Alain de Botton was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1969 and now lives in London. He is a writer of essayistic books, which refer both to his own experiences and ideas - and those of artists, philosophers and thinkers. It's a style of writing that has been termed a 'philosophy of everyday life.' His books include Essays in Love, How Proust Can Change Your Life, The Consolations of Philosophy, Status Anxiety and The Architecture of Happiness.