Amazon.com
Frantz Fanon (1925-61) was a Martinique-born black psychiatrist and anticolonialist intellectual; The Wretched of the Earth is considered by many to be one of the canonical books on the worldwide black liberation struggles of the 1960s. Within a Marxist framework, using a cutting and nonsentimental writing style, Fanon draws upon his horrific experiences working in Algeria during its war of independence against France. He addresses the role of violence in decolonization and the challenges of political organization and the class collisions and questions of cultural hegemony in the creation and maintenance of a new country's national consciousness. As Fanon eloquently writes, "[T]he unpreparedness of the educated classes, the lack of practical links between them and the mass of the people, their laziness, and, let it be said, their cowardice at the decisive moment of the struggle will give rise to tragic mishaps."
Although socialism has seemingly collapsed in the years since Fanon's work was first published, there is much in his look into the political, racial, and social psyche of the ever-emerging Third World that still rings true at the cusp of a new century. --Eugene Holley, Jr.
Book Description
A distinguished psychiatrist from Martinique who took part in the Algerian Nationalist Movement, Frantz Fanon was one of the most important theorists of revolutionary struggle, colonialism, and racial difference in history. Fanon's masterwork is a classic alongside Edward Said's Orientalism or The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and it is now available in a new translation that updates its language for a new generation of readers. The Wretched of the Earth is a brilliant analysis of the psychology of the colonized and their path to liberation. Bearing singular insight into the rage and frustration of colonized peoples, and the role of violence in effecting historical change, the book incisively attacks the twin perils of post independence colonial politics: the disenfranchisement of the masses by the elites on the one hand, and intertribal and interfaith animosities on the other. Fanon's analysis, a veritable handbook of social reorganization for leaders of emerging nations, has been reflected all too clearly in the corruption and violence that has plagued present-day Africa. The Wretched of the Earth has had a major impact on civil rights, anticolonialism, and black consciousness movements around the world, and this bold new translation by Richard Philcox reaffirms it as a landmark.
Customer Reviews:
Revolutionary Literature with a Pulse.......2007-06-19
Frantz Fanon's political commentary on colonization is the perfect example of revolutionary literature with a pulse.
It explores the entire ordeal of colonization: from the early pangs of colonized animosity, to armed rebellion, to the destruction of the colonial bourgeoisie, all the way up to the psychological effects of colonial warfare. Fanon asserts that for the colonized: "To live simply means not to die. To exist means staying alive." Thus, it can be inferred that Fanon's portrayal of the Algerian Revolution is one that deals with individuals stripped of the human faculties of identity and forced simply as human beings to exist in the sense of breathing: a morbid assertion at best.
The entire book thrives on the notion that, in order to harness a sense of social identity among the "wretched of the earth," or the colonized masses, it is imperative that violence, or any other possible means, be used to destroy the colonialist foreignors (specifically, in Fanon's case, the French colonists in Algeria). Jean Paul Sartre, who wrote the controversial preface to the Wretched of the Earth, asserts that the only thing keeping the predominantly dehumanized wretch humanized is his desire to kill the colonist, to take his place (an idea also asserted by Fanon himself). Fanon does an excellent job merging the different ideals espoused by the respective sections of the colonized movement, including the urban proletariat, the lumpenproletariat, the tribal leaders, and the colonized intellectual, who Fanon holds in contempt for submission to Western thought (though he later asserts that the intellectual can regain his bearing in the liberation movement if he/she integrates with his/her brethren in the mountains and villages).
The work extensively examines the economic portion of decolonization, and demonstrares Fanon's vehement support for a redistribution of wealth and a unification of resources in order to distribute among the people seeming trivialities, such as grapes and other commodities previously witheld by the colonizer. The memorable conclusion demonstrates Fanon's ideals in his call for the Third World to create a distinct delineation between itself and Europe in order "to create a new man."
Overall, the Wretched of the Earth is one man's cry for a Third World reawakening delivered in miltantly abrasive prose that still resonates to this day.
Revolution of thought.......2007-06-03
This book should be required reading in schools worldwide. It explains and reveals the true condition of colonialism, which is just a euphemism for conquering. All of the European conqueror nations used the same pattern of heinous and inhuman tactics on millions of people all over the world. This book is life-saving for those who inherited the "conquered/colonial condition".
Understand the Psychology of Violent Revolt.......2007-04-27
This was required reading for a graduate course in the Humanities. Frantz Fanon (July 20, 1925 - December 6, 1961) was a Martinique-born French author and essayist. He was perhaps the preeminent thinker of the 20th century on the issue of decolonization and the psychopathology of colonization. His works have inspired anti-colonial liberation movements for more than four decades.
