Library
Welcome to The School of Life Library. Here you will find a selection of ideas, thoughts and further resources arranged around the themes covered in our programme. Read our latest blog posts, get reading recommendations from our faculty, browse photos of recent events or watch past sessions online. You can browse by type of resource, or by subject. Simply click on a shelf heading to explore a range of items on that topic.
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Blog Post
Dear BibliotherapistNow that the sun is finally out and spring seems to be bursting... -
Blog Post
Dear BibliotherapistFor those returning from our intensive in Brazil, resident Bibliotherapist Ella Berthoud recommends... -
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Dear Bibliotherapist -
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Books Launch in the USWe're delighted two of our self-help series will be published in the US... -
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Dear Bibliotherapist...Books to change your life. -
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Dear BibliotherapistIn the spirit of Halloween, Ella suggests the perfect books to read aloud... -
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Dear BibliotherapistTransitional Reading: From Freedom to Routine -
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Dear BibliotherapistResident Bibliotherapist Ella Berthoud gives us our dose of monthly reading on the... -
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Dear BibliotherapistBooks to kick start your olympic experience... -
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Dear BibliotherapistI’ve been studying for the last few years to become a lawyer, and...
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Blog Post
Knee Deep in Textile WasteUpcycling fashion designer Orsola de Castro talks about her mission to change attitudes... -
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How To Be A Successful Optimist: The Final PrincipleOptimist Mark Stevenson delivers his final principle: kick out your cynicism -
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Living with a Creative MindAhead of their event at TSOLA, Jeff and Julie Crabtree share their expertise... -
Video
Hussein Chalayan on Fitting InIn this secular sermon Chalayan shares the projects that he calls his “life... -
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Tony Buzan On DaydreamingTony Buzan argues that daydreaming is fundamental to genius and that wandering attention... -
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How To Be A Successful Optimist: Principle No.5 -
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Scanner's Guide to the Joy of SoundExperimental musician Scanner gives us an illustrated listening and watching guide to the... -
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How To Be A Successful Optimist: Principle No.3Mark Stevenson delivers optimism principle no.3 -
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John O'Connell on resurrecting the pleasure of the well-written letter.It’s a sad truth that few of us, nowadays, write letters. But are... -
Video
David Shrigley on ViceArtist David Shrigley takes us on a journey around the iceberg of the...
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Blog PostKnee Deep in Textile WasteUpcycling fashion designer Orsola de Castro talks about her mission to change attitudes...
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Video
Jaron Lanier On Who Owns the Future?Lanier discusses his analysis of the deep links between democracy and capitalism, and... -
VideoHussein Chalayan on Fitting InIn this secular sermon Chalayan shares the projects that he calls his “life...
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Video
Richard Sennett on Co-operationSennett talks with leading design critic Alice Rawsthorn about his latest book, 'Together'... -
Blog PostScanner's Guide to the Joy of SoundExperimental musician Scanner gives us an illustrated listening and watching guide to the...
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How To Be A Successful Optimist: Principle No.2Mark Stevenson delivers optimism principle no.2 -
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How to be a Successful Optimist: Principle No.1Mark Stevenson on the important first step to success. -
VideoDavid Shrigley on ViceArtist David Shrigley takes us on a journey around the iceberg of the...
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Video
Mark Earls On OriginalityMark Earls will explore the lie of originality in all its aspects and... -
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Mark Earls In Praise of CopyingWhy do we value originality so much?
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Video
Stephen Cave on ImmortalityStephen Cave is a philosopher, critic and broadcaster. Here he wants to show... -
Blog Post
Do not long for immortality, but perhaps contemplate eternityMark Vernon questions the distinction between eternity and immortality in the western belief... -
Blog PostDear Bibliotherapist
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Stephen Cave's Guide to the Time of Your LifePhilosopher Stephen Cave gives us his tips for being a better mortal. -
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Deathbed tweet sent to memory cloudConsultant in Palliative Medicine asks when a person dies should their online presence... -
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How philosophy can help us think about illness and deathHavi Carel explores philosophy as a tool to cope with serious illness and... -
Book
Sad Book by Michael Rosen and Quentin BlakeA sparse and moving reflection on losing a son to meningitis. -
Book
Sum: Tales from the Afterlives by David EaglemanShows us forty possibilities of life beyond death. -
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David Baker on Reflecting on DeathOur clumsiness with good intentions comes from being just a little too comfortable,... -
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Dr Mark Taubert on How To Think About DeathWhat must it be like to know that time may be short, that...
