Gifts for Life | Christmas 2018 from The School of Life

GIFTS FOR LIFE

t h e s c h o o l o f life

Give a Life-Changing Gift We might not realise it, but when choosing gifts we tend to look for items that will improve the lives of our loved ones in some way.

Perhaps we search for a kitchen gadget to save them time, a watch to make them feel more stylish, or a scented bath oil to help them relax. We think about what we can give that will make their days just a little bit easier, tidier or more enjoyable. Yet, for one reason or another, we don’t tend to seek out items that could help a friend or loved one feel more confident, find love, or work through a challenging time in their career – even though these are the areas in which we could all do with the most help and support.

At The School of Life we are dedicated to helping people live happier, calmer and more fulfilled lives. We’ve curated a range of gifts designed to improve the lives of our loved ones in the most profound and meaningful ways. Our gifts are beautiful keepsakes that can be returned to, regularly over the years, each time provoking a different perspective or idea. They are more than just gifts for Christmas, they are Gifts for Life.

Read on to discover our range of gifts designed to help us to make relationships last, cultivate calm, develop self-knowledge, communicate better and master the art of confidence.

the school of life – gifts for life

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w h er e to s tart Our Essentials Range brings together the tools that are the most central to our mission of developing emotional intelligence. They help us to learn the language of emotional intelligence, to get to know ourselves and others a little better and to take time out of our frenetic lives to spend on those projects that matter most to us.

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Know Yourself Prompt Cards 60 cards in box 104 × 73 × 36 mm £10

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Writing as Therapy Journal: Projects A5 Linen bound notebook / 192 pp 210 × 148 mm / £15

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100 Questions: Original Edition 100 question cards with box 150 × 115 × 50 mm £20

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15 Minutes Timer Glass / Hourglass, instruction booklet and box / 130 × 55 mm £20

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The School of Life Dictionary Hardback book / 280 pp 201 × 147 × 27 mm £20

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The Essentials Range Gift Set includes all products on this page £95

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se lf-kno w l edge In Ancient Greece, when the philosopher Socrates was asked to sum up what all philosophical commandments could be reduced to, he replied: ‘know yourself.’ Self-knowledge matters so much because it is only on the basis of an accurate sense of who we are that we can make reliable decisions – particularly around love and work. These tools help us to understand the hard-to-access parts of our minds and to know our deep personalities as well as we can.

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No One Is Normal Tote 100% cotton / Heavy-duty canvas 375 × 400 mm £35

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The Decision Dice Wooden dice and printed booklet in a gift box / 100 × 90 × 60 mm £20

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Self-Knowledge Hardback book / 96 pp 187 x 115 x 10 mm £10

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Self-Knowledge Gift Set includes all products on this page £50

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l ov e It is estimated that 70% of a person’s life satisfaction depends on the quality of their romantic relationships. Yet this is an area where we too often get stuck, unable to make ourselves understood or find the sort of love we need. These tools are designed to help us escape our frustrations, learn to communicate properly and put us on the path to sincere and flourishing relationships.

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How to Find Love Hardback book / 96 pp 187 × 115 × 10 mm £10

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Stay or Leave? Card Game 52 game cards 89 × 126 mm £10

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Sex Hardback book / 128 pp 179 × 120 × 15 mm £15

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Who Should I Be With?

Card Game 52 game cards / 89 × 126 mm £10

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Relationships Hardback book / 118 pp 190 × 140 × 16 mm £15

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How to Find Love Gift Set includes all products on this page £50

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w o rk Most of us don’t want to work merely for money: we also want to ensure that our job is a source of creativity, meaning and (on a good day) pleasure. The tools in this range help us to overcome some of the obstacles that prevent us from finding truly satisfying work.

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100 Questions: Work Edition 100 question cards with box 150 × 115 × 50 mm £20

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A Job to Love Hardback book / 192 pp 195 × 130 × 18 mm £15

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Career Crisis Prompt Cards 60 cards in box 104 × 73 × 36 mm £10

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Fulfilling Work Gift Set includes all products on this page £50

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What Should I Do With My Life?

