The School of Life: Calm: The harmony and serenity we crave

by The School of Life

Overview

Think your way to serenity. 

Calmness isn’t just a state of mind. It’s an essential life skill that, when practiced, can dramatically improve our everyday lives. This fascinating and pragmatic book argues that we can educate ourselves in the art of keeping calm not through slow breathing or special teas but through thinking. It patiently unpacks the root causes of our collective anxieties and gives us a succession of highly persuasive, beautiful, and sometimes dryly comic arguments with which to defend ourselves against panic and frustration. Part of a new essential paperback series from The School of Life, covering a range of emotional lessons needed in order to lead fulfilled and happy lives.

• THE ESSENTIAL MENTAL TOOLKIT provides readers with the skills needed to face life’s challenges with serenity. 
• EXPLORES THE ROOT CAUSES of our collective cultural anxieties. 
• A REFRESHING APPROACH to the art of finding calm in a chaotic world. 
• CLASSIC BLACK & WHITE IMAGES throughout. 
• PART OF THE NEW PAPERBACK SERIES 'LESSONS FOR LIFE'

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781915087140
Publisher:	The School of Life
Publication date:	09/06/2022
Series:	Lessons for Life
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.07(w) x 7.79(h) x (d)

About the Author

The School of Life is a global organization helping people lead more fulfilled lives. Through our range of books, gifts and stationery we aim to prompt more thoughtful natures and help everyone to find fulfillment.

The School of Life is a resource for exploring self-knowledge, relationships, work, socializing, finding calm, and enjoying culture through content, community, and conversation. You can find us online, in stores and in welcoming spaces around the world offering classes, events, and one-to-one therapy sessions.

The School of Life is a rapidly growing global brand, with over 7 million YouTube subscribers, 389,000 Facebook followers, 174,000 Instagram followers and 166,000 Twitter followers.

The School of Life Press brings together the thinking and ideas of the School of Life creative team under the direction of series editor, Alain de Botton. Their books share a coherent, curated message that speaks with one voice: calm, reassuring, and sane.

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

1 Relationships 9

i Romantic Expectations 11

ii The Lack of Glamour of Domesticity 25

iii The Agitations of Sex 33

iv The Weakness of Strength 41

2 Other People 47

i Unintended Hurt 49

ii In Defense of Teaching 57

iii In Defense of Politeness 65

iv On Bureaucracy 71

3 Work 77

i Capitalism 79

ii Ambition 85

iii Patience 91

iv Colleagues 97

4 The Sources of Calm 103

i Sight 105

ii Sound 119

iii Space 127

iv Time 137

v Touch 143

Conclusion: The Quiet Life 149

Editorial Reviews

Reviews from the hardback edition of Calm: 

"This book is beautifully written and incredibly comforting. The writing itself makes you feel calm, and it seems to instill a seed of hope in you that you really can lead a more calm and peaceful life."

"Beautifully written application of philosophy to everyday life. Highly recommended."

"Engaging. Insightful. Well thought out arc of ideas on and around ‘calm’ with tangible activities one can immediately implement."

"What an amazing book! The structure, the wording, the examples and the references in history makes this piece a real gem. When you are going after calm in life, calm will not happen but, when you are going after a calmer life, calm will prevail. Brilliant."

"A wonderful book that explores all aspects of being calm." "This book has helped me in an unimaginable way."

From the Publisher