By combining self-help and literature, the School of Life’s first novel does both a disservice | Alice Kemp-Habib

Billed as ‘a therapeutic novel’, the publisher’s first foray into fiction follows 29-year-old Anna’s mental health journey – with a view to helping the reader. But how useful can such clunky writing be?At 29 years old, Anna is full of self-loathing. She hates her job, her boyfriend is having an affair and her parents’ response to her troubles is indifferent at best. This is the starting point for A Voice of One’s Own, the first novel to be published by The School of Life. In its pages, fiction and self-help make for uneasy bedfellows.Co-founded by philosopher Alain de Botton in 2008, The School of Life broadly aims to teach its “students” how to lead calmer, more fulfilling lives. Its publishing arm, launched in 2016, disseminates self-help literature with pithy titles such as Reasons to be Hopeful and A Simpler Life, which purport to blend philosophical wisdom with practical advice. Like De Botton himself, the books are Marmite; while many critique the school for peddling watered-down pop philosophy, its teachings have clearly found a market. The organisation has branches in seven major cities, and its most popular title, Big Ideas for Curious Minds, has sold over 120,000 copies globally, while its workshops on playfulness, confidence and self-awareness regularly sell out. The new book represents a departure, however. Through A Voice of One’s Own, The School of Life is showing, rather than telling, its readers how to live better. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-07 15:45:50 UTC ]
News tagged with: #publishing arm #practical advice #major cities #popular title #big ideas #curious minds #first novel

Other Publishing stories related to: 'By combining self-help and literature, the School of Life’s first novel does both a disservice | Alice Kemp-Habib'


By combining self-help and literature, the School of Life’s first novel does both a disservice | Alice Kemp-Habib

Billed as ‘a therapeutic novel’, the publisher’s first foray into fiction follows 29-year-old Anna’s mental health journey – with a view to helping the reader. But how useful can such clunky writing be?At 29 years old, Anna is full of self-loathing. She hates her job, her boyfriend is having an... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-07 15:45:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing arm #practical advice #major cities #popular title #big ideas #curious minds #first novel


2023 Walter Dean Myers Awards: Life Changing Literature and Book Bans

The eighth annual ​Walter​ ​Awards ​Ceremony​ and Symposium took place as a hybrid event at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C., and online on March 17. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
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My Cyborg Future: Alice Wong on Prophetic High School Poetry and Processing Pain

“All responses to the world take place within our bodies.” –Gloria Anzaldúa * In putting together my book and making selections from past work, I desperately wanted to include a poem from my high school literary magazine to give readers a glimpse of my inner emo goth self. I emailed a librarian... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-09-07 08:52:12 UTC ]
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How notoriously private poet Mary Oliver once saved a depressed high school student’s life.

On this day in 1935, the highly acclaimed poet Mary Oliver was born in Maple Heights, Ohio. Oliver, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1984 and later the National Book Award for Poetry in 1992, was by all accounts a private person who sought solace in the natural world. Throughout the course of her... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-09-10 15:24:16 UTC ]
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At a Chicago high school, helping refugee students navigate American life

They deal with homework, teenage romance — and often, larger burdens, Elly Fishman writes. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-08-27 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Yan Lianke, author of Three Brothers, on Chinese Life, Law, and Literature

Hosts Kate, Eric, and Medaya are joined by renowned Chinese writer Yan Lianke, whose latest book is the memoir Three Brothers, about his childhood growing up during the Cultural Revolution. Calling in from Beijing, Yan discusses his life as a writer, being banned and censored in his own country... Continue reading at Los Angeles Review of Books

[ Los Angeles Review of Books | 2020-08-28 20:55:54 UTC ]
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Jason Reynolds captures the beauty and heartache of middle school life in ‘Look Both Ways’

From the author of “Ghost” and “Long Way Down,” another poignant tale about growing up. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-10-08 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Of love, life and literature: Athill’s last words from beyond the grave

Publishing doyenne tells of success tinged by heartache in film ‘to be seen after my death’“I am Diana Athill, and if you are watching this I am no longer alive. This is my final say.”With a flourish of self-conscious drama, Athill, the writer, literary editor and doyenne of British publishing,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Movie Alert: 'Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life'

It's boy vs. middle school. The live-action adaptation of James Patterson's bestselling novel 'Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life' opens on October 7. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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5 reasons Alice Munro was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature (+video)

Merit trumped politics this year when modest, retiring, universally admired Canadian author Alice Munro received the Nobel Prize in Literature.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Alice Munro wins 2013 Nobel Prize in literature

Alice Munro is the winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in literature. The Canadian author was lauded for being "master of the short story" by Peter Englund, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy.Alice Munro is the winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in literature. The Canadian author was lauded for... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pan Mac buys six from School of Life

Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Tue, 05/04/2011 - 15:10 Pan Macmillan has signed a six-book deal with London self-help bookshop The School of Life. Editorial directors Liz Gough and Cindy Chan bought world rights in the series directly from The School of Life. The “intelligent,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World Literature Today Announces Finalists for 2024 Neustadt International Prize for Literature

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[ World Literature Today | 2023-05-24 18:17:59 UTC ]
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Sheikh Zayed Award Names Longlists: Literature, Children’s Literature, Young Authors

The first three categories' longlists have been released in the 17th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, based in Abu Dhabi. The post Sheikh Zayed Award Names Longlists: Literature, Children’s Literature, Young Authors appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-10 20:55:04 UTC ]
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What book stores and the literary life contribute to ... life

A stack of new books illuminates the wonder of printed books — writing them, buying them, reading them. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-05-04 13:00:42 UTC ]
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Awards: Sheikh Zayed Shortlists: Literature, Young Author, Children’s Literature

The nine shortlisted tiles in the Literature, Young Author, and Children’s Literature categories come from six Arab nations. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson More Category Shortlists Will Follow he Sheikh Zayed Book Award—organized and administered by the Abu Dhabi Arabic... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-03-18 03:09:10 UTC ]
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World Literature Today Announces Finalists for 2022 Neustadt International Prize for Literature

News and Events Left column (top to bottom): Boris Boubacar Diop, Ludmilla Petrushevskaya; Middle left column: Michális Ganás, Cristina Rivera Garza, Jean-Pierre Balpe;  Middle right column: Natalie Diaz, Naomi Shihab Nye, Micheline Aharonian... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2021-06-15 14:25:01 UTC ]
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Sheikh Zayed Book Award Shortlists: Literature, Children’s Literature, and Young Author

The three shortlists announced today comprise nine titles selected from a total 39 longlisted works. Winners are to be named in May. The post Sheikh Zayed Book Award Shortlists: Literature, Children’s Literature, and Young Author appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-03-16 16:41:14 UTC ]
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Atkinson’s Life After Life on track for BBC One adaptation

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[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-17 01:13:20 UTC ]
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The Skillset Podcast #5: Sue Kowalski, School Librarian at Pine Grove Middle School

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-11-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
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