A Discussion and Critique of Alain de Botton's *The Course of Love*

The review and critique session of Alain de Botton's book *The Course of Love* was held with the presence of Dr. Mahmoud Moghaddasi, PhD in Philosophy, translator, and researcher, and Dr. Ali Saghebi, psychiatrist, on Friday, August 16, at Aftab Book Café.

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Excerpts from the Book

For Rabih, marriage is the culmination of a daring path toward absolute intimacy; a marriage proposal holds all the allure of jumping off a high cliff with one's eyes closed, hoping and trusting that the other will be down there to catch us.

People who are good listeners are just as important and rare as those who are good at expressing themselves.

To have good relationships, we don't need to constantly act wisely; all the skill we need is to be able, every once in a while, to openly admit that perhaps, in one or two situations, we have acted foolishly.

If we truly love someone, we would never want them to change.

One of the signs of an anxiously attached person is the inability to tolerate complex situations and a dramatic reaction to such situations, like silence, hesitation, or a remark tinged with indifference. These are quickly interpreted, through negativity, as insults or malicious attacks. For a person with anxious attachment, any minor slight, harsh word, or inattention may be perceived as a serious threat heralding the collapse of the relationship.

There are very few people in this world who are truly always malicious; those who hurt us are themselves in agony. Therefore, the appropriate response is never cynicism or violence but, on those rare occasions when one can manage it, always love.

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Book Information

Book: The Course of Love

Author: Alain de Botton

Translator: Zahra Bakhtiari

Publisher: Chatrang

Number of Pages: 43

Second Edition Price: 21,000 Tomans

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Audio of Dr. Mahmoud Moghaddasi's Talk

Audio of Dr. Ali Saghebi's Talk

Audio of Q&A Session

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