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 ]

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


Margaret Busby: how Britain's first black female publisher revolutionised literature – and never gave up

In her 20s, she set up her own company, publishing everyone from James Ellroy to the Worst Witch series, and changing Britain for the better, book by book There is a revealing story Margaret Busby tells, about the first novel she published. A family friend had bumped into a former US serviceman... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-10-22 05:00:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Banks' first novel in a decade to No Exit Press

No Exit Press will publish Russell Banks’ new novel Foregone as a lead fiction title in June 2021. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-13 01:47:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Ethan Hawke's new novel on art, love and fame to William Heinemann

William Heinemann is publishing the first novel in almost 20 years from actor, writer and director Ethan Hawke: A Bright Ray of Darkness. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-05 04:15:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Here’s the shortlist for the Center for Fiction’s 2020 First Novel Prize.

Today the Center for Fiction announced the shortlist for its 2020 First Novel Prize. The prize, first awarded in 2006, recognizes the best debut fiction of the year, and it comes with $15,000; each finalist receives $1,000. Previous winners include De’Shawn Charles Winslow, Tommy Orange, and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-10-01 15:05:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Sigrid Nunez’s ‘What Are You Going Through’ is an ambitious novel about the meaning of life and death

Nunez’s first novel since winning the National Book Award follows a woman and her terminally ill friend. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-09-16 16:32:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Bloomsbury wins auction for Lockwood's 'miraculous' debut novel

Bloomsbury is to publish Patricia Lockwood's first novel No One Is Talking About This, after winning a 10-way auction.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-16 02:57:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this


MCB releasing two new versions of Olusoga's Black and British

Macmillan Children's Books is releasing two new editions of Black and British, the book by historian and broadcaster Professor David Olusoga which was originally published by Macmillan’s adult publishing arm in 2016. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-14 06:58:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Susanna Clarke’s First Novel in 16 Years Is a Wonder

The new book from the author of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell takes place in one house, but in it, she finds infinite space. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2020-09-10 18:15:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The World’s First Novel Is Older Than You Think

What was the first novel? Why was it written? What need did it fill? Who wrote it? And most importantly, can you still read it today? Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-09-02 10:32:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Elena Ferrante Returns With ‘The Lying Life of Adults’

In her first novel in five years, the author of “My Brilliant Friend” revisits old themes. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-09-01 09:00:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Festival Five with Author and Translator David Bellos, by The Editors of WLT

Interviews Get to know the participants of the upcoming 2020 Neustadt Festival in this series of short interviews. First up: David Bellos! David Bellos is a professor of French and comparative literature as well as director of the Program in Translation... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2020-08-25 20:30:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Picador picks up new novel from Ridgway

Picador has picked up the first novel in eight years from award-winning Irish author Keith Ridgway. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-08-24 11:52:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Leaving It All Behind: A Conversation with Makenna Goodman

Makenna Goodman on leaving New York publishing behind for the farms of Vermont, and why publishing her first novel was traumatic. Continue reading at The Paris Review

[ The Paris Review | 2020-08-20 17:18:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Daily Mail publisher to cut up to 100 jobs as revenues fall

DMGT says quarterly print advertising down 69% and digital income down 17% The publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, the i and Metro is to cut up to 100 roles as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hammer the newspaper and magazine industry.Daily Mail & General Trust, which also... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-08-13 11:23:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Tate to cut over 300 jobs at commercial arm

Tate has announced it is making 313 redundancies in its commercial operations, Tate Enterprises, including at its bookshops and publishing arm. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-08-12 12:23:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Edinburgh International Book Festival online

The 2020 Edinburgh International Book Festival will be presented online from Saturday 15 to Monday 31 August. The programme, made up of over 140 events for adults, families and children, will offer both live and pre-recorded conversations featuring leading writers, poets and participants from... Continue reading at British Council global

[ British Council global | 2020-08-07 14:45:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Long-Awaited Return of Gayl Jones

Gayl Jones published her first novel in 1975. It was hailed by James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, and John Updike. Then Gayl disappeared from the literary scene. Now she's releasing her first novel in 20 years. The post The Long-Awaited Return of Gayl Jones appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2020-08-05 20:30:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this


James Murdoch's exit paves way for News Corp to move further right

Analysis: Murdoch was considered a dissenting voice at the rightwing company. Now his brother Lachlan could see his influence growJames Murdoch’s resignation from the board of News Corp confirms divisive splits in the publishing arm of his family’s media empire and removes a powerful dissenting... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-08-01 18:24:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Readers have many opinions on how to cull your book collection — and also why you never should

Commenters responded to a recent essay about giving away books with a mix of philosophical musings and practical advice. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-08-01 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


MJ reveals October novel from Dawn French

Michael Joseph is publishing the first novel from Dawn French in five years, called Because of You, this October. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-29 17:04:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this