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Book Review of How Proust Can Change Your Life

How Proust Can Change Your Life
reviewed on


With references to Proust's literary work and episodes from his life, this 215-page book contains chapters such as, "How to Read for Yourself, How to Take Your Time, How to Suffer Successfully, How to Express Your Emotions, How to Be Happy in Love, and How to Put Books Down," among others.
The jacket says, "Although Proust was rarely happy himself, How Proust Can Change Your Life is a dazzling study which shows us the benefits he can bring to our lives. Alain de Botton has created the perfect distillation of Proust's novel and an affectionate view of the brilliant and often bizarre author...He reveals Proust's thoughts on: ...how to choose a good doctor...why we shouldn't read too many books...why we shouldn't buy clothes in a hurry...why it is important to appreciate our telephone...Proust had worldly wisdom to impart; he claimed that if only he had had a chance, he could even have told Swann how to make Odette fall in love with him."
Proust was constantly revising his great work, and I enjoyed seeing the photos of a couple of pages full of his additions and corrections.