I've recently finished the audiobook Status Anxiety by Alain De Botton. I somehow stumbled among Alain from Audible suggesting his books to me. One could suspect this is due to my mass consumption of prior philosophy and self-help style of books.

Truly I am fortunate to find this book, as it has highlighted some truths that have been enlightened to me from some recent events in my professional career. Alain introduces the idea that in the last few centuries a new phenomenon has occurred in peoples mind which is introduced as the anxiety and worry from not being successful enough. The author does a quick job of introducing the idea, where it has come from, and how mankind has both encouraged, sustained and rejected our worries in ourselves and others.

I really appreciated having some of these issues that I have in my own life being pointed out by an author, really bringing some peace I have to my own struggles. The author makes clear distict references from several authors, poets, and great writers of the past that attempted to highlight status anxiety. An idea Alain shared that resonated with me was "we only know our status when we compare. We have the best ever but are unsure of it unless we compare. Thus the paradox of how good we have it." Further driving the point - we mainly envy those in similar situations and envious of the 'wrong' things.

The book attempts to uncover the ideas that although we have more things available to us than ever before still make us no happier. Alain takes us to Moscow to cover the Nixon administrations coverage of standard american households - a shock to the Russian power that such consumerism exists. While the people in Russia lack those goods the Americans were showing off, the Russians cannot help but be envious.

Some cures that Alain brings forth come in art, philosophy, politics, religion, and travel. Alain makes a point that Bohemianism is another cure; I wish only the book were updated with some up to date tips on how one could make that lifestyle more possible in 2020 and beyond.

There is also a video documentary of this book which can be viewed here. I have not seen it yet, but I hope to take an afternoon and watch it soon.

What I liked

  • The awareness that Alain brings that we all suffer from not being 'successful' enough. This has been brought on by the idea that more success means more status in the world. Success and status brings certain advantages in life, such as wealth.
  • Defining what snobbery is and what are some symptoms to become aware of.
  • We seem to have a certain spin to accept and respect failure, but somehow despise it in others.
  • Since the old age until now - we always look towards successful people as high status. We strive for high status and become anxious from that desire.
  • The solution and cure to status anxiety can be found in meditation, art, poetry, and bohemiamism. Awareness must come first.
  • "The most profitable way of addressing the condition may be to attempt to understand and to speak of it." - Alain De Botton
  • "When prejudice comes upon you - do not ask what is wrong with you. Ask what is wrong with everyone else for allowing that to happen" - Alain De Botton
  • Focus on death, momento mori, to find the true priorities in life.

What I didn't like

  • As much as we all value meritocracy - that idea and mindset seem to drive status anxiety further.
  • Seeing my own status anxiety and the struggles I have to make others see me in a perspective that I wish to be 'higher status'.
  • Feeling like there is some more the author and myself can do to help - but we might be trapped in status anxiety from that.

Additional references