Alain de Botton
Alain de Botton was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1969 and now lives in London. He is a writer of essayistic books that have been described as a 'philosophy of everyday life.'  He’s written on love, travel, architecture and literature. His books have been bestsellers in 30 countries. Alain’s newest book is published in April 2009 and is titled The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work. 

Brent Hoberman
Brent Hoberman co-founded lastminute.com in 1998, with Martha Lane Fox, in the living room of his London flat three years after having drafted the initial idea. Brent was 29 and Martha was just 25. Brent most recently founded another VC-backed internet startup, mydeco, which launched in 2007 - the online interiors site that intends to revolutionise the way we shop and design for our homes, encouraging consumers to spend, socialise and play house all at the same time. 

Sophie Howarth
Sophie Howarth is the Director of The School of Life, a new social enterprise offering good ideas for everyday living. Based in a small shop in Central London they offer a variety of programmes and services concerned with how to live wisely and well.

Simon Prosser
Simon Prosser is the Publishing Director of Hamish Hamilton. Joining Penguin in November 1997 after previously working for Blackwell and Hodder & Stoughton, his list includes Zadie Smith, Dave Eggers, Pat Barker, Mohsin Hamid, Ali Smith, Jonathan Safran Foer, Kiran Desai, Alain de Botton, John Updike, Noam Chomsky, Susan Sontag, Roger Deakin, Iain Sinclair, Paul Theroux, Steve Toltz and James Kelman. Simon is also a founder and Co-Director of the annual Port Eliot Lit Fest and the publisher of the new monthly literary magazine FIVE DIALS.