andreas elpidorou
philosopher
at the university of louisville
Who?
Andreas Elpidorou is an academic philosopher and writer. He is a Professor of Philosophy and the Director of the Liberal Studies Program at the University of Louisville. He specializes in the philosophical study of the mind and has published extensively on the nature of emotions (especially, boredom), consciousness, and cognition. He is best known for his work on the function and value of boredom. His articles "The Bright Side of Boredom" and “The Quiet Alarm” sparked worldwide attention: he has been featured in BBC News, Forbes, Nautilus, Nature, Fast Company, Vogue, Business Insider, and more, and made appearances both on the radio and television. In spring 2020, he published with Oxford University Press, Propelled: How Boredom, Frustration, and Anticipation Lead us to the Good Life, a book exploring how boredom, frustration, and anticipation can help us live a meaningful and fulfilling life. In 2025, a new book on boredom, The Anatomy of Boredom, is scheduled to be published with Oxford University Press. The book offers a systematic presentation of available research on boredom and provides a sustained argument in support of a functional theory of boredom, one that delineates boredom in terms of its role in our mental, behavioral, and social existence.
At the University of Louisville, Andreas regularly teaches courses on emotions, the good life, and metaphysics. In his capacity as the Director of the Liberal Studies Program, he supervises the Individualized Major, assists students in designing their own undergraduate curricula, and hosts many events and activities for the Liberal Studies Project.
He is also the co-author of Consciousness and Physicalism: A Defense of a Research Program (Routledge, 2018), the editor of The Moral Psychology of Boredom (Roman & Littlefield, 2021), and the co-editor of Philosophy of Mind and Phenomenology: Conceptual and Empirical Approaches (Routledge, 2016). In addition to these works, he has published numerous journal articles and book chapters and authored popular essays.
He blogs (rarely!) at Psychology Today.
Propelled
How boredom, frustration, and anticipation lead us to the good life
What if ubiquitous pleasure and instant fulfillment make our lives worse, not better? What if discontent isn't an obstacle to the good life but one of its essential ingredients? Propelled makes a lively case for the value of discontent and illustrates how boredom, frustration, and anticipation are good for us.
KIRKUS REVIEWS’ BEST BOOKS OF 2020
“Elpidorou is rigorously thoughtful and quotably readable as he discusses unpalatable emotions that most people want to avoid. ... The cumulative effect is a strong and ultimately persuasive case that when life gives you lemons, you should simply value the lemons—a counterintuitive argument, to be sure, but one that the author convincingly backs up over the course of his book.
A smart and thought-provoking reassessment of the value of boredom and frustration.”
“Engaging, erudite, instructive, and abounding with insight, Propelled takes a fresh look at unloved emotions and demonstrates their key roles in a life worth living. Essential reading for anyone interested in emotions, and for all of us who suspect that there is more to the good life than good cheer.”
“In an age in which people are hungry for happiness, Elpidorou offers a provocative thesis: that some unpleasant emotional experiences such as frustration and boredom are central to the good life. He illustrates his points with examples from pop culture icons such as Christopher Nolan and Ariana Grande. The foundation of his book, however, is an expert reporting of research from psychology, economics, and philosophy. ”
“An astute and lively investigation, as Elpidorou delicately locks together the puzzle pieces of boredom, frustration and anticipation to reveal their vital roles in the pursuit of happiness.”
For all inquiries concerning rights, please contact Laurie Abkemeier (DeFiore & Company Literary Agency)
Education + Career
Andreas earned his Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of Virginia (2006) and his Ph.D. in philosophy from Boston University (2013). Before joining the faculty in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Louisville, he taught as a visiting lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at Boston University (2012-2013). In 2018, he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. In 2021, he was promoted to Full Professor.
In 2024, he received the University of Louisville Distinguished Faculty Award for his research. He was the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship (2002-6), a Leventis Foundation scholarship (2009-11), and an Earhart Foundation fellowship (2012-13). For the 2016-17 year, he was a faculty fellow at the Commonwealth Center for the Humanities and Society at the University of Louisville.
