Rating: 
Summary: Pithy and entertaining - a marvel
Review: I picked up this book after having been charmed by de Botton's novel Kiss and Tell. This book succeeds on several levels: 1) as an introduction to six major philosophers (Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer, Nietszche) and their philosophies, weaving together biographical sketches with explications of each thinker's principal ideas; 2) as a narrative that follows the development in thought from philosopher to philosopher, and is as engaging and compelling to read as a novel would be; 3) surprisingly, as a self-help book.This is one of those rare books that is clearly written and easy to read, but full of insight. It's also hilarious in spots (especially the chapter on Montaigne, which describes his frankness in writing about sex, eating, and other bodily functions). I don't know what a person who is experienced in philosophy would think of this book, but as a layman, I was extremely gratified by the mixture of humor, history, analysis, and advice. It also has pictures!
Rating:
Summary: Simply genius
Review: I will keep this short and simple. Alain De Botton is the most accessible and yet profound writer on philosophy that I have come across. This particular work is not only fascinating, but life changing as well. I first read his most recent book, The Art of Travel, and it convinced me of De Botton's genius. The Art of Travel is fabulous, but for those not as interested in the philosophy of travel, The Consolation of Philosophy is the perfect book to make you a fan of De Botton's work. It addresses questions and issues that we all face including difficult and unpopular choices, sexual, cultural, and intellectual inadequacy, a broken heart, and a lack of money. Brilliant, witty, a true masterpiece. I look forward to all that is to come from this incredibly talented writer.
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Summary: It can soothe an anxious mind trapped in a sick body
Review: I can't really say whether this book will help or console those going through the troubles the book deals with, mainly about the pain of unpopularity and lack of money and so on. But I read this book on a whim when I was going through a very harsh and prolonged sickness, and it lifted my spirits and took my mind off my body. What consoled me was learning about how others - famous deep thinkers of the past - dealt with their own pains and sorrows. I was going through a very real physical problem, but it's not necessarily the physical part of the body that needs consoling, but how the mind DEALS with the physical malady. A lot as has been said about how the mindset can affect the body. I won't delve into that, since this is a review of a book. But at least for those going through harsh times, this book will enlighten you. If not that, it will serve as a very entertaining escapism. In my case, it was both enlightenment and escapism.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book.
Review: Alain de Botton is one of those people who has learned true wisdom from philosophy, successfully steering a middle course between technical trivia and sappy mysticism. In his witty, readable, picture-laden book, de Botton introduces the reader to six philosophers - Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer, and Nietzsche - whose philosophical thought and actual lives provide the reader with a roadmap, founded entirely on reason and experience, for how to escape some of the deepest sources of unhappiness in the world. For the reader who is less interested in problem-solving in metaphysics and epistemology (important though these things are), and more interested in philosophy as a guide to living a good life, de Botton's book will not disappoint.
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Summary: Apply Philosophy to Your Everyday Life
Review: After reading How Proust Can Change Your Life, also by author Botton, I searched out his other works. This book is an attempt to highlight the works of six famous philosophers and to apply their writings to everyday experiences. Socrates and Epicurus represents the works of the ancient Greek and Roman philosophers. I especially found the information on Epicurus to be useful in life. The word Epicurean has come to symbolize lavish living but actually Epicurus writes that wants can be pared down to necessities, such as friendship, and that everyone can "afford" to be happy. The most interesting chapters to me dealt with philosophers Montaigne and Nietzsche. Montaigne was one of the first to write of the total human experience, not just the "pretty" parts. My favorite observation in the entire book comes when Montaigne must pay homage to his best friend, who has just died suddenly. "He alone had the privilege of my true portrait." It is difficult to find another human being who you can truly be yourself with, warts and all. The chapter on Nietzsche deals with preparing for the difficulties of life and how by only experiencing discomfort or suffering can we truly achieve our dreams. If one constantly avoids pain, the greatest achievements available to humans cannot be obtained. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in philosophy, especially a beginner. It spurred me to read Montaigne's essays. Complete with illustrations and pictures which serve to illuminate the text, this is a wonderful book.
Rating:
Summary: consolotation for taking the time to read a book
Review: Wondering what it's all about? Bothered by big questions, such as, why am I here, why have I no friends, why didn't I get a promotion ? The answers, my friend, are blowing in the wind. But if you've double glazing and can't stand the idea of religion or codology, then you should read this book. It'll give you the vague idea that you're nothing special, everybody hurts (sometime) and you should probably pull your socks up.
