Alain de Bottom was 21 when he wrote this book, and while impressive, his age upon writing confirms why this book sounded more like intellectual gymnastics than good storytelling. (I really didn't like the narrator's voice, so that might've lended why I didn't like the book so much.)

On the positive side, he gave me the term "romantic terrorism" which I think we've all experienced one way or another. I just never had the words to articulate it -- and what a gift that is to have now thanks to this book. :)