Card Game 52 game cards / 89 × 126 mm £10

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C a lm Calm has a deep and natural appeal. Most of us long to be more patient, unruffled, at ease and capable of reacting with quiet good humour to life’s setbacks and irritants. But if calm is an ocean, most of us are still in the shallows. These tools help us to secure calm on a regular basis and to grow into the serene people we have always longed to be.

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15 Minutes Timer Glass / Hourglass, instruction booklet and box / 130 × 55 mm £20

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Calm Hardback book / 136 pp 190 × 160 × 17 mm £15

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Calm Prompt Cards 60 cards in box 104 × 73 × 36 mm £10

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Calm Gift Set includes all products on this page £50

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Cards for Perspective Paper / 20 cards 159 × 115 × 20 mm £12

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What is Emotional Intelligence? emotional intelligence is the quality that enables us to confront with patience, insight and imagination the many problems that we face in our affective relationship with ourselves and with others.

The term may sound odd. We are used to referring to intelligence as a general quality, without unpicking a particular variety that a person might possess; therefore, we do not tend to highlight the value of a distinctive sort of intelligence that currently does not enjoy the prestige it should.

Every sort of intelligence signals an ability to navigate well around a particular set of challenges: mathematical, linguistic, technical, commercial. When we say that someone is clever but has messed up their personal life, or that they have acquired a fortune but are restless and sad, or that they are powerful but intolerant and unimaginative, we are pointing to a deficit in what deserves to be called Emotional Intelligence.

In social life, we can feel the presence of Emotional Intelligence in a sensitivity to the moods of others and in a readiness to grasp the surprising things that may be going on for them beneath the surface. Emotional Intelligence recognises a role for interpretation and knows that a fiery outburst might be a disguised plea for help; that a political rant may be provoked by hunger; or that concealed within a forceful jolliness may be a sorrow that has been sentimentally disavowed.

In relation to ourselves, Emotional Intelligence shows up in a scepticism around our emotions, especially those of love, desire, anger, envy, anxiety and professional ambition. The Emotionally Intelligent refuse to trust their first impulses or the wisdom of their feelings. They know that hatred may mask love, that anger may be a cover for sadness, and that we are prone to huge and costly inaccuracies in whom we desire and what we seek.

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Emotional Intelligence is also what distinguishes those who are crushed by failure from those who can greet the troubles of existence with a melancholy and at points darkly humorous resilience. The Emotionally Intelligent appreciate the role of wellhandled pessimism within the overall economy of a good life.

Emotional Intelligence is not an inborn talent. It is the result of education – specifically in how to interpret ourselves, where our emotions arise from, how our childhoods influence us and how we might best navigate our fears and wishes. In the Utopia, it would be routine to be taught Emotional Intelligence from the youngest age, before we have the opportunity to make too many mistakes.

Our Technical Intelligence has led us to tame nature and conquer the planet. A wiser, saner future for the race will depend on our capacity to master and then seductively teach the rudiments of Emotional Intelligence – while there is still time.

Extract from The School of Life Dictionary

The School of Life Dictionary Hardback book / 280 pp 201 × 147 × 27 mm £20

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‘ T he only people we can think of as normal are those we don’t yet know very well.’

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small gifts, big ideas £10 and Under

Phone Detox Wiro-bound flip book / 62 pp 140 × 70 × 12 mm £8

Calm Prompt Cards Paper / 60 cards 104 × 73 × 36 mm £10

Kindness Prompt Cards Paper / 60 cards 104 × 73 × 36 mm £10

Things Never To Tell Children Hardback illustrated book / 32 pp 180 × 180 × 7 mm £8

On Confidence Hardback book / 96 pp 187 × 115 × 10 mm £10

How to Find Love Hardback book / 96 pp 187 × 115 × 10 mm £10

No One Really Knows Pin Badge Enamel / 22 mm diameter £6

Cheerful Despair Pin Badge Enamel / 22 mm diameter £6

Am I Normal? Card Game 52 game cards 89 × 126 mm £10

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small gifts, big ideas £25 and Under

15 Minutes Timer Glass / Hourglass, instruction booklet and box / 130 × 55 mm £20

Writing as Therapy Journal: Projects A5 Linen bound notebook / 192 pp 210 × 148 mm £15

