Kiss And Tell

This book was almost free. And it's hardcover...I am huge fan of de Botton and i've nothing but good things about this one. I am reading it now and i am very pleased... The idea of writing a biography of an anonymous woman, paying attention to the detail to someone simply to make amends with a careless and egocentric self is just brilliant... I'm really curious how it will all turn out...He's a great author. Really changes perspective on things. Read him!

This book was a hoot! The premise is that a biographer will write a biography about the next person he meets. Turns out to be a 20-something vaguely-flakish opinionated woman who he takes on as first a subject, then a girlfriend. There are hilarious "academic" rusings on the Nature of Biography," all wonderfully warped to accommodate the lovely Isabelle's life.

Most biographies feature people who are famous or notorious, no acquaintance of their biographer, and dead. Kiss and Tell is a bold and irreverent challenge to these biographical norms, which sets out to chart the life of someone unknown, intimate with their biographer, and still alive. The result is a witty and perceptive portrait of a young woman. Brilliant.

Alain de Botton's narration is intellectually entertaining in this biographical account of a woman he ultimately falls for . . . If you enjoyed Bridget Jones's Diary, then you must meet her as a male biographer in Kiss & Tell. Alain's language is very crafty and tastefully hilarious. Pop culture and classical philosophy meets in this comedic celebration of the 90s love life.