Rating: 
Summary: Completely Cute
Review: I had purchased How Proust Can Change Your Life some time ago and thought that it was wonderful. I was in the bathroom at Powell's and saw a poster for this book and went and picked up a copy right away. I really like the fact that he doesn't pick typical philsophers (Descartes, Kant, Wittgenstein). This was really my first exposure to Montaigne, Seneca, and Epicurus. His commentary was great as was the style and format of the book. Lots of pictures keep the spirit of it light and airy. This book felt actually helpful with the problems it dealt with, and I'm inspired to check into these philosophers that I didn't know so much about prior to this. I'd suggest this to anyone interested in philosophy, or I think it would make an excellent gift.
Rating: 
Summary: de Botton's only genius is in marketing
Review: Let's start with the bad news: de Botton's book is not going to reveal much to anyone who has read very much philosophy, and will even annoy many philosophers and would be philosophers because it does not deal with "serious" philosophy. The good news is that, despite de Botton's sometimes very superficial rendering of the work of some of the great thinkers he discusses in Consolations, no one owns philosophy. (Philosophers: think that over before proceeding!) There is no one kind of philosophy, no single "best" use to put it to, and no one right way of going about philosophizing. De Botton has come under a fair amount of ridicule from philosophers for focusing on the problems of life we all face, instead of so-called "serious" philosophical problems. But this book wasn't written for philosophers, so those detractors should keep quiet. De Botton is clearly writing here for the non-philosopher, for the average person who had a more romantic vision of what modern philosophy was. It is true that very few notable thinkers in the history of Western philosophy have written about such subjects as how to be happy, how to deal with grief or a broken heart, which are the aim of de Botton's efforts here. But some have. Among the six presented in the book, Seneca, Epicurus and Montaigne are examples. In the case of Socrates, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche, De Botton uses the lives of these philosophers -- but not their philosophy - in order to pursue his self-help discussions. By doing so, he does not address the actual work of these thinkers, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he doesn't understand their real significance, nor is it a sign of his "betrayal" of these men or of philosophy. Most philosophers today would consider it a joke to actually try to answer the question "What is the meaning of life?" While it is true that much of early Greek philosophy began as a study of life, specifically the nature of Ultimate Reality, or 'The One,' or, as it has become misleadingly known, God, and of course how our own lives relate to that reality, since even the time of Aristotle, thinkers began to branch out into many directions, each with their own particular interests and projects. Philosophy isn't what it once was, to be sure, but philosophers today are free to pursue any specialization they care to, even to attempt to resurrect what the ancients started. (See Peter Kinglsey for a good example.) Are philosophers the best people to deal with the kinds of issues de Botton writes about? Probably not. They certainly can't be called "experts" in these issues, since their philosophical education never touched on any of these matters. Perhaps psychiatrists would be better suited to take these challenges up, even though they don't represent "illnesses" but merely the challenges of everyday life. Psychiatrists probably have a lot more experience listening to and responding to these kinds of problems, but if de Botton wants to try to help people in the name of philosophy, why not?
Rating:
Summary: Cliff Notes for Philosophy
Review: As with all things, this book has both positive and negative points. Alain De Botton writes in such a manner, that philosophy becomes available to the masses. (And without having to read the origional Greek, French, Latin, or German) However, he chooses to gloss over his explanations of his interpretations. This book is successful in exposing six renown philosophers to the casual student. However, for the serious student, it does little more than wet the appetite. So, the question with the value of this book becomes what do you want to accomplish? If you are looking for a good book to read while sipping a Latte at your local Starbucks, and you want a conversation starter with that cute girl three tables over, then this is for you. If you actually need your philosophy expounded upon, then you'll need to look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful
Review: Not to be mistaken for an introduction to philosophy, this little book is instead an entertaining primer on how to take a philosophical approach to life. Alain de Botton takes six human experiences or conditions (unpopularity, poverty, frustration, inadequacy, brokenheartedness and despair) and examines each from the point of view of a different philosopher (Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche). His writing is engaging and witty ("Few philosophers have thought highly of feeling wretched. A wise life has traditionally been associated with an attempt to reduce suffering.... Then again, pointed out Friedrich Nietzsche, the majority of philosophers have always been 'cabbage heads'"), yet de Botton never "dumbs down" the subject matter. THE CONSOLATIONS OF PHILOSOPHY is a light enough read for the subway, but substantial enough to provoke thought. Highly recommended; not for neophytes only.
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