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Whatever the merits of Proust's work, even a fervent admirer would be hard pressed to deny one of its awkward features: length.

A novel in seven volumes, Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time is considered a major literary work of the twentieth century. And even more crucially, one that you should have read by now. However, as one of its most distinguishing features is its staggering length, many of us feel intimidated and perhaps, even, fatigued at the thought of diving in. Alain de Botton's hilarious and unexpected Proustian manual, then, is the perfect antidote to this problem.

In How Proust Can Change Your Life, de Botton masterfully distils what Proust says about friendship, reading, being alive and taking your time, and mixes it with his own, no less nourishing commentary. As de Botton examines Proust for our collective benefit, we see the continued relevance of his work and the rich and varied insights he can offer us, from how to reinvigorate our relationships to being a good host. This is Proust as you've never seen him before. He may even change your life.

'Curious, humorous, didactic and dazzling' New Yorker

'As intoxicating as it is wise' Mail on Sunday