Some time back I read Alain De Botton's marvellously engaging book 'The Consolations of Philosophy' and was completely bowled over. The book affirmed a lot of ideas that had always been a part of my consciousness but had unfortunately never been shared or voiced by any of the people around me. I particularly found his ideas on what defines happiness truly insightful and think his philosophies are a perfect antidote to a world utterly consumed by notions of 'competition' and 'success'.
So it was with great delight I discovered that he had spoken at the recent TedGlobal 2009. As expected he brought forward his gentler, kinder ideas about the world in his typically humorous and humane manner and made many people laugh at his 'absurd' yet astute insights into the nature of craving material success. As is wont to happen in an 18 minute talk, Botton doesn't really manage to explain his ideas fully but they are hopefully good enough teasers for many more people to delve into the world of his delightfully easy to read, yet profound books
Recent Reads
- Cat's Cradle
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard
- The Catcher in the Rye
- Lolita
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- The Kite Runner
- The Consolations of Philosophy
- The Happiness Hypothesis
- A Streetcar Named Desire and Other Plays
- Griffin and Sabine Trilogy
- The Bell Jar
- Memories of my Melancholy Whores
- Letter to a Christian Nation
- An Equal Music
I do desire we may be better strangers
(Shakespeare)
Ah! Love could you and I with Him conspire
To grasp this sorry scheme of things entire
Would we not shatter it to bits and then
Re-mould it nearer to the heart's desire
(From the Rubaiyaat of Omer Khayyam)
The ginger cat full of hope
Steps onto the road
The next minute it lies there
Dead!
(Kauser Sheikh)
- Blood Sweat & Tears Lyrics
Before I married I had three theories about raising children, now I have three children and no theories
(John Wilmot)
If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name in a Swiss bank.
(Woody Allen)
Your marriage is in trouble if your wife says, 'You're only interested in one thing,' and you can't remember what it is.
(Milton Berle)
Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.
(George Burns)
Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford.
(Cindy Crawford)
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Puraanay Silsilay
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16 comments:
interesting talk but most of the parts i loved, i already subscribe to in practice. so wasn't as bowled over. on the other hand, it's the kind of talk that mnany should be made to hear ... so, i am glad you've blogged/and fb'd the link.
That is exactly my point zakintosh. I subscribe to a lot of what he says but i can hardly think of even a couple of people around me who actively feel the same way. And like I said this talk is really a primer, his book has a lot more to offer. Which reminds me I cannot recall who took that book of mine. I need it back. It has a lot of highlighted passages that I would like to type out and put up on the blog.
If you were 'bowled over' by this then perhaps you would enjoy watching this documentary....named The Arrivals. To watch intro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le_ySMrOkFU .....and try not to stop watching after the first few episodes...they are all approximately 9-10 mins long and a total of 51.
i really, really loved this video. this is exactly what i needed before my o level result. i think i'm ready for it now :)
Then get 'Consolations of Philosophy' from there. I promise you you won't regret the buy.
@anonymous i think you misread the philosopher's name. it's botton, not bottom.
@anonymous: How in errr.....god's name is that video connected to De Botton? De Botton is a sensible man with rational views, he is not telling fairy tales, just introducing previously little thought of ideas.
Thanks for sharing the video! I was hitherto unaware of De Botton, and enjoyed this immensely. It was a very engaging and fun talk, and of course very relevant.
However, it was hardly profound. Simple and beautiful ? Yes. Profound? No. There is a difference between the consolations of an agony-aunt and Philosophy (or great Literature, Poetry or Art)!
If only our bank balance is directly proportional to my happiness...
Though i do think Botton is profound in parts i also happen to agree with your assessment of the situation. Especially your very last line, Botton does essentially meander into the self help area of things rather than philosophy. Nonetheless, anything that shapes your thinking, makes you dwell upon the ssential nature of things can be seen to be profound.
I agree with most of what Monsieur De Botton has to say and try to follow it in my own life, as far as I can. However, it is true that most of those from my generation (yours too, I suppose, since you are only about 2 years younger) do not. So, I end up receiving a lot of unsolicited advice about how I should change my ways or I shall continue to be 'left behind'. It used to bother me earlier, but, with time, I have learnt to be at peace with myself and let the advice pass over my head.
BTW, I think we, here in the Orient, have our own philosophies (that most of us have discarded and tend to blindly ape the West), which can help achieve what De Botton professes.
Let me quote from:
The Sufi school of thought -
Maali da kamm paani laauna, bhar-bhar mashkaaN laave
Maalik da kamm phal-phull laauna, laave ya na laave
OR
'Waris Shah' na fiqar kar jhoorne da
Jo kujh hovnaa si, so hi ho riha ji
OR
Rukhi-sukhi khaa ke, thhanDaa paani pi
Dekh paraayi chopRi, naa tarsaaiye ji
The Bhagvad Gita -
Karmanye vaadhikaaraste ma faleshu kadaachana
(Perform your duties to the best of your ability and do not worry about the results i.e. leave those to the Almighty)
The Guru Granthh Saahib -
Ketyaa dookh bhookh sadd maar
Eh bhi daat teri Daataar
(Sadness and hunger are also boons granted by the Almighty (as much as happiness and satiation are).)
OR
Tera kiya meethha laage
Hari naam padaarathh Naanak maaNge
(Your (the Almighty's) will appears sweet to me (at all times and under any conditions whatsoever)
The material possession that I seek is thy Name)
OR
Mann jeete jagg jeet
(Conquer your own mind, in order to conquer the world.)
Interestingly, none of these point towards an element of tragedy that Botton does.
Meanwhile, Mr. De Botton indulges in a bit of 'snobbery' (as defined in this lecture, or else prejudice might actually have been a better word) himself, when he paints all owners of Ferrari vehicles with the same brush. The fact is that not all buyers seek to use the absolutely lovely and immensely powerful cars merely as status symbols. Some genuinely love the exquisitely hand-crafted automobiles (which are often described as works of art), the performance of which often has to be restricted by the Italy-based manufacturer, in order to make these 'road-legal'.
I, for one, would love to have a Ferrari or Porsche, even if I lived on an island where not many would see me drive it.
frankly, i don't really care whether you write about de botton or de sade (though the latter would be mildly worrying) - the important thing is that this blog is active again. which makes it only the second blog i read to be that way.
This is random. but how was the tales of beedle the bard?
@Blink: It was alright, if you are a huge Rowling fan you will like it well enough but nothing earth shattering. A good afternoon for true HP fans, that's all.
hmm. thanks=)
its rida btw=P
Hi,
Long time no see. Hows you? Just browsed through your blog after a long time.
Your articles do convey the frustration of the educated and free minded thinking like you at present. Well lets keep it to that, no further discussions on that topic.
Rest assured this Mumbai vaala will time and again bump into your blog.
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