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

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Theodora Getty Gaston recalls life with J. Paul Getty in 'Alone Together'

Teddy Getty Gaston discusses her time with J. Paul Getty in a conversation at the Getty Villa. Her memoir is 'Alone Together.'The crimson-haired woman makes sure to offer snacks to each person entering the room. She's seated at the end, next to a carved marble fireplace that doesn't entirely... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Should We Teach Literature Students How To Analyze Texts Algorithmically?

When the U.K. newspaper the Sunday Times outed J.K. Rowling as the author of detective novel The Cuckoo's Calling earlier this year, computer scientists were among the first people called in. Although the novel was published under the pen name Robert Galbraith, two computational... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cressida Cowell to live-stream schools event

Author Cressida Cowell will make a free virtual author appearance for schools and libraries on... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Distro Issue 104: Prep for class with Engadget's back to school guide

Unfortunately, it's time to hit the books once more. Don't get completely bummed out by the start of classes because this special issue of our weekly e-magazine has all of the top picks for back to school gear. That's right, from laptops to portable audio, we've narrowed down the best tech... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With CONTEC, Frankfurt Embraces Life After TOC

For the past four years, Tools of Change has been a popular kickoff to the Frankfurt Book Fair. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Marano hired at Kobo Writing Life

Kobo has hired former Waterstones digital content acquisitions manager Diego Marano to head up... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.F. Powers' 'Suitable Accommodations' is a peek at his life

Writer J.F. Powers ('Morte D'Urban') inspired a small but loyal following. This collection of letters sheds light on a peripatetic family life. Back in 2000, when John Updike assembled "The Best American Short Stories of the Century," he included "Death of a Favorite," by J.F. Powers.... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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REMODELING Magazine Launches 'Home for Life' Virtual Home Tour

  REMODELING magazine announced its launch of “Home for Life 2013,” a virtual tour showing how to remodel a home to be cost-efficient, safe and comfortable for life after retirement. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Giving Brazilian Literature Its Due in English and at Frankfurt

Chad W. Post offers an overview of some classic Brazilian texts (available in English) and some of what’s planned for the Frankfurt Book Fair, where Brazil is guest of honor. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Game|Life Podcast: A More Developer-Friendly Xbox One?

On this week's podcast: Xbox One self-publishing, EarthBound on Virtual Console, Shadow of the Eternals and changes at Electronic Arts.     Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2013-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Regional Mag Maryland Life Closes Down

Regionals were among the most-launched magazines in the first half of 2013, but there's still churn in the segment. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Life for Colombian Comics Artists Improves, But Challenges Remain

After years of struggle, Colombia's independent comics and graphic novel scene is starting to flourish, with new publishers and a traveling comics festival. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tyler Hoffman Farmington High School

Pressing the "no" button on the Harvard University admissions page for accepted students was one of the most difficult things Farmington High School valedictorian Tyler Hoffman has ever done. "The name was definitely a major factor in my decision to apply early to Harvard. I sort of convinced... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Layoffs Hit BSA’s Boy’s Life, Scouting

The Boy Scouts of America are cutting more than 30 positions from the staff of its two flagship magazines—Boy's Life and  Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Boys benefit from Read for My School

The free online library created for the Read for My School made children "excited" to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Schools reading contest: ebooks win

Nearly half the titles read by children in a national reading competition were consumed online, according to the charity Booktrust. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Small Example of How Korea’s Efforts to Promote Its Literature Pays Off

A publishing grant from South Korea's Literature Translation Institute will help UK's b small publishing promote the children's book "Creative Hand Art." Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble Nook Snaps offer fresh literature in $2 bites

Barnes & Noble's Nook Store has offered short-form works much like those we've seen from Amazon's Kindle Shorts section, but they haven't really been a highlight. The company's new Nook Snaps program may give those quick reads their time to shine, however. The effort will see Barnes &... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Beautiful Kids’ Book That Combines Interactivity With Good Old-Fashioned Text

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[ Fast Company | 2013-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jack Vance was one of literature's 'most distinctive and undervalued voices'

Vance collected a number of awards over the years, including Hugo Awards for 'The Dragon Masters' in 1963, 'The Last Castle' in 1967, and for his memoir 'This is Me, Jack Vance!' in 2010. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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