Rating: 
Summary: A Very Peculiar Book
Review: ...by a very peculiar thinker. AdB has an unusual mind, marvelously creative and erudite, but stubbornly, so it seems, ignorant when it comes to those varieties of discourse which are not philosophical, literary, or rarified. This lovely and elegant book would have been far better had AdB done some slumming and read Robert Frank's Luxury Fever or Robert Sapolosky's A Primate's Memoir or other sorts of accounts that use science, rather than those most seductive of philosophical and literary ideas, to season their arguments. Indeed, there are paragraphs of this books that seem to be simply luscious versions of Frank's (dismal economics book), Choosing the Right Pond, dropped among chapters as delicious and smooth as foie gras. Status anxiety is not merely a philosophical condition--it is also a very real physical condition-- it quite measureably produces higher levels of cortisol in the blood and more disease. Yet t de Botton, treats it as a philosphical condition only. One might say, de Botton's book looks at status the way La Belle Dame au Camilles approached tuberculosis. It's all marvelously romantic, but the bloody phlegm, alas, is both real and infectious. Status and love are important, perhaps the very central, topics in the literature of human evolution, of primatology, of behavioural economics. Billionaire-aristrocrat (mon semblable, mon frere) de Botton mentions none of this in his book. Monsieur de Botton, pull on your Wellies and read some science. Get your lovely hands dirty in the world of primate social hierarchies. Then write us a book on status, anxiety, and what it all means. All in all, a rather odd and privileged perch from which to gaze upon on a fascinating subject. A related book: Nepotism, by the very clever Adam Bellow. Together with Status Anxiety, makes for an interesting read.
Rating:
Summary: A Salve for the Status Conscious
Review: Alain de Botton (AdB) has written another book in his trademark witty, erudite style, kind of like a Woody Allen with a classical education. This time, his topic is the quest for social status. He probes the causes, and explores various prescriptions taken from philosophy, art, politics, religion, and bohemia to sooth our fears. He uses historical examples, from Tocqueville to Tony Robbins, to help us keep perspective and to sooth our anxieties.
I thought this was enjoyable summer reading, though not profound or complete by any means - although it was not meant to be. Also, some of AdB's other books are slightly better, so if this is the first book by AdB you want to read, I'd recommend "How Proust can Change your Life" first. But if the topic intrigues you, as it did me, then by all means give this book a try.
A summary of the topics covered is below:
First, AdB begins by claiming that it's human nature that we want to be a "somebody" rather than a "nobody," and to rise rather than fall or remain at too modest a rung on the social latter. This hunger for status can indeed drive us to achieve - but it also leads to a kind of restlessness characteristic of free, meritocratic societies. In contrast, there was no such anxiety in the Medieval caste system, because ones social status was fixed for life.
One root cause of our anxiety, AdB claims, is that our egos are forever leaky balloons forever requiring helium of recognition and love, but always vulnerable to pinpricks. The prescription: Don't take others evaluation too seriously - after all, "does an emerald become worse if it isn't praised?" Also, remember that the views of the masses are often perforated with confusion and error, relying on intuition, emotion, and custom rather than rationality. As Voltaire says, "the earth swarms with people who are not worth talking to"
Also, one must realize that the determinants of high status continually shift. For example, Spartans prized aggressive warriors; the Cubeo tribe in the Amazon prized those who killed jaguars. In contrast, peaceful saints were idolized in Medieval Europe, as were "gentlemen" in industrial England. Today, commercial success is our measuring stick - money signals success. But that definition also ties us to some new and unpredictable forces, such as our employer's success, flux in the global economy, and. technological change.
By using money as today's yardstick, we have sorely forgotten that cash and material goods are not the sole measure of a person's worth. In contrast, Bohemians, who devoted themselves to art and the intellect rather than material success, thought that those who achieved material success in society were those who pandered most effectively to the flawed values of their audiences. AdB also quotes Montaigne to remind us that we must evaluate people through a different lens: "A man may have a great suite of attendants, a beautiful palace, great influence, and a large income. All that may surround him, but it is not *in* him...What sort of soul does he have?"
