The boring debate between fundamentalist believers and non-believers is finally moved on by Alain de Botton's inspiring new book, which boldly argues that the supernatural claims of religion are of course entirely false - and yet that religions still have important things to teach the secular world. Rather than mocking religions, agnostics and atheists should instead steal from them - because they're packed with good ideas on how we live and arrange our societies. Blending deep respect with total impiety, de Botton (a non-believer) proposes that we should look to religions for insights into how to build a sense of community, make our relationships last, get more out of art, overcome feelings of envy and inadequacy, and much more. For too long non-believers have faced a stark choice between either swallowing peculiar doctrines or doing away with consoling and beautiful rituals and ideas. At last Alain de Botton has fashioned a far more interesting and truly helpful alternative.
Author Biography: Alain de Botton was born in 1969 and is the author of non-fiction essays on themes ranging from love and travel to architecture and philosophy. His bestselling books include How Proust Can Change Your Life, The Art of Travel, and The Architecture of Happiness. He lives in London and founded The School of Life (www.theschooloflife.com) and Living Architecture (www.living-architecture.co.uk). For more information, consult www.alaindebotton.com.
Whether you're starting or ending a relationship, a friend has found a lump in her breast, you're in debt, your partner's lost interest in sex or you don't know whether to believe the moisturiser label, Women's Stuff is your must-have guide, from leaving school to menopause and beyond. It's a best friend in book form, a complete guide to how to get your life together and face any challenge at any age. It's also the ultimate fib detector - Kaz has sifted the facts and tested the claims, exposing the lies women are told about cosmetics, other products and their health, and explaining which info you can trust and how to find the truth about everything. It covers the practical side of life, including work, money and homemaking, as well as getting to know and make friends with your body, family, mental and physical health, and sex and relationships. Three years in preparation, this guide book to making the most of yourself and your life includes the quotes and comments of more than 7,000 women from all over the world, sharing their innermost thoughts on everything from sex to housework, drinking problems and hopes for the future. Providing info at your fingertips, if and when you need it, whichever stage your life is at, Women's Stuff will save you money and make you happier.
Author Biography: Kaz Cooke is the author of Up the Duff: The Real Guide to Pregnancy, Kidwrangling: Looking After Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers, Girl Stuff: Your Full-on Guide to the Teen Years and Women's Stuff.
Although we are materially better off than ever before, surveys show that we are depressed and listless. In his revolutionary book, Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard shows that happiness is not just an emotion, but a skill that can be developed. Free of mumbo jumbo, The Art of Happiness contains twenty-minute exercises to train the mind to recognize and pursue happiness by concentrating on life's fundamentals, revealing the significant benefits that changing the way we view the world can bring to each of us.
Review: 'A remarkable book... It exudes inspiration and intelligence' - Independent on Sunday
Author Biography: Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk who had a promising career in cellular genetics before leaving France to study Buddhism in the Himalayas thirty-seven years ago. He is also a bestselling author, translator and photographer, and an active participant in current scientific research on the effects of medication on the brain. He lives in Tibet and Nepal and is involved in humanitarian projects in both these countries. Find out more at www.www.matthieuricard.org
