Monday 6 July 2009

A Second Gasket

The thin-skinned sage has been at it again. Taking offence seems to be turning into a full-time occupation with him. I've always worked on the assumption - indeed the experience - that the words that really hurt are those you fear might have a germ of truth in them. And also that any writer who does other than rise good-humouredly above negative criticism runs a serious risk of appearing to be a total arse.

4 comments:

  1. haha oh dear,

    "look, look at my bank account! There's ONLY 7.5 million quid in it, which I thoroughly deserve by the way, although I genuinely think it should be more"

    -gauche, childish and insecure all at the same time. Funny how those who spend all day examining human frailties seem to have no similar awareness when it comes to their own behaviour

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  2. I've not read any of his books, but I had the impression that De Botton had found the secret of contentment (something to do with reading Proust in airports) and would thus have conquered these feelings of murderous rage and self-loathing?

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  3. Excellent article. I've just discovered a new reason to loath De Botton.

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  4. Well, surely if he's worth 7 and a half million he could stop writing, retire and leave us all alone?

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