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

Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

The Course of Love

By: Alain de Botton
Narrated by: Julian Rhind-Tutt
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £8.62

Buy Now for £8.62

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

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
Best relationship themed book I've picked up in years and so well told, lots of laugh out loud moments

Brilliant insights into love

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I've got acquainted with the author by his videos on YouTube in which so much life wisdom is spoken with humor, compassion and love. This book covers quite similar topics, but applied to marriage. With no sugar coating over how complicated and twisted love relationships could be the book gives insights, guidance and hope. And it's funny and it's reasonable!

Loved it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

In essence, a fairly straightforward tale of a couple meeting, going out, getting married & having kids.
But it is also served up with a hefty dose of realism & some valuable insights.
The core message is this: Romantic ideals are always sacrificed on the unglamorous altar of the real world.

Recommended reading for anyone getting married

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Trust me. It's one and only, and it will teach you a lot. <3 xxxxxx

Very touched and greatly recommended

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This book is a gift to humanity, a homage to love. I don't think I've listened to a book so wise and in awe at the ordinary but complex challenges at the centre of most people's lives.

A truly beautiful book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews