Art Against Despair

by The School of Life

An inspiring selection of images offering us hope and comfort, reminding us that we are not alone in our sorrow.

One of the most unexpectedly useful things we can do when we’re feeling glum or out of sorts is to look at pictures. The best works of art can lift our spirits, remind us of what we love and return perspective to our situation. A few moments in front of the right picture can rescue us.

This is a collection of the world’s most consoling and uplifting images, accompanied by small essays that talk about the works in a way that offers us comfort and inspiration. The images in the book range wildly across time and space: from ancient to modern art, east to west, north to south, taking in photography, painting, abstract and figurative art. All the images have been carefully chosen to help us with a particular problem we might face: a broken heart, a difficulty at work, the meanness of others, the challenges of family and friends... We’re invited to look at art with unusual depth and then find our way towards new hope and courage.

This is a portable museum dedicated to beauty and consolation, a unique book about art which is also about psychology and healing: a true piece of art therapy.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Psychology

201 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

The School of Life is a global organisation helping people lead more fulfilled lives.

We believe that the journey to finding fulfilment begins with self-knowledge. It is only when we have a sense of who we really are that we can make reliable decisions, particularly around love and work.

Sadly, tools and techniques for developing self-knowledge and finding fulfilment are hard to find – they’re not taught in schools, in universities, or in workplaces. Too many of us go through life without ever really understanding what’s going on in the recesses of our minds.

That’s why we created The School of Life; a resource for helping us understand ourselves, for improving our relationships, our careers and our social lives - as well as for helping us find calm and get more out of our leisure hours. We do this through films, workshops, books and gifts - as well as through a warm and supportive community.

Reviews

[Keen Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!

I admit I am somewhat conflicted with this latest School of Life offering. Drawn to this more out of loyalty and curiosity rather than despair, SoL is more often than not good value for money. In one sense I found myself making weird, dismissive noises as I stumbled upon a one cliché or platitude after another, and then there were other times where I was pulled right in and was able to see something in a new and refreshing way.

As well as coming across some familiar names and pieces of work, I also met many new artists and artworks from across the centuries too. You can’t get away from the fact that often you feel like the obvious is being stated and some lines and scenarios are almost comical in their narrow minded bourgeois concerns, but there is some really good stuff in here too, with valuable insights and doorways into many artists and their outlooks.

So if you can handle the occasional cringe inducing, meme friendly, fridge magnet philosophy, that there is enough clever reflections and profound revelations in here to make this an enjoyable and satisfying read. De Botton’s voice comes through strongly, and in spite of his many critics, I retain a soft spot and ultimate respect for him and his work, and his consistent ability to communicate art, philosophy and other worthwhile ideas to a wider audience in a clear, unpretentious way.

[Cati · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book. This is a hug in form of a book.

[Farida Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art Againts Despair is a thoughtful look at how looking at art can heal the soul. With a range of images; photography, painting and sculpture art is examines through time as is the emotional rollercoaster of life.
If you are feeling blue or out of your depth about a particular life circumstance then maybe this book is for you.
Its a book for art lovers, but also those unfamiliar with arts power to heal, in a frenetic, polarised world.

[Ellie Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a helpful little book. We have a collection of artworks, not bright and cheerful but reflective, quiet, and open to interpretation. Indeed, I don't know how many of the pieces were intended to be interpreted as they are here, but that's one of the wonderful things about art - it can mean so many different things, we can fit it to our lives as we please. Each work is paired with a thought provoking essay, again not meant to be cheery but meant to discuss different aspects of the human condition, those things that feel so very personal, like they happen only to us, but are actually things that pretty much everyone feels at one time or another. The point of this book is not so much to cheer you up with bright happy things, it's more to help you feel less alone when confronted with the various aspects of despair - loneliness, helplessness, grief, depression, etc. There is comfort in knowing you're not the only one that's ever felt like this, you're not the only one who's been hurt so badly, been forgotten or overlooked, and that Life isn't singling you out for torment. This book commiserates with you, and sometimes that's more helpful than being cheered up before you're ready.
And most importantly, it works; it did for me, anyway. When I picked this up, I was in a dark place mentally, and as I read through the essays and contemplated the artworks, I did feel better. Calmer, less desperate, more balanced I suppose. It helped me take a step back and get some perspective. Did it solve what was bothering me? No. But I don't feel so overwhelmed by it now, so I'd say that's a win.

[MKF]

DNF.

This is a book of art with the false promise these will help us in our moments of despair. I'm not sure the author understands the meaning of despair or just needed something to help sell his art book. The art chosen ranges from paintings to photos from old artist and modern ones. Here's my reason I really hate this if I'm in a bad place I do not want to look at art that includes a black square, a stone egg, or feathers. I don't care that you tried too hard to explain the pieces to make them seem uplifting and meaning you have failed. Who in a moment of despair wants to see a photo of a 15 year old screaming for the death of people? Do I really want to look at a photo of two people who made a sex machine? How is art of our digestive track supposed to help? These should be questions asked before they published this. In my despair I will turn to art that actually uplifts my spirits and maybe give me a little hope.

[Tabish Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art should inspire us and this book is a living embodiment of that with each chapter taking a different artwork and showing how it can lead us to live better lives using artworks ranging rom Rembrandt to Georgia O'Keeffe. It doesn't limit itself to traditional artworks either including a photo from the Mars Curiosity rover and other pieces that sit outside the art world.

It's not about what the artist wanted us to see but a raw emotional reaction to show art can help against despair.

Despite the title it's not just joyous images but also sad ones, but all help us to come to terms with how art can help us and how we should behave in life. A unique take from an art book and welcome different take on art.

[Kelly Hodgkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love art, I am passionate about taking in new art. But, part of what I love about art is that it is open to interpretation! To enjoy it, one has to shake off judgements and that is what I struggled with in this book. The art itself is diverse, some are only appropriate for adults, but the essays are quite opinionated. A couple are dismissive of religion and have political agendas. They add huge narratives to the artwork which aren’t from the artist. As such, I didn’t find it the comforting collection I had hoped. There are several alternative art collections for those seeking rest in artworks which I would recommend, I warn sensitive readers to be careful if you choose this one

Content warning: sexual content, nudity, strong language, abuse, triggering content

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I met many new-to-me artists in here, which I like… but this is definitely not as diverse and wide-ranging a collection of art as the jacket blurb promised. It was frustrating to see so many landscape-oriented pictures nearly disappear from being shrunk into a portrait page. It was difficult to see much detail in many picture.

Some of the little reflections were quite thought provoking. Many were either trite… or even slightly depressing.

[Gem · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful gorgeous book adorned with stunning images from ancient to contemporary art from across the world and accompanied by insightful short essays, this wonderful volume from The School of Life is a love letter to visual art’s capacity to console, inspire and generate hope.
Perfect Christmas Present for Art Lovers

[Peter Vegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to finish, since I wanted to cherish every page of this wonderful collection.

This is probably the best gift I ever gifted myself. I will keep coming back to this. This will become an active part of my furniture, always in reach to provide a bit of solace at the end of a weary day.

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was offered this book as an ARC via NetGalley and found it an unusual insight and interpretation of a variety of artworks across a wide span of art history. The title makes this book sound as though it would be depressing but actually I found it to be surprisingly uplifting.

[Caylee Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another beautiful collection of art by The School of Life. I ended up feeling despair rather than the opposite of it, but it also felt good not to be alone in these feelings.

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I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sekaringtias · Rating 5 out of 5]

As aptly described, this book is "..a portable museum dedicated to grief and courage." What a wonderful gift and accolade to art and how subtly it can soothe us