The Architecture of Happiness
Encyclopedia
The Architecture of Happiness is a book by Alain de Botton
(ISBN 978-0241142486) which discusses the importance of beauty, published by Pantheon Books
in 2006. De Botton, inspired by Stendhal's motto "beauty is the promise of happiness," analyzes human surroundings and how human needs and desires manifest their ideals in architecture.
The book attracted wide and favourable attention from architects and architectural critics. In the Boston Globe, the architectural critic Robert Campbell declared it the best book about architecture that he had ever read. There was a chorus of approval from UK, US and Australian critics. The book featured prominently in the film 500 Days of Summer
, where it was the reading matter of choice for the protagonist. In recognition of his services to architecture with the book, the RIBA
made Alain de Botton an honourary fellow of the Institute in February 2010.
There have inevitably been some negative voices too. Reviewing the book, New York Times reviewer Jim Holt noted that although the book is in part humorous "in a Woody Allen-ish sort of way", the book, "like de Botton’s previous books, ... contains its quota of piffle dressed up in pompous language." Another reviewer, Mark Lamster in I.D. Magazine wrote, "[De Botton] has produced a meandering, pompous disquisition that betrays an autodidact’s haphazard sense of the field, but with little of the original thinking that might be expected from an outsider. ... The Architecture of Happiness would be an innocuous castoff if not for its proselytizing ambitions (it has so far spawned a PBS miniseries) and a set of rather insidious ideas camouflaged in its twee prose."
A television series, The Perfect Home
, commissioned for Channel 4
and which first aired in 2006, was based on the book.
Alain de Botton
Alain de Botton is a Swiss writer, television presenter, and entrepreneur, resident in the UK.His books and television programs discuss various contemporary subjects and themes in a philosophical style, emphasizing philosophy's relevance to everyday life. In August 2008, he was a founding member...
(ISBN 978-0241142486) which discusses the importance of beauty, published by Pantheon Books
Pantheon Books
Pantheon Books is an American imprint with editorial independence that is part of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.The current editor-in-chief at Pantheon Books is Dan Frank.-Overview:...
in 2006. De Botton, inspired by Stendhal's motto "beauty is the promise of happiness," analyzes human surroundings and how human needs and desires manifest their ideals in architecture.
The book attracted wide and favourable attention from architects and architectural critics. In the Boston Globe, the architectural critic Robert Campbell declared it the best book about architecture that he had ever read. There was a chorus of approval from UK, US and Australian critics. The book featured prominently in the film 500 Days of Summer
500 Days of Summer
Days of Summer is a 2009 comedy drama film. It was written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, directed by Marc Webb, produced by Mark Waters, and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. The film employs a nonlinear narrative structure, with the story based upon its male protagonist...
, where it was the reading matter of choice for the protagonist. In recognition of his services to architecture with the book, the RIBA
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
made Alain de Botton an honourary fellow of the Institute in February 2010.
There have inevitably been some negative voices too. Reviewing the book, New York Times reviewer Jim Holt noted that although the book is in part humorous "in a Woody Allen-ish sort of way", the book, "like de Botton’s previous books, ... contains its quota of piffle dressed up in pompous language." Another reviewer, Mark Lamster in I.D. Magazine wrote, "[De Botton] has produced a meandering, pompous disquisition that betrays an autodidact’s haphazard sense of the field, but with little of the original thinking that might be expected from an outsider. ... The Architecture of Happiness would be an innocuous castoff if not for its proselytizing ambitions (it has so far spawned a PBS miniseries) and a set of rather insidious ideas camouflaged in its twee prose."
A television series, The Perfect Home
The Perfect Home
The Perfect Home is a television series of three 42 minute episodes commissioned for Channel 4 based on the book The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton which first aired in 2006...
, commissioned for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
and which first aired in 2006, was based on the book.