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Essays in Love
- Narrated by: James Wilby
- Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
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Kiss and Tell
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- Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Dr. Samuel Johnson observed that everyone's life is a subject worthy of the biographer's art. Accused by a former girlfriend of being unable to empathise, the narrator of Kiss & Tell takes Johnson's idea to heart and decides to write about the next person who walks into his life. He meets Isabel Rogers, a production assistant at a small stationery company in London, apparently an ordinary woman. But as the biographer's understanding of Isabel deepens, she becomes remarkable.
Publisher's Summary
Essays in Love is a stunningly original love story. Taking in Aristotle, Wittgenstein, history, religion and Groucho Marx, Alain de Botton charts the progress of a love affair from the first kiss to argument and reconciliation, from intimacy and tenderness to the onset of anxiety and heartbreak.
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What listeners say about Essays in Love
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Maria L. Lantin
- 07-05-12
Every relationship you've ever analyzed
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I wouldn't recommend this book to all my friends but I know that some of them would enjoy it as much as I did. It's for romantics that think too much sometimes. It's for realists that love to fall in love nevertheless.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Essays in Love?
There are many memorable moments...but perhaps what stands out now after a couple weeks is the way intimacy in the couple is revealed and lost. The fight scenes are funny in a "oh yeah, I've been there" kinda way.
Have you listened to any of James Wilby’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
It was my first James Wilby book and I enjoyed his reading very much.
Who was the most memorable character of Essays in Love and why?
I guess it was the main male character because he's so introspective to the point of absurdity but also insightful.
5 people found this helpful
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- MM
- 22-02-18
Brilliantly plucks and weaves love's nuances
What did you love best about Essays in Love?
The story is engaging. There are really good points made, great references, and de Botton analyzes the nuances of falling in and out of love with the perspective and depth of someone who's lived a thousand lives. The narrator's voice is very attractive.
What does James Wilby bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Great voice. Very warm and theatrical (not in an exaggerated way) at the same time.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes. It was so hard to even go to sleep. I had my Audible on sleep timer several times but didn't want to miss anything to grogginess. So I would relisten the same parts the next day. This book is so wise.
Any additional comments?
Definitely listen to this.
3 people found this helpful
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- Andre Mendes
- 21-05-16
One day binge
Simply could not put this book down. There are so few stories, love stories fewer still, that capture real life so well. The book itself is a beautiful mix of philosophical topics with narrative that makes for such an enlightening and enjoyable listening experience. Very well performed, I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a realistic love story.
1 person found this helpful
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- Ana Pliopas
- 06-12-20
Embracing ambiguity of love
Via an interesting and quite ordinary love story de Botton invites us to reflect on one of the most important aspect of life: romantic love.
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- Anonymous User
- 04-11-20
Good story, poor narration
The narrator is too dramatic which unfortunately ruins some moments. I enjoyed the story though.
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- Alex
- 02-06-20
Thought provoking and well performed
I enjoyed this peek into the brain of a young man contemplating love and romance, and found it to be enlightening and relatable. The narrator keeps things moving along crisply, which is crucial since much of the book is comprised not of action but of musings. I look forward to listening to The Course of Love next.
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- Colby L Mortensen
- 02-03-20
Unbearable
Unbearably profound in its complexity and depth. So attuned to the nuances of romances spells, and an amazing gift of disillusionment.
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- Paula Nilsson
- 26-03-19
Analysis on what makes the "fall of angels" ; LOVE
Profound yet clear novel for the experienced or ignorant lad, when it comes to love relationships. Hence you can apply the majority of the given situations on ANY type of interpersonal relationships. Top-read for the enthusiast on Love and it's philosophy of everyday.
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- Lynn Labe
- 15-07-17
Good, later book is great
Good book with lots of insights, especially when you realise de Botton was 23 when he wrote it. Great narrator. Also recommend The Course of Love, which he wrote 2 decades later and is quite an amazing book.
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- Addi - Dallas Tx
- 11-07-17
Uuug
Love de Botton. This one is similar to A Course of love. That was a beautiful book. This one does not compare.
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- Tarot Dynamo
- 27-11-16
Don't 'read' when your heart is breaking
A beautifully written piece, combining philosophy, psychology, observation and a captivating story absolutely seamlessly, and with such humour and sadness it is unputdownable. The narrator is a skilled storyteller, whose sensitivity to the subject permeates his voice. This book would be perfect for anyone who is single, starting a relationship, in a loving relationship, and in a relationship in trouble who needs some loving guidance and reflection.
