The Course of Love cover art

The Course of Love

An unforgettable story of love and marriage from the author of bestselling novel Essays in Love

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The Course of Love

By: Alain de Botton
Narrated by: Julian Rhind-Tutt
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About this listen

Penguin presents, the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of The Course of Love by Alain de Botton, read by Julian Rhind-Tutt.

SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER

From one of our great thinkers on modern life and the human condition - an unforgettable story of love and marriage from the author of bestselling novel Essays in Love as well as The Consolations of Philosophy, Religion for Atheists and The School of Life

'The Course of Love probes the very heart of marriage
, its shifts and squalls, its great adventure, with such forensic tenderness. I laughed a lot, too' Deborah Moggach

'Engaging, sympathetic, acutely perceptive...
There's a refreshing honesty in what de Botton has to say' Guardian

'Anyone who is, has been, or would ever like to be, in a satisfying, successful relationship, would do well to read de Botton' Irish Independent

'He debunks the myth of the happily ever after
with a painfully familiar, often hilarious detailing of petty arguments, the occasional extra-marital fling, the moments of loneliness and the declining frequency of sex... It's not only hugely enjoyable but life enhancing too' Daily Mail

Modern love is never easy. Society is obsessed with stories of romance, but what comes after happily ever after?

This is a love story with a difference. From dating to marriage, from having kids to having affairs, it follows the progress of a single ordinary relationship: tender, messy, hilarious, painful, and entirely un-Romantic. It is a love story for the modern world, chronicling the daily intimacies, the blazing rows, the endless tiny gestures that make up a life shared between two people. Moving and deeply insightful, The Course of Love offers us a window into essential truths about the nature of love.

Contemporary Contemporary Romance Dark Humour Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Romance Romantic Comedy Women's Fiction Comedy

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Critic reviews

Alain de Botton's gift is to prompt us to think about how we live (Jeanette Winterson)
Curious, humorous and dazzling... It contains more human interest than most fiction (John Updike on 'How Proust Can Change Your Life')
His prose is lovely: clear, gently persuasive, light of touch

Alain de Botton likes to take big, complex subjects and write about them with thoughtful and deceptive innocence

All stars
Most relevant
This book can in my mind, be considered as a bright light in the darkness.

A sublime little book.

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A 'story' anyone who has searched for or been in a relationship will be able to identify with.
Thought provoking, sad, funny and well worth reading.

Brilliantly written

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Loved the story, though would have enjoyed possible alternative endings. Sometimes a little saccharine and occasionally a touch didactic. But beautifully frank.
Found the narrator good, if a little quiet at times. Sadly I was downright irritated by the accent he adopts for Kirsten and other Scottish characters.

Interesting & insightful

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This is a very insightful book for anyone who has been or is currently in a long term relationship and how to live with one another and minimise conflict. Great book.

Very insightful and engaging

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This was one of the best, gentlest, most insightful, and most educating books I've ever read. On top of that, it's really entertaining too!
Alain de Botton sets out to deconstruct our current skewed image of love to establish in its place a warmer and more beautiful, albeit much less romantic, conception of love and relationships. There's so much to learn and internalize and it requires so much reflection. I would certainly go back to those book many times over to learn again and again.
Highly recommended to all.

Top 10 reads ever! Truly insightful

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