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VideoJaron Lanier On Who Owns the Future?Lanier discusses his analysis of the deep links between democracy and capitalism, and...
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Blog Post
Who Own's The Future? -
Blog PostDeathbed tweet sent to memory cloudConsultant in Palliative Medicine asks when a person dies should their online presence...
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Blog PostScanner's Guide to the Joy of SoundExperimental musician Scanner gives us an illustrated listening and watching guide to the...
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Aleks Krotoski on How Power Works OnlineAleks urges us to remember the authors behind digital technologies. -
Blog Post
Sound PowerCondiment Junkie Russ Jones explores the art of noise. -
Book
The Shallows by Nicholas CarrAn elegant outline of concerns that digital technologies are altering the way we... -
Blog Post
Nick Southgate reviews How to Thrive in the Digital Age by Tom ChatfieldThe Digital Age brings changes to our society on a daily basis. The... -
Book
The Master Switch by Tim WuAn impressive history of technology and monopolies in the 20th century. -
Book
The Most Human Human: What Artificial Intelligence Teaches Us About Being Alive by Brian ChristianAn elegant, provocative meditation on what it uniquely means to be human.
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How to have it allRoman Krznaric rethinks how to combine career success with a vibrant family... -
VideoHussein Chalayan on Fitting InIn this secular sermon Chalayan shares the projects that he calls his “life...
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What Kind of Parent Do You Want To Be?Judy Reith on how to make the hardest job in the world a... -
Book
The F*** You Up By Oliver JamesAn exhaustive study of our early years. -
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Dying of Nostalgia; Thomas Dixon Explores HomesicknessDr Thomas Dixon, writer of the excellent History of Emotions blog, recently interviewed... -
Book
Are we related? The New Granta Book of the Family edited by Liz JobeyA recent compilation of factual and fiction writing about family. -
Blog Post
Fionnuala Barrett on Goethe and Fashioning Ourselves on What We LoveGoethe said, amongst many other clever things during his lifetime that we are... -
Book
The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand RussellA highly readable and provocative analysis of family happiness. -
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Rachel Heller and Amir Levine on Attachment StylesAttachment styles were first discovered by Mary Ainsworth in the context of the... -
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We All Need Words go Jackanory in our bibliotherapist's chairWhich picture books are at the top of your list?
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Blog PostDear BibliotherapistNow that the sun is finally out and spring seems to be bursting...
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Mindfulness and Living a Busy LifeStephen Little on the quiet power of Mindfulness amid the chaos -
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How would you really enjoy spending your life?An inspiring video on defining purpose in our lives narrated by the great... -
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What's the good of running? -
Blog PostHow To Be A Successful Optimist: The Final PrincipleOptimist Mark Stevenson delivers his final principle: kick out your cynicism
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The Hunt for HappyOliver Burkeman examines how the hunt for happiness is a never-ending quest. -
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How To Be A Successful Optimist: Principle No.7Mark Stevenson delivers his optimism principle no.7: recognise it's a long game, and... -
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The pleasures and pains of solitarinessIncreasingly we’re living and working by ourselves. How should we prepare for the... -
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Ten Virtues for the Modern AgeAlain de Botton introduces the Virtues Project: Ten Virtues for the Modern... -
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How To Be A Successful Optimist: Principle No.6Mark Stevenson delivers his optimism principle no.6: be more like an engineer and...
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Blog PostHow to have it allRoman Krznaric rethinks how to combine career success with a vibrant family...
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Blog PostHow would you really enjoy spending your life?An inspiring video on defining purpose in our lives narrated by the great...
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Blog PostKnee Deep in Textile WasteUpcycling fashion designer Orsola de Castro talks about her mission to change attitudes...