The Decision Dice Wooden dice and printed booklet in a gift box / 100 × 90 × 60 mm £20

Great Thinkers Hardback book / 480 pp 202 × 150 × 45 mm £20

Small Pleasures Hardback book / 248 pp 210 × 140 × 25 mm £15

A Job to Love Hardback book / 192 pp 195 × 130 × 18 mm £15

Gratitude Card Set Paper / 114g / 60 cards 100 × 80 × 22 mm £12

Untranslatable Words Paper / 20 cards 159 × 115 × 20 mm £12

Emotional Baggage Pouch: Orange Heavy-duty canvas 266 × 180 mm £18

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The Marriage Box Paper / 20 cards in a gift box 220 × 158 × 22 mm £22

Wisdom Paper / 20 cards with FSC wooden stand / 220 × 158 × 25 mm £22

20 Aphorisms 20 cards / 220 × 158 × 25 mm £20

Relationship Reboot Paper / 20 cards 159 × 115 × 20 mm £12

Resilience Paper / 60 cards 110 × 80 × 22 mm £12

Cards for Perspective Paper / 20 cards 159 × 115 × 20 mm £12

The Joys & Sorrows of Parenting Board book / 56 pp 170 × 170 mm £12

The Psychology of Colour Pencil Set 12 coloured pencils / Definition booklet / 184 × 102 mm £18

Pillow Talk Paper / 60 cards 80 × 100 × 32 mm £12

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The School of Life Press We established The School of Life Press to condense our learning into a collection of wise and considered texts. Our titles are designed to entertain, educate, console and transform.

Great Thinkers Hardback book / 480 pp 202 × 150 × 45 mm £20

Calm Hardback book / 136 pp 190 × 160 × 7 mm £15

Small Pleasures Hardback book / 248 pp 210 × 140 × 25 mm £15

Relationships Hardback book / 120 pp 190 × 140 × 16 mm £15

Sex Hardback book / 128 pp 179 × 120 × 15 mm £15

A Job to Love Hardback book / 192 pp 195 × 130 × 18 mm £15

On Being Nice Hardback book / 128 pp 125 × 185 × 15 mm £15

Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person Hardback book / 72 pp 187 × 115 × 7 mm £10

On Confidence Hardback book / 96 pp 187 × 115 × 10 mm £10

How to Find Love Hardback book / 96 pp 187 × 115 × 10 mm £10

Self-Knowledge Hardback book / 96 pp 187 x 115 x 10 mm £10

Find the full range of titles published by The School of Life Press at theschooloflife.com/shop

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Games for More engaging Holidays

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100 Questions: Original Edition Paper / 100 cards 150 × 115 × 50 mm £20

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Who Should I Be With?

Card Game Paper / 52 cards 89 × 126 × 25 mm / £10

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The Confessions Game Paper / 100 cards with dice 100 × 90 × 60 mm £20

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The Thinker Game Paper / 52 cards 89 × 126 × 23 mm £10

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Culture – A Memory Game Paper / 36 pairs 196 × 196 × 26 mm £18

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Make an Honest Statement

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Good Enough T-Shirt 100% cotton Navy with white print £24

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Writing as Therapy Journal: Self-Help Book / Inner Voices Paper / A5 linen bound notebook 192 pp / 210 × 148 mm / £15

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Cheerful Despair Pin Badge Enamel / 22 mm diameter £6

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No One Really Knows Pin Badge Enamel / 22 mm diameter £6

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Embrace the Ordinary Tea Towel 100% cotton / Blue with white print / 730 × 530 mm £12

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No One Is Normal Tote 100% cotton / Heavy-duty canvas 375 × 400 mm £35

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All of these gifts and more are available online at theschooloflife.com/shop. We ship worldwide.

Visit our website to sign up to our newsletter and be the first to hear about new products and events.

You can also visit our London Store to browse the full range: 70 Marchmont Street London wc1n 1ab +44 ( 0 ) 207 833 1010 For high res images or press loans contact Seen PR on +44 ( 0 ) 1273 722 469 / info@seenpr.com /theschooloflifelondon @theschooloflifelondon @theschooloflife /theschooloflifetv

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theschooloflife.com / shop