Art as Therapy

Published by Phaidon Press, 2016, softcover, illustrated, 238 pages, condition: new.

Two authorities on popular culture reveal the ways in which art can enhance mood and enrich lives

This passionate, thought-provoking, often funny, and always-accessible book proposes a new way of looking at art, suggesting that it can be useful, relevant, and therapeutic. Through practical examples, the world-renowned authors argue that certain great works of art have clues as to how to manage the tensions and confusions of modern life. Chapters on love, nature, money, and politics show how art can help with many common difficulties, from forging good relationships to coming to terms with mortality.

This is the art book I've been looking for. It talks about the purpose of art alongside a few key paintings and doesn't treat art like a science with dates, historical context, and isms that are detailed and ultimately forgettable. There are some really itneresting ideas scattered throughout, such as a museum organised by emotional states instead of chronology, and how art can make us better lovers (by teaching us patience, attention to details, and curiosity).