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High Achiever or Wide Achiever? -
Book
status anxiety by alain de bottonHow money and emotions intertwine to shape the direction of our lives. -
Book
The Undercover Economist by Tim HarfordLooking at familiar situations in unfamiliar ways. -
Video
John Armstrong on How to Worry Less About MoneyJohn Armstrong explores the ideas within his book 'How To Worry Less About... -
Book
How To Worry Less About Money by John ArmstrongCan money make us happy? -
Video
Rory Sutherland on InfluenceRory applies his considerable charisma to changing your mind.He’ll give you a new... -
Blog Post
Dear BibliotherapistMoney, money, money. All I think about these days is money.
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Blog Post
A Moonlit New YearThe last full moon of 2012 falls on 28 December. If it’s a... -
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The Power of MoonlightJames Attlee addresses the therapeutic power of the night sky. -
VideoMark Earls On OriginalityMark Earls will explore the lie of originality in all its aspects and...
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A Well Connected LifeEcological thinking is not just about carbon emissions and biodiversity; it is about... -
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Mark Earls takes a trip to the zooGoing to the zoo, zoo, zoo… -
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Neil Ansell on Escaping to the WoodsThoreau is the great-grand-daddy of everyone who has ever dreamed of jacking it... -
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Jinny Blom on What Makes A Therapeutic LandscapeWhy do we make landscapes that are upsetting and alienating, when they could... -
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Leo Critchley on Escaping to the Urban WildernessIn contemporary Britain, most of us live in cities and are painfully aware... -
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Melanie Challenger on Reaching Out to the Natural WorldWhen we glance across the road at the faces of strangers in our... -
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Richard Reynolds on Compassion for the CracksTrampled across, shat upon, dumped on. We let the wasteful abuse of these...
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Breaking the Ice: Neighbour Day 27 April 2013GOOD announce a new global campaign for reconnecting with your neighbours. -
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Damon Young on ConversationPhilosopher Damon Young explores how to rewrite our conversational 'scripts.' -
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Romantic Love: Busting the MythMark Vernon explores the pressure that the notion of romantic love holds for... -
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Office PoliticsPsychologist Oliver James challenges the bad name of office politics. -
VideoRichard Sennett on Co-operationSennett talks with leading design critic Alice Rawsthorn about his latest book, 'Together'...
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VideoDavid Shrigley on ViceArtist David Shrigley takes us on a journey around the iceberg of the...
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Video
Edmund de Waal on TactEdmund warns us that in our fast-paced high-pressure culture we're at risk of... -
Book
The Meaning of Friendship by Mark VernonAn exploration of the perils and promise of friendship. -
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Loretta Breuning on Why Love Is a Neurochemical Roller Coaster -
Book
Living alone and loving it by Barbara FeldonThis book celebrates the benefits of life without a partner.
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Blog PostHow to have it allRoman Krznaric rethinks how to combine career success with a vibrant family...
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Blog PostBreaking the Ice: Neighbour Day 27 April 2013GOOD announce a new global campaign for reconnecting with your neighbours.
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Blog PostWho Own's The Future?
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Blog PostDeathbed tweet sent to memory cloudConsultant in Palliative Medicine asks when a person dies should their online presence...
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Blog PostTen Virtues for the Modern AgeAlain de Botton introduces the Virtues Project: Ten Virtues for the Modern...
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Blog PostHow To Be A Successful Optimist: Principle No.6Mark Stevenson delivers his optimism principle no.6: be more like an engineer and...
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VideoTony Buzan On DaydreamingTony Buzan argues that daydreaming is fundamental to genius and that wandering attention...
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Blog Post
How To Be A Successful Optimist: Principle No.4Mark Stevenson takes the view of the pragmatic optimist: you are what you... -
Blog PostHow To Be A Successful Optimist: Principle No.2Mark Stevenson delivers optimism principle no.2
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Mark Stevenson on How to Be a Successful OptimistAn introduction to Mark's eight principles of successful optimists
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VideoStephen Cave on ImmortalityStephen Cave is a philosopher, critic and broadcaster. Here he wants to show...
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Blog PostDo not long for immortality, but perhaps contemplate eternityMark Vernon questions the distinction between eternity and immortality in the western belief...
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Blog PostStephen Cave's Guide to the Time of Your LifePhilosopher Stephen Cave gives us his tips for being a better mortal.
