2010年1月，阿兰·德波顿在中国出版的第九部作品《工作颂歌》印制完成，并在全国各地书店陆续上架与读者见面。同时，网络上也有众多读者一直在热心关注本书的编辑出版过程。
　　为感谢读者们的热情，上海译文出版社的编辑特地与作者阿兰·德波顿先生取得联系，邀请作家专门为中国读者准备十本最新的中文版《工作颂歌》的亲笔签名版，作为给中国读者的一份小小的新年礼物。
　　在这里，译文社举办“向阿兰·德波顿提问”的网络互动活动，规则很简单，有兴趣的网友可以在《工作颂歌》（http://www.douban.com/subject/4191531/）一书的读者互动论坛中，在讨论帖（http://www.douban.com/subject/discussion/22108024/）后跟贴留言，向德波顿提问。内容以新书《工作颂歌》为主，也可以涉及在阅读作家其他作品中的感触、疑惑。译文社编辑将从中选出十个问题，翻译并发送给作家，由阿兰·德波顿亲自为大家解答，帮助中国读者更好地了解德波顿，了解他的作品。
　　从所有的跟贴提问的读者中间，我们将选出十位朋友，每人获赠德波顿亲笔签名的新版《工作颂歌》一本，以及译文社已出版的德波顿精装版作品一本（随机赠送）。另随机抽取十位读者赠予德波顿精装版作品一本（随机赠送）。
　　
　　活动时间：
　　即日起至2010年5月20日（因国际邮包来回时间比较长，作家工作也比较繁忙，所以我们拉长了活动时间）。
　　我们将通过豆邮与获得赠书机会的读者联系，并第一时间寄上新书。
　　谢谢关注。
　　
　　附上编辑与作家就本次活动的联系邮件：
　　Dear Alain:
　　I am very glad to tell you that we published The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work this January. Currently, we are busy with the promotional activities about these books and I believe you must have received a lot of letters asking for interviews with you from the Chinese media. We hope that our efforts can further increase your audience in China and win their favor.
　　Lately we are preparing to co-sponsor an activity “The Questions I’d Like to Ask Mr. Alain De Botton” with Douban (http://www.douban.com), a specialized website for books and readers. The questions, which will be translated for you to answer, will be mainly about the 9 Chinese translations already published, especially the latest one: The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work.
　　As an encouragement, we are considering giving 10 autographed copies of The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work to some of the enthusiastic readers...
　　
　　from Alain:
　　Dear,
　　I feel very grateful for your continuing enthusiasm and energy in publishing my work. It is a very great honour.
　　I would of course be very happy to sign copies of my books.