But I beg you, do not read/listen to this when you're in the middle of heartbreak. I started listening after watching many School of Life videos on YouTube, finding them fascinating and comforting, and thought this book might help me heal from my break-up from a beloved of 6 years, the wounds of which are only a month old. I got up to a certain point in the story, and suddenly all the pain and grief are just as fresh and overpowering as they were 4 weeks ago when we finally realised, both of us, for the first time, that it was really over. As a consequence I've had a crappy weekend, and feel like I've taken 15 steps back in recovering from this heartbreak.
If I'd waited a few months, when the pain isn't so raw, it would have been immensely healing, but I listened too soon. I'll probably come back to hear the last few chapters in a few months, but for now I just wanted to add a "trigger warning" to this otherwise wonderful book. If your heart is breaking, wait a while. Sending love to all who read this that know the pain I'm feeling right now.
17 people found this helpful
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- M
- 29-03-13
Not for the lonely ...
Alain de Botton meticulously dissects that bizarre and complex creature: the Love Affair. He takes every emotion felt, and every action taken, and - through the magnifying glass of philosophy - analyses the whole process of falling in love. From the moment of the lovers’ first contact, through the heat of their passion, the rage of their arguments and the ridiculousness of their sulks, we hear what the philosophers - ancient and modern - have made of love.
As with everything of Alain de Botton’s that I’ve read, 'Essays in Love' is rich with ideas and beautifully written: he manages to put heart into what could otherwise be rather abstract intellectual concepts. The narrator is somewhat neurotic but in a necessary and likeable way, and I was with him through all of his trials. A wonderful book - brilliantly narrated, too - that is going to stay with me for a long time.
11 people found this helpful
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- Red Tomato
- 27-12-12
Great
It wasn't what I expected, but it was a brilliant balance between being a novel and a psychological analysis of feelings of love.
5 people found this helpful
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- A Agnes
- 20-10-18
intellectual and boring - lacking emotional depth
Got too bored of both Mr DB's books on love. Great idea for a book, but I wonder where nice man might benefit from a therapeutic exercise to calm down the intellect and allow for the emotional, and other aspects of wisdom to thrive.
I prescribe a course of therapy - no shame in that
3 people found this helpful
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- Sym
- 01-10-19
Not my cup of grey
This wasn’t for me. Some of it was useful and some parts are funny but generally could not connect or relate with the posh narration. I didn’t find it consistently universal or ironically clear about the specifics of a very upper middle class perspective/experience of romance. In fairness I can see others might enjoy tho
2 people found this helpful
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- Sam Covill
- 09-12-20
A bit disappointing
The narrator was good but when he did the female character's voice it was a bit cringy and made her seem quite one dimensional. The story was disappointing as it seemed to cover quite trite generalities of a love story and none of the characters were likeable to me.
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- Maz
- 09-08-20
Lite
Having read all of Alain De Botton’s books, this one did not live up to my high expectations. The narrative felt somewhat trashy, and the narrator made it feel more so. Sorry Alain.
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-04-20
Alain De Botton does it again
Download it. A whole cascade of life altering knowledge will come your way, a lot of which you sort of knew deep down anyway.
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- JAO
- 28-02-20
Dire
I've watched Alain de Boton's School of Life videos and read some of his books with pleasure. They are both funny and knowledgable and I've learned a lot, and even changed my behavior (when I remember).
This book was a tremendous disappointment, it was a series of lectures and statistics clothed lightly as a novel with a ludicrous set of unbelievable, one-dimensional characters. Even the author could not inject enthusiasm reading his own book.
Readers, watch his brilliant YouTube videos instead and get the substance of this 'novel', far more wittily presented in just over an hour..
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- bobo
- 15-05-19
great listen on philosophy of love & relationships
insightful. I have definitely learnt and understood a lot about the psychological and social mechanisms behind situations in which I have recognised myself and others. the couple's story serves as a prototype with which one can identify at least in some parts. language is nice and philosophical, however sometimes makes it unnecessarily complicated . altogether really good and very grateful for good writings on this topic that concerns all of us, thanks Alain
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- Anonymous User
- 03-03-21
So good! Love the story and narrative.
Loved it! The story, the teachings and the narrative are excellent!! This is the 3rd book from Alain de Botton that I read/ listen and I always love. Clear messages and easy way to learn something so profound like relationships.
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- Sam
- 24-12-18
A very good observation of any relationship
I enjoyed listening to this book as it was my first book from Alain de Botton. I quite liked his view and accurate observation on different stages of a relationship. going to listen to the next one from him :)