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Alain de Botton: Status Anxiety

Alain de Botton · documentary · Watch on YouTube

Philosophy & ethicsPsychology & human behaviorSocial issues & culture

What it is

Alain de Botton's 2004 documentary based on his book Status Anxiety, running over two hours. It asks why people in rich societies are still unhappy, and examines how worries about success, snobbery and meritocracy drive that anxiety.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN recommends it as an illuminating, eye-opening long-form take on status, luck and how we judge the successful and unsuccessful.

  • 4 people recommended it
  • 11 different months
  • 3 strong recommendations
  • first 2015, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “This doc is eye-opening”

    Why people seek status and fame

    netsharc, 2019-04 · Strong recommendation · in “A philosophy-quoting homeless man in China has fled internet fame”

  2. “I can highly recommend the book (and documentary)”

    Status Anxiety documentary with gems like vicar versus TV preacher

    ArnoVW, 2021-06 · Strong recommendation · in “We moderns are status-drunk”

  3. “For those who want to condense the reading experience, here is a 2.5 hr documentary version”

    Documentary condensing Status Anxiety book

    shenanigoat, 2015-08 · Recommendation · in “Why we travel”

  4. “May I suggest you watch Alain de Botton's Status Anxiety next time?”

    Alain de Botton documentary on status

    flycaliguy, 2016-11 · Recommendation · in “The Need to Read”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: status, philosophy, meritocracy, happiness, alain de botton

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