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The Architecture of Happiness
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 03-04-09
- Language: English
- Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: $17.47
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In this engaging series of lectures, Carroll William Westfall, the University of Notre Dame's Frank Montana Professor of Architecture, delves into the classical principles of Western architecture. Exploring features such as ornamentation, decoration, and innovation, Professor Westfall shows how architecture is derived from the very principles that form the cornerstones of our civilization - and, with scholarly precision, he also demonstrates how this field of endeavor is rooted in nature itself.
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Publisher's Summary
One of the great, but often unmentioned, causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our environment: the kinds of chairs, walls, buildings, and streets that surround us. And yet, a concern for architecture is too often described as frivolous, even self-indulgent. Alain de Botton starts from the idea that where we are heavily influences who we can be, and argues that it is architecture's task to stand as an eloquent reminder of our full potential.
Critic Reviews
"With originality, verve, and wit, de Botton explains how we find reflections of our own values in the edifices we make....Altogether satisfying." ( San Francisco Chronicle)
"Entertaining and stimulating....The strength of his book is that it encourages us to open our eyes and really look at the buildings in which we live and work." ( Publishers Weekly)
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- JJ HUNSECKER
- 12-23-16
LOVED it!
If you could sum up The Architecture of Happiness in three words, what would they be?
Verbalizes the difficult to articulate feelings that one experiences when experiencing a man-made place.
What did you like best about this story?
It's an unusual and difficult to tackle area. Nebulous. But the author has gotten the lightning into the bottle, as they say.
What does Simon Vance bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Vance brings to the material the character of a like-able and effusive aesthete and bon-vivant. The perfect voice for the elevated and of the moment ideas in the book.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
The impossible book to capture on film has been made.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- John
- 10-23-15
Wonderful book
Alian de Botton is a great writer and this work demonstrates that beautifully. If you're at all interested in this book or aesthetic philosophy it is a must have for you. Also be sure to check out Alian's YouTube channel "The School of Life)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Lyle
- 03-06-16
Valuable Book
Beautiful writing that offers thoughtful commentary on the biases and aspirations that shape our built environment.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gaya
- 04-09-18
Interesting book about architecture
Any additional comments?
I like architecture, i purchased this book along with another, lets see how it goes.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Yvonne Reed
- denver co
- 12-24-17
Interesting but not satisfying
The narrator was good. The book was observations with little thesis. The observations were interesting, but clinical. I was searching for a perspective, but there was none. Perhaps the author should have narrowed his subject matter to one city or architectural style.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Eric
- 12-07-17
Emotional, Powerful, Enlightening
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, need fifteen to submit this.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Spirit
- Pensacola, FL
- 08-15-17
Many elegant words used for a simple topic.
Let me save you a few hours: Architecture is an extension of the human psyche. All laws, rules, observations, & insinuations applied to the conscious & subconscious human mind can be observed within the structural art known as architecture. However, if you enjoy overthinking this subject & wish to get into the mind of this author, this book is for you. To each his own.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sarah
- Bennington, VT, United States
- 10-08-12
Enjoyed but narrator difficult to listen to.
I enjoyed the book and loved the subject matter/the author's insights but I found Simon Vance's heavy intellectual voice distracting and difficult to listen to. I would have preferred a different narrator.
1 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Eline
- 03-30-14
a bit pompous
Would you try another book from Alain de Botton and/or Simon Vance?
no
What could Alain de Botton have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
the theories are of interest to me, but it is hard to wade through the pompous language
Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Simon Vance?
Karen Savage
What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
annoyment
Any additional comments?
Was hoping that listening to the book would help me get through the over-the-top language, but the awful and pretentious reading discouraged that
1 of 6 people found this review helpful