The School of Life is a little shop with big ambitions. Tucked away on Marchmont Street and on the cusp of Bloomsbury this cultural apothecary specialises in providing its patrons with ideas to live by. Be they guided holidays to discover the splendour of the everyday, meals with a menu of conversation topics, secular sermons from cultural mavericks, a course from the curriculum of play, family, work, politics and love, or just answers to those really big questions from one of the many experts on hand, this remarkable little place is something of a revelation.
And, there are also books. This is one of the reasons I popped in on a sunny Tuesday morning for a chat and a cup of Earl Gray with the School’s director, Sophie Howarth. It is quite refreshing to browse by need rather than genre, so it’s something from the shelf “for those whose jobs are too small for their spirits” (not me then) or perhaps something “for those who have fallen profoundly and unexpectedly in love” (more like it).
When I think back on my school days, which even at the tender age of twenty-seven seem a depressingly long time ago, I have a few enduring memories. From primary school it was my first taste of gambling: beating the headmaster at chess and winning a King Size Mars Bar for my troubles. At Middle School it was the shoddy application of Tipp-Ex over every single class photo after the brazen two fingers of my friend were noticed only when it was too late. Or, finally, a frankly unbelievable “talent show” entry that would have made Britney blush.
Despite these, and the obvious perks of early school life you are never really learning a love of wisdom, but rather training yourself to remember the specific answers to a set of clearly defined questions. Even the boom in night schools and adult learning seem to fill voids rather than broaden minds. So it’s rather nice that Sophie and her team have started this unusual and interesting venture and next time you’re walking around Russell Square, why don’t you pop in and see what they prescribe.
Matt Clacher
Literary Marketing Executive
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Hi there - I thought you might be interested to hear that Carbon Retirement is offering the opportunity to win a free course at The School Of Life!
There are details about the competition at the link below (it only takes a minute to enter):
http://www.carbonretirement.com/pages/newsletter_three#1
Posted by: Dan | March 20, 2009 at 01:51 PM