.
Reviewed Jun 14, 2026
A Simpler Life: A guide to greater serenity, ease, and clarity by The School of Life
4.5/5
A Simpler Life is a self-help guide from The School of Life — the global organisation founded under the direction of series editor Alain de Botton — that takes a psychological approach to minimalism, addressing not just the clutter in closets and calendars but the deeper roots of distraction and complexity in relationships, work, social life, and culture. Published in hardcover by The School of Life Press in May 2022, the book is designed for readers who crave a more pared-down, peaceful, and focused existence but recognise that surface-level decluttering is rarely enough to get them there. Multiple NetGalley reviewers responded warmly to its short, accessible chapters and its invitation to self-examination.
Reviewed Mar 17, 2026
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