ramblings

I love the author, but this book didn't work for me. It tries to extract certain good things about several religions, and apply it in real (secular) life. The argument isn't exactly solid (why do we have to look into religion? Why not just point out social ills and correct them?); it's more of an apology, really, for religious beliefs. There are some nice quotes and ideas, but the whole book just falls flat. And the pictures are excessive. I've read complaints about de Botton placing too many (unnecessary) pictures in his other books and I didn't agree with those. This book, however, does that.