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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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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David Shrigley on ViceArtist David Shrigley takes us on a journey around the iceberg of the... -
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Jonah Lehrer on GeniusJonah Lehrer will show how creativity is not a singular ‘gift’ possessed by... -
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Rory Sutherland on InfluenceRory applies his considerable charisma to changing your mind.He’ll give you a new... -
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Ken Robinson on PassionGet ready to unleash your inner fervor as Ken takes to our pulpit... -
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Jane McGonigal on ProductivityIn this sermon, Jane urges us to become more productive by spending more... -
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Peter Lovatt on Good MovesFounder of the Dance Psychology Lab explores the impact of dance on health,...
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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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Richard Sennett on Co-operationSennett talks with leading design critic Alice Rawsthorn about his latest book, 'Together'... -
VideoDavid Shrigley on ViceArtist David Shrigley takes us on a journey around the iceberg of the...
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Mark Earls On OriginalityMark Earls will explore the lie of originality in all its aspects and... -
VideoRory Sutherland on InfluenceRory applies his considerable charisma to changing your mind.He’ll give you a new...
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Alex Ross on MusicMusic critic and author Alex Ross talks about the role of the music... -
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Alain de Botton On Religion for AtheistsAlain de Botton is a non-believer. Yet he argues religions have important things... -
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Susan Greenfield on StorytellingSusan Greenfield explores just how crucial stories are to our experience of being... -
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Enduring Questions: Self-help from Plato to FreudPhilosophers Robert Rowland Smith and Mark Vernon discuss the connection between Self-help and...
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Stephen Cave on ImmortalityStephen Cave is a philosopher, critic and broadcaster. Here he wants to show... -
VideoEnduring Questions: Self-help from Plato to FreudPhilosophers Robert Rowland Smith and Mark Vernon discuss the connection between Self-help and...
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Charles Leadbeater On PerspectiveLeading innovation expert, Charles Leadbeater, puts forward the case for adopting a new... -
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Barbara Ehrenreich on OptimismBarbara Ehrenreich calls for a new commitment to realism.
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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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Tom Chatfield on How to Thrive in the Digital AgeTom Chatfield explores the ideas within his book 'How To Thrive in the... -
VideoSusan Greenfield on StorytellingSusan Greenfield explores just how crucial stories are to our experience of being...
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VideoJane McGonigal on ProductivityIn this sermon, Jane urges us to become more productive by spending more...
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Geoff Dyer On PunctualityGeoff Dyer explores the historical sacrifices and successes of punctual people.
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VideoDavid Shrigley on ViceArtist David Shrigley takes us on a journey around the iceberg of the...
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Steven Pinker on Violence and HumanityRobert Rowland-Smith talks to Steven Pinker about his research on violence. -
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Philippa Perry on How to Stay SanePhilippa Perry explores the ideas within her book 'How To Stay Sane.' -
VideoJonah Lehrer on GeniusJonah Lehrer will show how creativity is not a singular ‘gift’ possessed by...
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VideoRory Sutherland on InfluenceRory applies his considerable charisma to changing your mind.He’ll give you a new...
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VideoAlex Ross on MusicMusic critic and author Alex Ross talks about the role of the music...
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VideoSusan Greenfield on StorytellingSusan Greenfield explores just how crucial stories are to our experience of being...
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Lawrence Krauss on Cosmic ConnectionsProfessor of Earth and Space Exploration, Lawrence Krauss, isn’t immune to small irritations... -
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Mark Williams on MindfulnessProfessor Mark Williams, a leading authority on mindfulness, takes to our pulpit to... -
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Rebecca Solnit on HopeDespair is a black leather jacket in which everyone looks good, while hope...
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John Armstrong on How to Worry Less About MoneyJohn Armstrong explores the ideas within his book 'How To Worry Less About... -
VideoRory Sutherland on InfluenceRory applies his considerable charisma to changing your mind.He’ll give you a new...