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Blog Post
Jules Evans on Havi CarelHavi Carel discusses how she used philosophy to confront serious illness. -
Blog PostThe Power of MoonlightJames Attlee addresses the therapeutic power of the night sky.
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Blog PostJohn O'Connell on resurrecting the pleasure of the well-written letter.It’s a sad truth that few of us, nowadays, write letters. But are...
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Book
The Poems of Emily DickinsonArguably the greatest, modern literary explorer of spiritual yearning. -
Blog Post
Alain de Botton on Self-Help BooksAnyone wanting to damage their intellectual credentials at a stroke need only do... -
Book
Religion for Atheists: A non-believer's guide to the uses of religion by Alain de BottonThe ultimate 'pic n' mix' guide for secular society. -
Book
A Book of Silence by Sara MaitlandRecounts this spiritual journeyer's search for silence.
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Blog PostBreaking the Ice: Neighbour Day 27 April 2013GOOD announce a new global campaign for reconnecting with your neighbours.
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Blog PostScanner's Guide to the Joy of SoundExperimental musician Scanner gives us an illustrated listening and watching guide to the...
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Blog PostJohn O'Connell on resurrecting the pleasure of the well-written letter.It’s a sad truth that few of us, nowadays, write letters. But are...
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Blog Post
A Soundtrack to Enhance Your Day by Russell Jones of Condiment JunkieListen more carefully to the cacophony of the world around you. -
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A Holiday with Martin ParrA participant shares her experience of holidaying in Folkstone. -
Blog PostSound PowerCondiment Junkie Russ Jones explores the art of noise.
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Blog Post
Snapshot GoldResident Street Photographer Nick Turpin has been out snapping Olympic spirit. -
Blog PostMark Earls takes a trip to the zooGoing to the zoo, zoo, zoo…
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Zoe Langdell reports on An Adventure in Good TasteWe have available a plethora of ever-evolving worldwide cuisine choices, suitable for all... -
Blog PostJinny Blom on What Makes A Therapeutic LandscapeWhy do we make landscapes that are upsetting and alienating, when they could...
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Blog PostHow to have it allRoman Krznaric rethinks how to combine career success with a vibrant family...
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Blog PostMindfulness and Living a Busy LifeStephen Little on the quiet power of Mindfulness amid the chaos
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Blog PostHow would you really enjoy spending your life?An inspiring video on defining purpose in our lives narrated by the great...
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Blog PostHow To Be A Successful Optimist: The Final PrincipleOptimist Mark Stevenson delivers his final principle: kick out your cynicism
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Blog PostWho Own's The Future?
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Blog PostHow To Be A Successful Optimist: Principle No.7Mark Stevenson delivers his optimism principle no.7: recognise it's a long game, and...
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Blog PostOffice PoliticsPsychologist Oliver James challenges the bad name of office politics.
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Blog PostHow To Be A Successful Optimist: Principle No.3Mark Stevenson delivers optimism principle no.3
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Video
Roman Krznaric on How to Find Fulfilling WorkRoman Krznaric explores the ideas within his book 'How To Find Fulfilling... -
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The Glorious Potential of BoredomBrief thoughts on Boredom from our Sunday Sermon speaker visionary architect Will...
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Blog PostDear BibliotherapistFor those returning from our intensive in Brazil, resident Bibliotherapist Ella Berthoud recommends...
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VideoJaron Lanier On Who Owns the Future?Lanier discusses his analysis of the deep links between democracy and capitalism, and...
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Blog PostThe Hunt for HappyOliver Burkeman examines how the hunt for happiness is a never-ending quest.
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Blog Post
The School of Life comes to BrazilWe are very pleased to announce we will be launching in São Paulo... -
Blog PostDamon Young on ConversationPhilosopher Damon Young explores how to rewrite our conversational 'scripts.'
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Blog PostLiving with a Creative MindAhead of their event at TSOLA, Jeff and Julie Crabtree share their expertise...
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Blog Post
Announcing the launch of The School of Life AustraliaWe're delighted to announce The School of Australia opens its doors in... -
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The School of Life in AustraliaAnnouncing the opening of our newest school in Melbourne, Australia. -
Video
Mary Warnock on Political EthicsMary Warnock has powerful things to say on the moral crisis facing our...