Another cause of our status anxiety is our own high expectations. Wealth is relative to desire, and in an age of seemingly limitless expectations and material goods, we are weighed down by the limits of economics and reality, which yields permanent distress. We are also quietly influenced by our peers, advertising, and other outside forces that shape our desires rather than listening to our own souls. We also "mis-want" - that is, we think new products will make us happier than they actually will. The prescription is that if we must continue to long for things, we must take care to long for the right things, and tune into our own true desires.
Finally, envy can be cured by realizing that anyone's achievements seem insignificant in the context of the millennia and the expansive wonders of nature. Also, we should always keep in mind that at the end of one's days, the value of love, true friends, and charity will outweigh the quest for power, wealth, status and glory.
Rating: 
Summary: Hope floats
Review: Alain de Botton may have a broad understanding of Western philosphy, culture, and literature, but STATUS ANXIETY is best appreciated when not read as an introduction to civilization's "great ideas." This book is less an introduction to philosphy than a channel surfer's peek at some interesting notions that have reared their pretty and ugly heads over the past couple of millennia. It is philosophy for the rest of us. While introducing arguments from the likes of Jesus Christ, Rousseau, David Hume, Adam Smith, Ruskin, and Thoreau, he persuades with examples from art (novelists Austen and Flaubert; painters Thomas Jones, Christen Kobke, Hubert Robert...and the painters of "vanitas" images) and from pop culture (Punch and New Yorker cartoons and advertising images). If there is any consolation in the philosphy he presents, it is that status anxiety is universal (even ascetics and anti-materialist bohemians suffer from it) and seems to be hardwired into the human psyche. What he eventually affirms is that the spheres of philosophy, art, politics, religion, and bohemia have all provided (to varying degrees) moderately successful strategies for coping with the anxiety that comes with not feeling good enough in the eyes of our neighbors, colleagues, friends, and peers, and that each of these spheres has a way of recasting the definition of success so that those who might otherwise feel excluded or judged can affirm their self-worth and assert their own definitions of "success in life."
I especially appreciated his discussion of meritocracy (page 45-71). When, as a society, we accept without question the notion that all people have equal opportunities, it is easy to be smug when we succeed (acquire wealth and fame) and to become indifferent to the struggles of those who do not acquire these societal rewards. In a meritocracy it becomes almost essential to hold such "under-achievers" in contempt (as weak, stupid, dishonest, foolish, or lazy). In short, to label them as "losers." Once labeled, it is easy to dismiss them altogether. This sense that our own merits are responsible for our success (and that luck and social location do not factor in) is the fuel for the status anxiety that seems to be rampant in Western culture today. I think I appreciated the chapter on meritocracy so much because American culture seems to take the existence of merit-based systems as evidence that democracy works. De Botton is the first author I have read who has identified this shadow side of American democracy and optimism. Although he doesn't lay out an exit strategy, de Botton at least exposes the problem.
My favorite anecdote in STATUS ANXIETY comes from the chapter on philosophy (p. 111): "As Alexander the Great was passing through Corinth, he sought out Diogenes and finally found him sitting under a tree, dressed in rags, with not a drachma to his name. When the most powerful man in the world asked the philosopher if he could do anything to help him, Diogenes replied, "Yes, if you could step out of the way. You are blocking the sun." The people hoarding all the status will forever be the targets of philosophers, artists, the authentically pious, radical politicians, cartoonists, and people from the bohemian counter-culture.
My modest, three-star rating is due to the fact that status anxiety seems to be such a universal human experience, yet de Botton sadly excludes any arguments from non-Western traditions. (Oddly, there is not even a mention of Zen Buddhism in the chapter on religion.)
