Why was Proust a generally unhappy man? Why might unhappiness or suffering be an advantage in the art of living?

Describe what friendship should and should not be, according to the conclusions De Botton draws.

What kind of reaction did initial publishers have to Proust's In Search of Lost Time?

Describe the episode with the narrator of In Search of Lost Time and the madeleine cake and how we might apply its lessons to better living.

What explains Proust's disdain for cliches in writing?

Why did Proust feel that Impressionist painters like Claude Monet were valuable? What did they accomplish in Proust's view?

Why does Proust recommend the paintings of Jean-Baptiste Chardin?