“I’m reminded daily what an ignorant, vain, irritable, choleric idiot I am,” says author Alain de Botton when asked what he’s learned about himself since founding a school designed to strengthen emotional intelligence. “This is a hugely helpful starting point for the School of Life, for I constantly have ideas about what I—and many other people—might need.” Developed in 2008 by Alain and a group of academics, artists, curators, writers, thinkers and entrepreneurs, the School of Life helps people develop emotional intelligence by using culture as a guide. “I came up with the ideas, and the team around me helped to make them happen, ” he says. “They’re brilliant—I owe them so much. Without them, I’d still be a pathetic guy dreaming big.” The School offers seminars on such topics as “How Necessary Is a Relationship, ” This story is from Kinfolk Issue Fifteen Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 45 The Whole Story The power of cradle-to-grave novels. Arts & Culture Issue 43 Signal Boost How status anxiety drives culture. Arts & Culture Issue 41 Mixed Emoji Is a picture worth a thousand words? Arts & Culture Issue 40 In Season Potable water meets palatable design. Arts & Culture Issue 38 Square Spaces On internet aesthetics. Arts & Culture Issue 38 Social Work Hettie O’Brien considers the cost of never logging off.
