The Bookworm Club: Book Review: Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton

Book Review: Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton

Posted in Labels: adult bookworm, alain de botton, anxiety, penguin, school, status, success 5:55 PM

Reviewed by Anastasia S.

We give it: ***

"Status Anxiety" basically explains why we are so worried about our jobs,why we are jealous of our friends,why we attach so much importance to success, achievement and prestige, why instead of living peacefully we are always pushed to be so competitive.

I have particularly noticed it in our school where everyone is obssessed with how many boyfriends/girlfriends/friends they have got? "Wow do you really go to that cool club/have that cool swimming pool?" etc. Grades especially are one pain in the neck -- if you get less than a 'B' you are dunce even if the subject doesn't suit you or the style of the test doesn't suit you (i.e. you are still good at the subject). It is a big deal even if the subject is not important to you and generally there is a tendency to aim for the "A" as an end itself rather than the means and often at the expense of knowledge itself. Also that's how teachers are often evaluated not by how much stuff they teach the students but petty little things like grades - that is, beyond certain labels, their worth is not recognised.
The book deals with this labelling and shows just how destructive it is and just how much more than we realise there is to a person. It also mentions how to find inner peace in identity crisis and how to relate it to the world around us.

It is seriously an important, must-read book that is a real eye-opener, however the vocabulary can be a bit tough so it's best for adult bookworms.