Rating: 
Summary: Well worth reading
Review: An excellent book. The writer highlights the typical pattern that people adopt to live out their lives. We each try to acquire status in the eyes of others in order to gain their approval/the love of the world. In the modern world, that process has mainly turned us into wealth-seekers as a matter of course, who embark on a lengthy exercise of amassing far more wealth and possessions than we actually need, in order to try to show ourselves to be 'worthy' and 'winners' in the eyes of others, and because we fear the alternative interpretations of us (e.g. 'losers' or 'nobodies') should we fail to achieve. Yet those who achieve aren't necessarily the 'best' people, nor particularly 'worthy' anyway; wealth is rather absurdly treated in modern society as the mark of a quality person when it may often be well wide of the mark; and the fact that each of us is going to die anyway ought arguably to make us spend less time accumulating wealth, at least once we have amassed enough wealth to see out our days in reasonable comfort. What we are engaging in is in fact an odd and often excessive and unnecessary social dance, a struggle onwards and upwards to acquire status, which, if we reflected more upon it, we might choose not to engage in, at least to the full extent that we do. The writer highlights alternative ways of living instead of a life of perpetual status seeking in order to convince others of our worth. We are not automatically condemned to live as unthinking status-seekers: we have rational choice in the matter and can shun the conventional pattern of behaviour should we wish. We could adopt Rousseau's idea of lowering our expectations of what we should be getting from life, and be happy with less: indeed, we may find ourselves happier by abandoning excessive patterns of wealth-seeking altogether. Or we could adopt a Christian ideal. Or we could become bohemians, rebelling against the bourgeoisie and against modern consumerism and living far more simply, on little, but enjoying life more by doing so. Or we could do something else, by which we may be poorer but happier through our own sensible choices in a modern world that is difficult to negotiate anyway. Importantly, the writer reminds us (applying principles of living advocated by Marcus Aurelius, among others) that the best person to judge a person is that person, and that if a person knows he is leading a sufficiently good life which is satisfactory to himself and that he is doing his best whatever the outcome, then the judgments and opinions of others - who don't know the full detail about his life anyway and may well be wide of the mark - and the status they choose to confer on that individual can rationally be dismissed as being of little or no importance. We might therefore more usefully live lives which please ourselves, and set our own standards for ourselves, rather than trying to live in ways we would prefer not to, merely in order to impress or satisfy or please others or convince them that we are among the 'best' people through displays of status and status symbols. This is an amusing, cynical, enlightening, simply written, easily understandable, and thought-provoking book. A book that will make you re-examine how you live. A book that should be read by every adult, to help them understand the processes in the world more clearly. 5/5
Rating:
Summary: Sobering...
Review: Botton's "Status Anxiety" is a long-winded discussion of something most of us are disturbingly aware of: our anxiety regarding our position in life and that of our peers. Botton discusses a number of different topics relevant to this "status anxiety" phenomenon -- some more distal than others -- nevertheless, he presents a meaningful and intellectual examination of how and why contemporary society arrived at this widespread anxiety. In spite of Botton's admirable presentation, there were some passages that seemed marginally related to the thesis and at times I was racing to finish the chapter so that I could start the next one (but this, of course, may be more indicative of my literary bent & experiences). In sum, a decent read that articulates a subject that is otherwise ignored (but certainly perpetuated!) in mainstream society --- a good book for self-reflection!
Rating: 
Summary: de Boton is The Bottom
Review: From The Feast of Books Book Club
Washington, DC
A disappointment. Utterly. We were so excited when our book club chose this book. We are now sitting here at our meeting, unanimous in our condemnation. Lots of interesting facts, but so random and they don't seem to lead to anything. And the object of the illustrations is lost on us. Especially troubling is the photo of the 1902 Heinz sales convention. What is the point?
deBoton has set for himself the unimpressive task of merely organizing a series of philosophical ideas of others through the ages. And at this, he falls short - never mind, offering original insight.
One of his major chapters, on the subject of religion, deals exclusively with Christianity and with a childishly simplistic depiction of Jesus Christ as a humble carpenter. As we all know, Jesus himself played the status card on a number of occasions -- remember the bottle of perfume and the fig tree?
Gays, blacks, women -- it turns out these groups don't experience status anxiety as there is a complete absence of these groups. Apparently Virginia Woolf's insistence upon having a room of her own was sufficient to resolve the status issue with respect to all women.
We noted that the best parts of the book were all within quotation marks. If you took out the puzzling illustrations, and the pedagogical repetition of pure verbiage then you in fact may find a nice slim volume to read on the elevator.
Overall our review could best be summed up by one of AdB's line drawings of frowning lozenge-shaped creatures. (see p. 26, p. 239)
Rating:
Summary: I READ DE BOTTON'S BOOKS BECAUSE I ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING.
