Concern of striving for status

After "Philosophy's Condolences" which received a remarkable response, we present this book, where in a humorous and entertaining way, Du Botton dives into the ways we search for the love and appreciation of others, that is, our position in their eyes. In this book, Du Botton explains that our pursuit to be loved and appreciated surpasses our pursuit to acquire anything else, and that everything we do aims to improve our position... because our place on the social ladder plays a crucial role in our lives since our self-image heavily depends on what others see in us. But he also asks: Is it worth sacrificing for the sake of status? This book is the richest, most amusing, and most widely read of Du Botton's works, showing us the extent of his knowledge and insight, and the richness, elegance, and authenticity of his ideas. Reading it is enjoyable and beneficial. The Seattle Times considers this book a clever and entertaining survey of social history; it is a charming book as much as it is precise and clear. The Boston Globe describes Du Botton's traditional humorous style as full of great literary and philosophical references. The Christian Science Monitor notes that Du Botton's wit may take the form of light sarcasm in some places, and the pleasure of reading his narrative comes from following his mental games and his broad cognitive abilities, along with his concise paragraphs and vivid poetic images.