The Zurich-born Alain de Botton was first published at age 23, but it was How Proust Can Change Your Life—which applied ideas from the great philosophers to modern-day dilemmas—that made him a best-selling author in 30 countries. The London-based author has written a dozen books on such topics as falling in love, status anxiety and “religion for atheists, ” become the wise young sage of Twitter and is involved with organizations such as Living Architecture and This story is from Kinfolk Issue Fifteen Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 19 Going Incognito We all secretly wonder what mischief we’d make if invisible: When our identity is hidden, everything seems possible. Arts & Culture Issue 19 The Best Policy Sometimes we talk to each other without feeling heard. Honesty—a most intimate interaction—can be just as thrilling as its more devious inverse.
Arts & Culture Issue 19 Going Incognito We all secretly wonder what mischief we’d make if invisible: When our identity is hidden, everything seems possible.
Arts & Culture Issue 19 The Best Policy Sometimes we talk to each other without feeling heard. Honesty—a most intimate interaction—can be just as thrilling as its more devious inverse.
