Member Reviews

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  1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

  • Rated 3 stars

  “A completely charming piece of Proust criticism and biography in the guise of a self-help manual. De Botton gets to the essential themes of "In Search of Lost Time" and serves them up with caviar and champagne; it's all quite painless and might even inspire you to read the Book. I hope so - one shouldn't miss it.”

  Lord Manleigh wrote this review Tuesday, December 18 2007. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “good book, really, it is”

  Patrick M wrote this review Wednesday, August 27 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 3 stars

  “This was a lovely diversion. While I'm told that, for some readers, this can take the place of reading "Remembrance of Things Past", I was inspired to place Proust's huge opus on my short reading list.
  
  It was funny, insightful, and short (only 197 pages).”

  Frank H wrote this review Friday, August 1 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 3 stars

  “I wonder if anyone's life has actually been changed by this book, except maybe for de Botton's who must have become considerably wealthier due to its international success. Despite the misleading title, de Botton manages to arrive at some interesting conclusions based on old Marcel's eccentric lifestyle, his letters and his opus.”

  maria g wrote this review Tuesday, July 15 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “I'm not a big self-help reader, but this one makes you think about priorities, how you spend your time and a wonderfully nutty literary figure.”

  Lesli F wrote this review Thursday, June 5 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 3 stars

  “I really enjoyed this little book. It’s not like I’ve ever actually read Proust, except in quotation marks. And after reading this book, I don’t feel any strong urge to do so.
  
  It’s full of fascinating little anecdotes about Proust’s life, but it also wanders lazily and charmingly through the things that one can learn from Proust’s work. The main thing is to pay really close attention to every moment – great advice for any writer, great advice for anyone. In illustrating how Proust did it, the writer gives lots of tips on focused attention.”

  Jenny Y wrote this review Saturday, April 19 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 0 stars

  “this is what I'm reading right now!”

  Dana R wrote this review Sunday, December 2 2007. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “From Proust, "Reading is on the threshold of the spiritual life; it can introduce us to it: it does not constitute it". Alain De Botton has done it yet again. What a great motivator as I approach, somewhat circuitously, with a certain amount of unease, the reading of "In search of Lost Time". I suspect the Madeleines remembered in Proust's work were fresher and a bit more tasty than the ones I buy pre-packaged at Starbucks.
  Even if you never take the plunge into reading Proust, the quality of writing, the approachability, the entertainment derived from reading "How Proust Can Change Your Life: Not a Novel" is well worth the effort.”

  Jim N wrote this review Monday, November 19 2007. ( reply | permalink )
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  • Rated 5 stars

  “I love Remembrance of Things Past, and I love this little book which simultaneously mocks, parodies and extols the classic.”

  TRHickman wrote this review Tuesday, September 25 2007. ( reply | permalink )