This book is about the times when we become unwell. When we lose our sense of direction and hope. When we feel that we have let ourselves and everyone else down. Above all, though, this book is about how we recover, how we pick up the thread again, how we rediscover the meaning we have lost, how we reconnect with people, and how we learn to enjoy life again.
In The Therapeutic Journey, Alain de Botton follows every stage of a journey toward mental well-being, from the first crisis to recovery: the moments when we realize we can no longer cope; the acts of care and treatment that bring us temporary relief; and, finally, the long-awaited day when we regain a sense of stability. Written with deep understanding and compassion, this book is a valuable companion in our loneliest moments—whether we are experiencing the breakdown of a relationship, a major career crisis, or simply the stress of everyday life—as well as a practical guide to help us find reasons to hope.
In truth, we are all constantly on a journey of recovery; the challenge is for each of us to recognize our own.
In its own way, this book aims to be a sanctuary, an enclosed garden filled with encouraging intellectual flora and comfortable benches, where we can sit and gather our strength in an atmosphere of kindness and companionship. It aims to be a friend during some of the most difficult moments of our lives.
