De Botton on the difficult art of writing

Alain de Botton’s novels and his reflections on society, travel and philosophy have enjoyed huge success in Switzerland.

But the Swiss-born author says writing is an uphill struggle.

swissinfo: You’ve enjoyed great commercial success with your books. Do you find it hard to keep your feet on the ground?

Alain de Botton: I think writing is an incredibly humbling, even humiliating job. Every book is a terrible struggle and it never gets any easier. I think it would almost be impossible to remain a writer and have the kind of cheerful arrogance which one imagines would come with a certain degree of success. The job just doesn’t allow for it.

swissinfo: Do you ever feel daunted by the task that lies ahead in terms of other books you’d like to write?

A.d.B.: Yes. On any given day, I panic that life’s so short and I’ve only got 15 books left! But on another, I worry that everything’s been said already. My main worry is that there’s not much time left and it’s important to find the right form. A lot of writers fail because they haven’t found the right vehicle, the right kind of book through which to display their talents.

swissinfo: You are often described as a “thinker”. Is that how you see yourself and, if so, what does the word mean to you?

A.d.B.: Well, I like the idea of being called an essayist. “Thinker” sounds at once too grand and too banal. After all, we all think and the idea that someone should think all the time seems a bit reductive.

swissinfo: Do you think that you can bring about change in society through your books?

A.d.B.: Well, yes; but I’d like to be able to do more. Plato famously said the world wouldn’t be right until philosophers could become kings or kings, philosophers. So the idea of not just theorising about things but also changing the world has long been an attractive – but also very dangerous – idea for intellectuals, who’ve often ended up in the most terrible trouble!

So I could imagine doing something like reforming the education system and I’m not short of schemes but – probably for the good – I’ve been spared the opportunity of putting them into practice.

swissinfo: You have a big media presence in Switzerland and Britain. Do you think it’s part of a writer’s job to become a bit of a self-publicist?

A.d.B.: Yes. At some level you’re a salesman and that means getting on the road with your wares and seeing who’s interested.

But I’m not interested in becoming a celebrity and I’m keen to keep things private. But you have to make a bit of a pact with the devil and to some extent be cooperative with the modern media machine.

But the British media struggle with the idea of privacy and think that just because you publish books it gives them the right to interview your grandmother or whatever. There’s every reason to argue that the two are not connected and respect privacy.

swissinfo-interview: Vanessa Mock