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The Architecture of Happiness
by Alain De Botton
The Architecture of Happiness is a tour through the philosophy and psychology of architecture that aims to change the way we think about our homes, our streets and ourselves.
Pantheon, 288 pages
10/03/2006
$25.00
ISBN: 0375424431
Nonfiction
Art, Architecture & Photography
Philosophy
Social Sciences
All reviews are classified as one of five grades: Outstanding (4 points), Favorable (3), Mixed (2), Unfavorable (1) and Terrible (0). To calculate the Metascore, we divide total points achieved by the total points possible (i.e., 4 x the number of reviews), with the resulting percentage (multiplied by 100) being the Metascore. Learn more...
Kirkus Reviews
Gentle affection pervades these pages, as does knowledge of architecture that is both broad and deep. [1 Aug 2006, p.764]
The Spectator James Delingpole
With The Architecture of Happiness [de Botton] has upped the ante still further by doing another of those things you do if you want to get really big, namely, launch an obscenely ambitious, society-changing campaign.
The Observer Charles Saumarez Smith
It behoves us all to think carefully, as de Botton has done with perceptive clarity, as to what exactly are the qualities that make a good building.
New York Review Of Books Alison Lurie
The Architecture of Happiness is a perceptive, thoughtful, original, and richly illustrated exercise in the dramatic personification of buildings of all sorts.
Wall Street Journal John Massengale
Mr. de Botton's book is an interesting and perhaps important addition to the debate over the emotional effect that our cities and buildings have on us.
Washington Post Michael Dirda
For the most part, though, [de Botton] keeps his balance, largely through his quiet intelligence, passionate conviction and the charm of a personality lightly tinged with melancholy.
Bookslut Rachel J.K. Grace
I think The Architecture of Happiness is a beautiful book. I want everyone I know to read it. I want to invite them over to discuss these ideas with them, to talk about the homes we have chosen and why.
The Globe And Mail [Toronto] Katherine Ashenburg
If you are one of those for whom [de Botton] writes, exhilarated and dispirited in turn by your built environment, this book probably won't change your life, but it's guaranteed to sharpen your brain and eye.
The Independent Stephen Bayley
What de Botton has done is the equivalent of literary criticism based on jacket design: a very interesting idea, but not the full story.
Publishers Weekly
The strength of [de Botton's] book is that it encourages us to open our eyes and really look at the buildings in which we live. [28 Aug 2006, p.43]
Houston Chronicle Lisa Gray
Good-natured, academic de Botton still believes the world can be fixed, that our cities can be beautiful, that a building can make you happy. In other words, he can dream. And it's lovely to dream with him.
San Francisco Chronicle Ethan Gilsdorf
Gently pleading that we all take a closer look around us, de Botton's book is an altogether satisfying introduction to architecture's more vexing aesthetic problems.
The New York Times Book Review Jim Holt
[De Botton] makes the most of...his jolly (and handsomely illustrated) romp through the world of architecture.
The New Yorker
De Botton is a lively guide, and his eclectic choices of buildings and locations evince his conclusion.
The New York Times William Grimes
When he is not delivering sententious commonplaces or indulging in heavy whimsy, [de Botton] makes an agreeable guide.
Chicago Sun-Times Kevin Nance
It's bothersome...that beneath much of de Botton's affection for backward-looking architecture is his obvious contempt for modernism.
Library Journal
While the presentation is somewhat dry, architecture and history aficionados will appreciate this comprehensive and pictorially enhanced survey. [1 Sept 2006, p.166]
Los Angeles Times Matthew Price
De Botton is high falutin' but user friendly -- his trick, a la Oprah, is to throw in a feel-good twist, though his relentless geniality gets to be a bit much. [8 Oct 2006, p. R.4]
The Independent Marcus Field
All of this has been said many times before of course, if rarely so smartly.
 The average user rating for this book is 0.0 (out of 10) based on 0 User Votes
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