He currently lives in London with his wife, Charlotte, and their two
young sons - Samuel (b. September 2004) and Saul (b. September 2006).
He is the only son of Gilbert de Botton and Jacqueline Burgauer (his
parents were married in 1962 and divorced in 1988 - his father married
Janet Wolfson in 1990). He also has one sister named Miel. His father
passed away from a heart attack in 2000.
He was born in Switzerland, but grew up primarily in England. As a
result, he speaks three languages: English, French and German.
His deepest literary influences include Nicholson Baker, Julian Barnes,
Roland Barthes and Milan Kundera.
His favourite philosophers are Epicurus, Montaigne, Nietzsche, Plato,
Schopenhauer, Seneca and Socrates.
Currently promoting "The Architecture Of Happiness" (his
latest novel). (October 2006)