Alain de Botton's The Consolations of Philosophy takes the discipline of logic and the mind back to its roots. Drawing inspiration from six of the finest minds in history - Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer, and Nietzsche - he addresses lack of money, the pain of love, inadequacy, anxiety, and conformity.

From the internationally heralded author of How Proust Can Change Your Life comes a remarkable book that presents the wisdom of some of the greatest thinkers of the ages as advice for our day-to-day struggles. Solace for the broken heart can be found in the words of Schopenhauer. The ancient Greek Epicurus has the wisest, and most affordable, solution to cash flow problems. A remedy for impotence lies in Montaigne. Seneca offers advice upon losing a job. And Nietzsche has shrewd counsel for everything from loneliness to illness.

The Consolations of Philosophy is a book as accessibly erudite as it is useful and entertaining. Dividing his work into six sections—each highlighting a different psychic ailment and the appropriate philosopher—de Botton offers consolation for unpopularity from Socrates, for not having enough money from Epicurus, for frustration from Seneca, for inadequacy from Montaigne, and for a broken heart from Schopenhauer. Consolation for envy—and, of course, the final word on consolation—comes from Nietzsche: "Not everything which makes us feel better is good for us."

This wonderfully engaging book will make us feel better in a good way, with equal measures of wit and wisdom.