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Richard Layard on HappinessRichard will show us how we can work together to become better parents,... -
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John Lanchester on EnoughJohn Lanchester, takes to our pulpit to tell us to slow down, calm... -
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John Kay On ObliquityStop pursuing your goals and you are far more likely to achieve... -
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Mary Warnock on Political EthicsMary Warnock has powerful things to say on the moral crisis facing our... -
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Oliver James On EnvyPsychologist Oliver James take to our pulpit to demonstrate why the excess of...
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VideoMark Earls On OriginalityMark Earls will explore the lie of originality in all its aspects and...
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VideoLawrence Krauss on Cosmic ConnectionsProfessor of Earth and Space Exploration, Lawrence Krauss, isn’t immune to small irritations...
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Raymond Tallis On WonderIt is easy to forget to cultivate our sense of wonder in the...
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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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Edmund de Waal on TactEdmund warns us that in our fast-paced high-pressure culture we're at risk of... -
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Alain de Botton on How to Think More About SexAlain de Botton explores the ideas within his book 'How To Think More... -
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Miranda July on StrangersFilmmaker, artist and writer Miranda July delivers a unique sermon that challenges our... -
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David Eagleman on Being YourselfWhy can you argue with yourself, cajole yourself, and get angry at yourself?... -
VideoRichard Layard on HappinessRichard will show us how we can work together to become better parents,...
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VideoTony Buzan On DaydreamingTony Buzan argues that daydreaming is fundamental to genius and that wandering attention...
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VideoDavid Shrigley on ViceArtist David Shrigley takes us on a journey around the iceberg of the...
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VideoSteven Pinker on Violence and HumanityRobert Rowland-Smith talks to Steven Pinker about his research on violence.
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John-Paul Flintoff on How to Change the WorldJohn-Paul Flintoff explores the ideas within his book 'How To Change the... -
VideoRory Sutherland on InfluenceRory applies his considerable charisma to changing your mind.He’ll give you a new...
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VideoAlain de Botton On Religion for AtheistsAlain de Botton is a non-believer. Yet he argues religions have important things...
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VideoSusan Greenfield on StorytellingSusan Greenfield explores just how crucial stories are to our experience of being...
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Karen Armstrong on CompassionFrom Confucius to Oprah, people have preached compassion for centuries. But how often... -
VideoMiranda July on StrangersFilmmaker, artist and writer Miranda July delivers a unique sermon that challenges our...
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VideoRebecca Solnit on HopeDespair is a black leather jacket in which everyone looks good, while hope...
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VideoStephen Cave on ImmortalityStephen Cave is a philosopher, critic and broadcaster. Here he wants to show...
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VideoAlain de Botton On Religion for AtheistsAlain de Botton is a non-believer. Yet he argues religions have important things...
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VideoKaren Armstrong on CompassionFrom Confucius to Oprah, people have preached compassion for centuries. But how often...
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VideoMark Williams on MindfulnessProfessor Mark Williams, a leading authority on mindfulness, takes to our pulpit to...
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VideoRebecca Solnit on HopeDespair is a black leather jacket in which everyone looks good, while hope...
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VideoDavid Eagleman on Being YourselfWhy can you argue with yourself, cajole yourself, and get angry at yourself?...
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VideoKen Robinson on PassionGet ready to unleash your inner fervor as Ken takes to our pulpit...
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VideoEnduring Questions: Self-help from Plato to FreudPhilosophers Robert Rowland Smith and Mark Vernon discuss the connection between Self-help and...
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VideoRaymond Tallis On WonderIt is easy to forget to cultivate our sense of wonder in the...
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David Bodanis On The Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments underpin the whole of Western history.
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Roman Krznaric on How to Find Fulfilling WorkRoman Krznaric explores the ideas within his book 'How To Find Fulfilling... -
VideoJonah Lehrer on GeniusJonah Lehrer will show how creativity is not a singular ‘gift’ possessed by...
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VideoKen Robinson on PassionGet ready to unleash your inner fervor as Ken takes to our pulpit...
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VideoJane McGonigal on ProductivityIn this sermon, Jane urges us to become more productive by spending more...