kbelcher1992 's review for:

The School of Life: An Emotional Education by Alain de Botton

3.75

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 I had mixed feelings about The School of Life: An Emotional Education. Overall, I agreed with much of the book’s core premise—that emotional maturity is something we can intentionally cultivate across areas like self-understanding, relationships, community, work, and culture. There were plenty of sections I nodded along with, and I appreciated the mix of philosophy and practical insights. 

That said, two parts gave me pause. First, in the relationships section, the tone sometimes bordered on a “stay together no matter what” philosophy in the name of growth. While I agree that love is a skill and relationships take effort, there are times when a partner crosses a line and the healthy choice is to set boundaries or walk away. That nuance felt underrepresented. 

Second, there was a section on politeness that framed it as the “correct” way to live. I value politeness, but I also think it’s possible to overdo it. The ideal, to me, is a balance—knowing when to be gentle and when to be direct. We can be honest without being jerks, and kind without being pushovers. 

So while I found the book thoughtful and worthwhile overall, my take comes with those caveats. If you go in knowing it leans toward long-haul commitment in relationships and has a strong preference for politeness, you might get more out of it. For me, it was a solid read with some important points, even if I didn’t fully buy into everything. Still, I would generically recommend this as definitely worth reading.