School of Life Teaches Life Skills
by Bonnie Alter, London 
on 01. 8.09
image from the School of Life
We've passed the store front and wondered what it was--a quiet looking shop, with not much inside on a leafy street . But as we learned, there is not much inside because it is all in the mind. It's adult education with a sense of style; geared for everyday living. The "school" offers lectures, individual programmes and speakers on "how to live wisely and well." It covers the big issues of life: love, politics, work, family, play.
The courses have been put together by some of the leading writers, artists, philosophers and academics that London has to offer. They are short, for the modern busy person, either a weekend, or a one-off or a few weeks in a row. Students can attend a Sunday morning "sermon" on topics such as punctuality, pessimism, seduction or humour. If lack of a decent social life is getting you down, go to a dinner where diners are given a specially-designed conversation menu to help you get the most from talking to a stranger.
Started by a woman who was looking for a place where you could go to think seriously about life, Sophie Howarth has created a social enterprise for the mind. It's a private but open-doored university where one can take courses, read books and even travel in new ways. There was a weekend trip with famous photographer Martin Parr teaching photography for a weekend on the Isle of Wight. In April, an urban gardening day-long course will include the famed Guerilla Gardener, Richard Reynolds. Part of the day will be spent transforming a neglected public space into a new little garden.
A one-off meeting with a free-lance expert will allow you to pursue a burning question or an area of expertise that only a pro can answer. Bibliotherapists will provide a tailor-made reading list for any area that you would like some books to shed light on. Maybe set up a reading list for six months about a particular topic. In January they are offering a course on "How to be Optimistic"--what a way to start the new year. The School of Life
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I like the advertising posters: they remind me of the Loesje posters you find all over the Netherlands and in other parts of Europe as well.
ive seen these quotes on the site aphorismoftheday
is there a chance they were stolen. anyways good tips?