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The ones I've seen have all seemed fine to me. It's advice, and advice is not a branch of science.

engineer_22 4y ago
You know what they say... opinions are like **holes, everyone has one and they all stink... wait wrong aphorism. ... OK I've got it: Advice is only worth what you pay for it. I guess either one works here...
- sshine 4y ago
  So... €38.99 on Amazon?
  - lucas_membrane 4y ago
    One thing about Alain de Botton that mystifies me is that he was born into a family with 9-digit wealth, and he apparently likes piling up comparatively small sums by monetizing his philosophy habit. Successful authors of multiple books typically write some as an outlet for their genius and some because they need or cannot pass up the money. What motivates him? How much of his writing is outsourced?
    - TheOtherHobbes 4y ago
      According to de Botton he makes money from his work and doesn't have access to the family trust fund. The UK has a few people - like poverty-cook Jack Monroe - who have faced real financial and emotional challenges and come through them to become inspirational people. But without becoming Professionally Inspirational™ about it. de Botton seems like a spoilt dilettante in comparison - an entertainer for the aspirational classes. IMO someone who has never faced extreme poverty or unusual emotional stress has no business telling others how to live their lives.
0xbadcafebee 4y ago
Alain's advice/statements include: - All parties are terrible and you're a terrible person if you like parties - Women date abusive men because they were traumatized as a child, and they avoid nice guys, so be an asshole to women - You can't be a good person unless you had a shitty time growing up, and people only start families to deal with their own shitty family trauma, so, good luck - You are doomed to an unhappy marriage. Don't look for someone you like, look for someone you can endure - People with bad taste were traumatized as children. All Russians and Saudi Arabians have bad taste - People give self help books a lot of shit, but you should read self help books (Alain sells self help books) - For dinner you should order children's fish sticks, cranberry juice, and the most expensive dessert, the last two because you feel awkward about ordering the first one, and this will help you on a date
- jasonladuke0311 4y ago
  Maliciously reductive, basically a Reddit-tier comment. Thumbs down.
  - 0xbadcafebee 4y ago
    Your own comment seems highly constructive and informative with a well reasoned argument
- abrichr 4y ago
  Perhaps if you cite some sources for your claims (e.g. timestamped links to the relevant videos) you would not receive so many downvotes
  - 0xbadcafebee 4y ago
    True. But I take after Alain, in that I do not cite any sources and expect you to believe whatever I say. (most of them come from the 2 takedown videos linked in a parent comment, the rest are from Alain's own press or blog posts writing about them)
- TheOtherHobbes 4y ago

You know what they say... opinions are like **holes, everyone has one and they all stink... wait wrong aphorism. ... OK I've got it: Advice is only worth what you pay for it. I guess either one works here...

sshine 4y ago
So... €38.99 on Amazon?
- lucas_membrane 4y ago
  One thing about Alain de Botton that mystifies me is that he was born into a family with 9-digit wealth, and he apparently likes piling up comparatively small sums by monetizing his philosophy habit. Successful authors of multiple books typically write some as an outlet for their genius and some because they need or cannot pass up the money. What motivates him? How much of his writing is outsourced?
  - TheOtherHobbes 4y ago
    According to de Botton he makes money from his work and doesn't have access to the family trust fund. The UK has a few people - like poverty-cook Jack Monroe - who have faced real financial and emotional challenges and come through them to become inspirational people. But without becoming Professionally Inspirational™ about it. de Botton seems like a spoilt dilettante in comparison - an entertainer for the aspirational classes. IMO someone who has never faced extreme poverty or unusual emotional stress has no business telling others how to live their lives.

0xbadcafebee 4y ago

Alain's advice/statements include: - All parties are terrible and you're a terrible person if you like parties - Women date abusive men because they were traumatized as a child, and they avoid nice guys, so be an asshole to women - You can't be a good person unless you had a shitty time growing up, and people only start families to deal with their own shitty family trauma, so, good luck - You are doomed to an unhappy marriage. Don't look for someone you like, look for someone you can endure - People with bad taste were traumatized as children. All Russians and Saudi Arabians have bad taste - People give self help books a lot of shit, but you should read self help books (Alain sells self help books) - For dinner you should order children's fish sticks, cranberry juice, and the most expensive dessert, the last two because you feel awkward about ordering the first one, and this will help you on a date

jasonladuke0311 4y ago
Maliciously reductive, basically a Reddit-tier comment. Thumbs down.
- 0xbadcafebee 4y ago
  Your own comment seems highly constructive and informative with a well reasoned argument
abrichr 4y ago
Perhaps if you cite some sources for your claims (e.g. timestamped links to the relevant videos) you would not receive so many downvotes
- 0xbadcafebee 4y ago
  True. But I take after Alain, in that I do not cite any sources and expect you to believe whatever I say. (most of them come from the 2 takedown videos linked in a parent comment, the rest are from Alain's own press or blog posts writing about them)
TheOtherHobbes 4y ago