The Architecture of Happiness

Bestsellingauthor,AlaindeBottonhaswrittenaboutlove,travel,statusandhowphilosophycanconsoleus.Now,heturnshisattentiontooneofourmostintensebutoftenhiddenloveaffairs:withourhousesandtheirfurnishings.Heasks:Whatmakesahousetrulybeautiful?Whyaremanynewhousessougly?Whydowearguesobitterlyaboutsofasandpictures-andcandifferencesoftasteeverbesatisfactorilyresolved?Willminimalismmakeushappierthanornaments?Toanswerthesequestionsandmanymore,deBottonlooksatbuildingsacrosstheworld,frommedievalwoodenhutstomodernskyscrapers;heexaminessofasandcathedrals,teasetsandofficecomplexes,andteasesoutahostofoftensurprisingphilosophicalinsights.The"ArchitectureofHappiness"willtakeyouonabeguilingtourthroughthehistoryandpsychologyofarchitectureandinteriordesign,andwillforeveralteryourrelationshipwithbuildings.Itwillchangethewayyoulookatyourcurrenthome-andhelpyoumaketherightdecisionsaboutyournextone.