This collection of essays offers thoughtful reflections on various topics, from introspection and relationships to societal issues like capitalism. Written with depth, each essay encourages readers to pause, reflect, and consider how the ideas relate to their own lives. I enjoyed reading an essay at a time and taking time to reflect on it. allowing me to digest its ideas gradually. As a trainee counsellor I have to journal each week and these ideas would find their way into my weekly reflections. They served as excellent journaling prompts for those that way inclined.

The topics covered, such as “What is Psychotherapy” and “The Sorrows of Love,” provoke thought without feeling heavy, making it easy to dip in and out as time allows. It reminded me a little of *101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think*, but with richer exploration of mental health and self-growth.

This collection is ideal for readers looking to engage with big questions and deepen their self-understanding. Perfect for end-of-year reflections and a great choice for anyone looking to nurture their personal growth journey.

Thanks to NetGalley and The School of Life for this title.

I always love to read The SChool of Life essays as they make me think and reflect.
This is a collection that i found very interesting and it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This title consists of a series of essays on topics that both intrigue and provoke thought and self-reflection in the reader. Some of the subjects covered in this interesting volume are What is Psychotherapy; The Sorrows of Love; How to Reform Capitalism, and more.

Be sure to read the introduction in which the publisher discusses “the point of books.” Read the sections in any order but allow sufficient time to think and reflect.

This title will appeal to those who want to take time to think about some big aspects of life.

Many thanks to NetGalley and The School of Life for this title. All opinions are my own.

Love Alain de Botton,
such an amazing book and I learned so much. Everyone should have a copy of this in their house.

This is the collected essay of many great books were published under The School of Life. It's a very easy book to introduce The School of Life. We also can read according to the section/ issues that we most curious about. I wish there are more topics included for the next collected essay. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.
Thank you Net Galley and THe School of Life for providing e-copy for this collected essays.

The School of Life is an organisation with a mission at its heart: to help foster calm, self-understanding and greater emotional maturity.

* On Confidence: a guide to throwing off inhibition in the name of a more free and creative life
* Self-Knowledge: a method for knowing ourselves better to make optimal choices in love and work
* Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person: a hopeful and wry survey of the trials and joys of marriage

These essays, while deeply personal, offer lessons that can help foster personal growth.

Rather than reading this in one continuous session, I chose to savour a few essays each day, and it turned out to be the ideal approach. This is a book that benefits from being consumed in small doses, making it an excellent source of inspiration for journaling. Each essay prompted me to contemplate its contents, and had I been someone who regularly journaled, I would have relished the opportunity for deeper introspection.

I looked forward to taking some time out of my day to read this and would love to read the other @theschooloflifelondon now that I’ve had a taste. I’d love to get more into journaling so if anyone has any advice, please let me know.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

The writers of this Essay Collection, aim to impart their ideas and knowledge to help readers understand the deeper meanings and significance of literature and art.

The writers’ focus is on individual’s personality, resilience, confidence, self-love, love towards others and careers. The essays are well-written and insightful, offering a unique perspective on the subjects they delve into. They also feature helpful references/ quotes/ art pieces from renowned writers and philosophers to support their arguments.

However, the book may not be suitable for those looking for a more comprehensive analysis of literature and art. This is more of a bonus than it is an exploration.

Overall, this book offers a thoughtful and engaging exploration of literature and art that may be of interest to some readers. It’s definitely good for someone looking for a change of pace.

The School of Life is an amazing organisation. I have been watching their philosophical videos on YouTube regularly over the years. They do give you something to think about. And their channel gives a huge sneak peek of what this book offers.

I received this book from Netgalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own and completely honest.

Really enjoyed these essays touching on many life issues.I will be dipping in and out of the collection.I read an essay or two and then spend time thinking about bit .#netgalley #theschooloflife

I really liked this collection.
It reminds me a bit of 101 essays to change the way you think, but better.
It dives into various mental health and personal growth topics making you reflect on have you act and how you can improve.
Definitely recommend if you want to “grow” before the end of 2023

I really enjoyed this collection of essays and would recommend to anyone with an interest in psychology or even if you're own your own journey towards self-awareness through therapy, as I am. Many of the essays about therapy, why we need it and what it can do for us really resonated with me.

The essays cover many topics including work, advertising and culture. They are not 'intelluctual' and too dense, instead using humour and plain language to uncover quite complex theories.

Thanks Net Galley for the book - I'd highly recommend.

I like the idea of this book much more than I liked the book itself. The premise is good, but the material is dry and boring. This was a DNF for me.

I really wished I could love this as the premise was so good. Unfortunately I just found it insufferable.

I thought this was a good collection of essays on a variety of topics from introspection to marriage, covering so many topics, that while personal in content can have lessons taken from to grow yourself.

I didn’t read this all in one go, I read a few essays a day and I’d say that that was the right way to read it. This is a book that needs to be absorbed in small quantities - and would actually make a really good journalling prompt. Each essay made me think quite a lot about the contents and if I was someone who journaled then I would certainly have enjoyed making use of the collection for some further introspection.

I looked forward to taking some time out of my day to read this and would love to read the other school of life books now that i’ve had a taste.

I couldn’t get into this, sorry. The tone was a little dry for me. Thank you for the opportunity to read it