Review: His last book, ART OF TRAVEL was a disappointment to me I'll admit, but this one is back up there with his earlier works.I thought I knew where the story of MADAME BOVARY originated but apparently I did not. Did you know there were artists in 1790s who specialized in painting British ruins of the future? Do you know why skulls kept appearing in paintings in the 1660s? Have you seen Thomas Jones's paintings of rooftops? And what does all of this have to do with so called "status anxiety"? Read the book.
Rating:
Summary: Not wholly satisfying
Review: I love the concept of this book, trying to apply philosophy to overcome the crippling modern day phenomenon of 'keeping up with the Jones's'.
De Botton quite rightly points out that due to the egalitarianism of modern capitalist society it is supposed that success (measured in financial terms) is within the grasp of everyone and is the direct result of an individuals actions and no other forces. Hence those who do not prosper in such circumstances are branded 'losers' and it is assumed that their shortcomings are the result of a poor work ethic or other personal flaw. This is the main gist of the first half of the book which centres on the causes of status anxiety.
He rightly points out that when a class system was firmly in place in pre 20th century Europe those whose lowly place in society were caste in stone never had the burden of expectation of themselves and from those around them as there lot was secured from birth until death, so in that sense the status anxiety we know today is very much shared with the freedom that we enjoy.
One of the problems with this book is that most of De Botton's examples are drawn from the pre-industrial age, although they are factually interesting in their own right it is harder to apply them in a modern philosophical sense as the world has become so complex De Botton's examples and wording are if anything too straightforward (rare for a philosopher).
At times I wasn't really sure where De Botton was trying to go with this book as he never really focuses on one particular issue, instead in his pursuit of find an answer to the problem of status anxiety he delves into the history of Art, Religion and Politics and more often than not the book feels more like a history lesson than a philosophical guide.
For example art is pointed out as an area of salvation from status anxiety, a fair point but in shedding light on this De Botton describes at length how a painter, Thomas Jones's, landscape of supposedly banal house rooves in an Italian town (with a picture reference) destroys notions of what is important and what is not in art - this is simply an art history lesson however De Botton wants us to read it as a way of stepping outside of the status quo. While the appreciation of art is important it is still very much enmeshed in modern day status, what greater status symbol is there now than to possess a work of fine art or to attend a gallery opening etc - nothing wrong with this but these are not alternatives to status anxiety. I could go on ad naseum with further examples such as the aforementioned.
The most interesting part I found in this book was the chapter on Bohemia which truly was a 'way out' if you like from the mainstream status quo. Another very interesting revelation was that around the beginning of the 20th C there was a cult moevement in the US borne of a book (authors name escapes me) that showed in practical terms how to literally live off the land by starting a small vegetable patch etc, this flirtation with a simple life, however, lasted briefly and the move toward modernisation continued on. That is probably the only genuine alternative I can think of that the book pointed out to me otherwise De Botton, to me, is just pointing out the better aspects of our modern society and using them as examples of how to live outside the social hierarchical sphere so it's somewhat contradictory in that sense.
I enjoyed reading this book for the most part but it wasn't quite revelatory anough and fell below my expectations. I think there is more room for exploration on this subject matter.
Rating: 
Summary: cursory
Review: I was hoping for a more in depth and insightful analysis of status.
Rating:
Summary: not his best, but not too bad
Review: if you have never read alain de botton, i would recommend reading "how proust can change your life," "the art of travel," or "consolations of philosophy" first, as they are, in my opinion, his best writing. this is not a bad book at all, i just don't think it is his best effort.
this wasn't too bad, it was well organized and well researched. Some parts became very dry and academic, and it felt like something was missing, as if his heart wasn't fully in this book. He introduces the five main reasons we feel anxious about our status in life, then gives five solutions to dealing with the anxiety, however, at times it seems he is reaching for causes or solutions. There were some good points made, and he uses enough history, art, and poetry to make his points, which add to the fullness of the book, but it still seemed, at times, a bit contrived. i liked the book and enjoyed it, it shed some light on why we act the way we do and it was entertaining and well written. i just think it wasn't up to par compared to his previoius books.
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