Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Alain de Botton traces the origins of our anxieties and struggles to the love that we received - or, perhaps, didn't receive - in childhood.
How much of who we are is determined during the earliest years of our lives?
With a free trial, you can watch the full talk NOW at iai.tv/video/love-is-more-than-magic?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=description
Despite our longing for lasting connection, love often falters on the rocks of misunderstanding and unmet expectations. Philosopher and founder of The School of Life, Alain de Botton, explores how romantic ideals mislead us and why emotional maturity, not chemistry, holds the key to enduring intimacy. Drawing on philosophy and psychology, he examines how our childhood shapes desire and how love, far from being a mystical or ethereal force, is a demanding skill we must patiently and consciously learn.
"One of our most consistently illuminating writers on contemporary culture." — John Gray
#philosophy #psychology #therapy
Alain de Botton is the bestselling philosopher redefining how we understand love, work, and meaning in the modern world. He first rose to prominence with Essays in Love, a novel-philosophy hybrid that became an international bestseller. He has since authored several bestselling works that blend literary elegance, psychological insight, and philosophical depth.
The Institute of Art and Ideas features videos and articles from cutting edge thinkers discussing the ideas that are shaping the world, from metaphysics to string theory, technology to democracy, aesthetics to genetics. Subscribe today! iai.tv/subscribe?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=love-is-more-than-magic
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Alain de Botton traces the origins of our anxieties and struggles to the love that we received - or, perhaps, didn't receive - in childhood.
How much of who we are is determined during the earliest years of our lives?
With a free trial, you can watch the full talk NOW at iai.tv/video/love-is-more-than-magic?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=description
Despite our longing for lasting connection, love often falters on the rocks of misunderstanding and unmet expectations. Philosopher and founder of The School of Life, Alain de Botton, explores how romantic ideals mislead us and why emotional maturity, not chemistry, holds the key to enduring intimacy. Drawing on philosophy and psychology, he examines how our childhood shapes desire and how love, far from being a mystical or ethereal force, is a demanding skill we must patiently and consciously learn.
"One of our most consistently illuminating writers on contemporary culture." — John Gray
#philosophy #psychology #therapy
Alain de Botton is the bestselling philosopher redefining how we understand love, work, and meaning in the modern world. He first rose to prominence with Essays in Love, a novel-philosophy hybrid that became an international bestseller. He has since authored several bestselling works that blend literary elegance, psychological insight, and philosophical depth.
The Institute of Art and Ideas features videos and articles from cutting edge thinkers discussing the ideas that are shaping the world, from metaphysics to string theory, technology to democracy, aesthetics to genetics. Subscribe today! iai.tv/subscribe?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=love-is-more-than-magic
For debates and talks: iai.tv
For articles: iai.tv/articles
For courses: iai.tv/iai-academy/courses
