Ideas change everything

A kinder, gentler philosophy of success

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Alain de Botton |

TEDGlobal 2009

• July 2009

Alain de Botton examines our ideas of success and failure -- and questions the assumptions underlying these two judgments. Is success always earned? Is failure? He makes an eloquent, witty case to move beyond snobbery to find true pleasure in our work.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Alain de Botton examines our ideas of success and failure -- and questions the assumptions underlying these two judgments. Is success always earned? Is failure? He makes an eloquent, witty case to move beyond snobbery to find true pleasure in our work.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

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Sign up for a class at the School of Life — and learn how to be better at living.

About the speaker

Alain de Botton

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Through his witty and literate books -- and his new School of Life -- Alain de Botton helps others find fulfillment in the everyday.

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Status Anxiety

Alain de Botton | Vintage (2005)

Alain de Botton - *Status Anxiety*

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Sign up for a class at the School of Life — and learn how to be better at living.