Alain de Botton's 100 Questions cards – one of the most brilliant, thought-provoking products we've seen in a while...
Who? Zurich-born writer, philosopher and entrepeneur Alain de Botton has spent the last twenty years carefully crafting his 'philosophy' of life through a series of bestselling books and essays, including profound titles along the lines of The Architecture of Happiness and How Proust Can Change Your Life. In 2008, de Botton founded The School of Life, in a bid to share his innovative ideas and allow them to impact further on our day to day lives. The educational institute offers therapeutic style classes in which participants can discuss the likes of their careers, relationships and the everyday struggles we all face.
What? Over the years de Botton has grasped a strong understanding of human nature. The stress of striking up scintillating conversation can be a difficult task for many of us, and maintaining it can be even trickier. Taken from the School of Life's Tools for Thinking collection, 100 Questions provides a handy answer to those problems. Co-created by Botton and School of Life director Morgwn Rimel, the hand picked selection of "the very best questions around" are printed neatly onto individual cards, making for a slightly more civilised game of Would You Rather? The conversation starting selection covers a huge range of topics to get tongues wagging, from travel and culture to emotions, and life and death.
"Botton aims to give all people what he feels everyone is entitled to: 'a sense of direction and wisdom for their lives with the help of culture'"
Why? We are bombarded with what we should and shouldn't be doing, saying or eating on a daily basis, and it seems The School of Life wholeheartedly disagrees with this concept, aiming to provide a place in which like-minded individuals can excersise their minds in a free and un-regimented environment, unlike the structure of a regular university. Botton aims to give all people what he feels everyone is entitled to: "a sense of direction and wisdom for their lives with the help of culture."
Discover more Tools for Thinking here.
