logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2016
1h 11m

[Unedited] Alain de Botton with Krista T...

ON BEING STUDIOS
About this episode

Alain de Botton is the founder and chairman of The School of Life. His books include “Religion for Atheists” and “How Proust Can Change Your Life.” His new book is a novel, “The Course of Love.” This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode “Alain de Botton — A School of Life for Atheists ” Find more at onbeing.org.

Up next
Oct 3
Jane Goodall, In Memoriam — What It Means to Be Human
The great primatologist and humanitarian, Jane Goodall, died on October 1, 2025, at the age of 91. It is a joy and a comfort to revisit our last broadcast of her 2020 conversation with Krista. Jane Goodall began her epic work studying chimpanzees in the Gombe forest without even ... Show More
50m 51s
Jul 22
Joanna Macy, In Memoriam — Beauty and Wisdom and Courage (and Rilke) to Sustain Us
This rich, gorgeous conversation will fill your soul. The singular and beloved Joanna Macy died at home at the age of 96 on July 20, 2025. She has left an immense legacy of beauty and wisdom and courage to sustain us. A Buddhist teacher, ecological philosopher, and Rilke translat ... Show More
50m 57s
Jul 10
Ross Gay — Hope Portal, Episode 7
Ross Gay is a poet, community gardener, and teacher who brings another way of wisdom to the conviction that we have to know what we love and what delights us. And that we have to tend to that as fiercely as to what is broken and what we’re called to make better, what we’re called ... Show More
10m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2023
Alain de Botton: Lessons on Love and Life
Does the stigma around mental health impact your view of life? Joining Sarah Grynberg is prolific author, philosopher and creator of the School Of Life Alain de Botton, who is not only the brain behind 15 internationally bestselling books, but a man who strives to understand the ... Show More
57m 4s
Sep 2022
Alain De Botton (Replay): Life Is Not Meant To Be Perfect
This episode is a replay with the brilliant Alain de Botton. He is a writer of multiple books described as a ‘philosophy of everyday life.’ His first book, Essays in Love, was published when he was twenty-three and went on to sell millions of copies. He is also the co-founder of ... Show More
37m 18s
Jun 2014
Should atheists be more religious? Alain de Botton & James Orr - Unbelievable? 11 Feb 2012
Atheism 2.0 is the logical next step for non-believers according to cultural philosopher Alain de Botton.  He outlines why atheists should borrow from the art, architecture, community, and contemplative traditions of religion without the supernatural beliefs.  The book "Religion ... Show More
1h 20m
Sep 2019
#217 Alain de Botton: Life As A Process
Today's guest is Alain de Botton, which is very exciting, I've been a huge fan of this work for years.He is a writer of essayistic books that have been described as a ‘philosophy of everyday life.’ He’s written on love, travel, architecture and literature. His books have been bes ... Show More
38m 2s
May 2022
Richard Dawkins & Francis Collins • Biology, Belief and Covid: Can science and faith be reconciled?
The Big Conversation - Episode 1 | Season 4 Richard Dawkins is emeritus Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University and author of the best-selling atheist book 'The God Delusion'. Francis Collins is the former head of the Human Genome Project and Nationa ... Show More
1h 34m
Dec 2023
The Love Expert: We've Built A Loveless Society & It's Making Us Depressed! (here's the fix!) Alain De Botton
If you enjoy hearing about the philosophy of life, I recommend you check out my conversation with Ryan Holiday, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PafvhTSC4yEPhilosophy isn’t just for universities and lecture halls, philosophy can help guide every part of yo ... Show More
1h 35m
May 2021
From Atheist to Apologist | Nicolas C. Day | Episode 128
Nicolas C. Day joins Blake to talk about discovering the wonder of discovering a God you’ve always denied and how we can share that wonder with our children. Listen in as they have an authentic conversation about Nic’s shift from atheism to Christianity and his new fiction novel ... Show More
31m 20s
Nov 2021
Dr. Dark: Social Justice, Elton John, and the Bible
Send us a textIn this episode, Katie chats with David Dark, a critically acclaimed author and Assistant Professor of Religion and the Arts in the College of Theology at Belmont University. His books include “Life’s Too Short To Pretend You’re Not Religious” “The Sacredness of Que ... Show More
1h 8m
Jul 2020
Alain de Botton (Part 2) - How to Deal with Jealousy and Keep Your Partner Faithful
In Part 2 of my interview with British-Swiss philosopher, Alain de Botton, we continue our conversation - which has since become one of my favorites - on all things love, extending into dating dynamics, dealing with jealousy, the confusing language of sex, and God's role in all t ... Show More
34m 54s