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'


Boys' reading 'a worry in 75% of schools'

A report into boys’ reading has found that three out of four UK schools are worried about... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk schools


Authors angered by proposed school event qualification

Authors have reacted angrily to news of a proposed qualification for Creative Practitioners... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reacted angrily


Harry Potter 'Book of Spells' will come to life via Sony

J.K. Rowling's 'Book of Spells' will allow players to wave wands and cast spells using Wonderbook technology. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cast spells #harry potter


Society of Authors urges Gibb to make school libraries statutory

The Society of Authors has written to schools minister Nick Gibb urging him to support children... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #support children


Nook and HMH partner in school deal

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) has teamed up with Barnes & Noble’s Nook to deliver e-... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barnes noble


'Real-life Downton' memoir to MJ

Diane Banks at Diane Banks Associates has sold the memoirs of a 95-year-old former domestic... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Book review: 'An Improbable Life' by Jim Abbott and Tim Brown

A coming-of-age story by former Angels pitcher Abbott is at its best when describing his influence as a role model off the field.Imperfect Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book review #coming-of-age story #role model


Book review: 'Reading for My Life,' essays by John Leonard

This is a brilliant collection of writings on politics, social and cultural engagement and literary life.Reading for My Life Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary life #book review


Harry Potter ebooks coming to schools, libraries around the world

Pottermore has partnered with ebook company Overdrive to bring electronic versions of the 'Harry Potter' series to libraries and schools in five languages. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harry potter


Printed books fall £2.8m as kids go back to school

Printed book sales slumped 11% last week as children returned to school and adults to work... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Peters set to refocus on schools

Peters Bookselling Services is to refocus part of its business into schools following the loss of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


An appreciation: Barney Rosset, contemporary literature's champion

The late American publisher Barney Rosset led the charge to push back against literary puritanism, championing writers like Henry Miller and William S. Burroughs.Barney Rosset, who died Tuesday at the age of 89, was the most important American publisher of the 20th century. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #contemporary literature #push back #championing writers #henry miller #died tuesday #20th century


Schools' ebook enquiries going 'through the roof', claims library supplier

E-book enquiries from schools have gone "through the roof", according to library... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook enquiries #e-book enquiries


Schools' ebook enquiries 'through the roof'

E-book enquiries from schools have gone "through the roof", according to library... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook enquiries #e-book enquiries


Barnes & Noble, Taking On Amazon in the Fight of Its Life

As Barnes & Noble fights for its future, the publishing industry is holding its breath. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2012-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barnes noble #publishing industry


Sykes makes history donation to London schools

Author Adrian Sykes, with his publisher David Campbell, of Everyman's Library, is to donate a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Panarea Digital Debuts Nearpod For Schools

Panarea Digital is an ebook, app, and mobile technology developer with a focus on education. The firm has produced interactive ebooks for Barnes & Noble and other companies, but Panarea Digital is now focused on Nearpod, a mobile learning platform that uses the iPad and other mobile devices... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barnes noble #mobile devices


Closure confirmed for Herts School Library Service

Hertfordshire county council has voted through the closure of its school library service. The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Mainstream to publish "street-smart" guide to single life

Mainstream has bought a book aimed at guiding modern single girls on their search for love, to be... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #single life #book aimed


Literature Prize could coincide with LBF

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Fri, 28/10/2011 - 14:49 The Literature Prize is to be awarded in the spring of each year, with founder Andrew Kidd saying it will take place for the first time in 2012 if the necessary funding is secured by the end of this year. Kidd said the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #awarded close #literature prize #takes place #18th april