Art as Therapy, written by Alain de Botton, the most famous philosopher of our time, and the English philosopher John Armstrong will be a book you can’t get enough of. If you are interested in art but don’t know much about it, you’ll love this book. The way you look at art, especially painting and architecture, will change completely.
De Botton and Armstrong offer a new perspective on art; they argue that art can be useful, relevant and above all, therapeutic. It does so by showing great examples of art in the chapters Love, Nature, Money and Politics. You’ll find answers to these questions (and many more): We love some of the paintings, though why not like others? Why don’t we get excited about the great works advertised when we walk through museums? If we don’t like a piece of work, does that mean we don’t understand it?
If you have works of art in your home (posters, replicas, etc.); if you enjoy visiting museums time to time; If you find yourself staring at beautiful buildings, you’ll love this book. If you are not interested in art enough and think that you don’t understand it, you should read this book. Enjoy!
Art as Therapy
This passionate, thought-provoking, often funny, and always-accessible book proposes a new way of looking at art, suggesting that it can be useful, relevant, and therapeutic. Through practical examples, the world-renowned authors argue that certain great works of art have clues as to how to manage the tensions and confusions of modern life. Chapters on love, nature, money, and politics show how art can help with many common difficulties, from forging good relationships to coming to terms with mortality.
Alain de Botton & John Armstrong
Alain de Botton, FRSL is a Swiss-born British philosopher and author. His books discuss various contemporary subjects and themes, emphasizing philosophy’s relevance to everyday life. He published Essays in Love, which went on to sell two million copies.
John Armstrong is a British writer and philosopher living in Hobart, Australia. He was born in Glasgow and educated at Oxford and London, later directing the philosophy program at the University of London’s School of Advanced Study.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
