In his extraordinary new book, Alain de Botton considers the hopes and fears we have for our homes at a new level of depth and insight, considering such questions as: Why do people disagree about taste? Can beautiful surroundings make us good? Not to mention: What makes a window frame attractive? Rooted in the idea that architecture has the power to influence how we feel and that we are different people in different buildings, The Beauty of Houses suggests how we might learn to build better, more attractive dwellings, in which we would stand a higher chance of happiness.