How Proust Can Change Your Life

I would never have heard of this book if I hadn't received it as a gift. That would have been too bad.

Summary

We know that Proust is a genius. At least, many people think so, including me. His extraordinary sense of observation can make us realize that certain details that often go unnoticed are in fact of the utmost importance. He refuses clichés, tries, as a painter would, to describe as accurately as possible what he sees and feels, which makes us open our eyes and really observe what is around us and within us. If we read it carefully, it can teach us to know ourselves better.

The problem is that his work is endless. As his brother, Robert, put it:

The sad thing is that people to be very ill or have broken a leg in order to have the opportunity to read In Search of Lost Time.

Not only the work, but the sentences inside are endless. It has its charm, but let's say we have to have some brain juice left at the end of the day if we don't want to get lost 8 times per sentence. It is an immensely rich work, but not easy to approach.

Alain de Botton had the brilliant idea of condensing the teachings of this book into a small volume of 200 pages. He teaches us how to give meaning to our suffering, how to open our eyes, how to be a good friend, how to be happy in love... and how to understand the work of this brilliant author.

Impressions

Before I even opened the book, I felt like it was written for me. But frankly, I was being arrogant. It was actually written for anyone who has the slightest interest in personal development and Proust.

Behind this book there must be an extraordinary amount of research. Not only does the author do a very good analysis of his work, which in itself is a feat, but there are also some great quotes from the author from all sorts of documents other than In Search of Lost Time, testimonies from his friends, facts about his family, anecdotes, etc. All of this is done with finesse, humor, and concision (for a change).

And that's not all: the lessons he draws are brilliant. They made me think and even moved me. They are beautiful. They feel good. They are out of the ordinary. In the perfect image of Proust's work.

As you can see, I am quite enthusiastic. And I'm sure, fellow fans of Proust and personal development, that you will be too.