"The Wretched of the Earth" (French: Les Damnés de la Terre, first published 1961) is Frantz Fanon's best-known work, written during and regarding the Algerian struggle for independence from colonial rule. As a psychiatrist, Fanon explored the psychological effect of colonisation on the psyche of a nation as well as its broader implications for building a movement for decolonization. A controversial introduction to the text by Jean-Paul Sartre presents the thesis as an advocacy of violence. This focus derives from the book's opening chapter `Concerning Violence' which is a caustic indictment of colonialism and its legacy. It discusses violence as a means of liberation and a catharsis to subjugation. It also details the violence of the colonialism as a process itself.
Structural politics of race and making oneself is a continuous theme of Pan Africanism 1950', 60's. Colonialism is toppled , growing awareness of colonial conditions and kinds of people that emerge from it, no one comes out of it unchanged both colonizers and subjects recognize colonialism is product of Enlightenment reason a perversion of what it stood for and its ideals. Justify feelings of superiority people of science over people of mythology. All people are transformed by colonization. Justify economy of colonization. The colonizer has to invent a new human being, the colonized. Sigmund Freud and W. E. B. Du Bois are intellectual fathers of Fanon. Colonialism depersonalizes people in their own country. Theory of Manichean logic. Binary thinking, thinking in duality. A society structured around race is Manichean. Social and racial structure of colonialism is Manichean. Us or them, no in between. Black is bad, white is good, etc. Fanon argues to get over this, a new world must be created. A Utopian idea. He advocates revolution and violence. 20th century preoccupation with violence that which is formative of the subject. Theme of 20th century philosophy and psychology. We finally recognize we are violent. 1968 Algerian revolt shakes French society and history to its core. Algerians were promised full democracy for years, they finally get suspicious. Men were cheap labor and biggest import to France. Economic downturn in 1950's causes France to bar Algerians from working in country, so violence ensues. French intellectuals push out old guard and old thinking, student protests, etc. Jean-Paul Sartre led the movement, and wanted to find a genuine authentic voice of this revolt, he finds it in Fanon. Fanon questions who is crazy, tortured or torturer.
For Fanon, there is nothing more consistent than racist humanism since the European has been able to only become a man thru slavery. 2 groups are opposed they can't get along. Empire needs slaves. He critiques Enlightenment. 2 people live as perpetual protagonists. Colonizer and colonists are backed in a struggle. Colonization is good and colonized are amused by this. Both see each other as morally superior. Colonizer uses violence to keep colonized in check, so they learn to use more violence to overthrow colonizer. Colonizer has their history, and history books on their side. Colonized see them as delusional they see the propaganda as a form of violence. Colonized people will accept servitude because they fear death. Once they don't fear death you can't control them. Anger and rage starts to build and 1st violence against their own people and family, and finally they turn violent on colonizers. As soon as they see colonizers can be killed, they will revolt, it gives them self-respect. Oppression is practiced and institutionalized violence. Oppression must be done cruelly and violently. This is what will overthrow Manichean world. A different kind of person will now emerge. He is openly celebratory of violence. He is shaped by his history. Fanon's work in Algeria changes his way of thinking. He concludes counter violence will make a new man. Violence leaves scars on people. Subject consciousness in his book violence is dialectic of master slave process. Colonialism is another stage of slavery. Colonial racism in crudest form anthropologists say colonized have no culture, then they say there is a hierarchy of culture colonizer higher than colonized. He makes links to culture and economic relations and how change in one changes the other. Fanon argues that when the oppressed are lazy, it is one more way for them to sabotage. Laziness is passive resistance. This is a stage in process before colonized is ready to fight back. Colonized can use subtle ways to resist laws and mores. Colonized do this to revolt against oppression. Colonized must develop framework of collective struggle to fight against oppressor. Fanon believes that to have a new person violence is necessary to destroy category of blackness and whiteness Manichean racial duality. Decolonization is always a violent phenomena. Replacement of 1 kind of man with another kind of man. Must have a clean sweep of change in society. Fanon's insistence on violence grounded in his history and personal nature. Psychoanalytic theory of his is different than Freud's, they come from different society and culture. Freud never took race into account in his theories.
On his return to Tunis, after his exhausting trip across the Sahara to open a Third Front, Fanon was diagnosed with leukemia. He went to the Soviet Union for treatment and experienced some remission of his illness. On his return to Tunis, he dictated his testament "The Wretched of the Earth." When he was not confined to his bed, he delivered lectures to ALN (Armée de Libération Nationale) officers at Ghardimao on the Algero-Tunisian border. He made a final visit to Sartre in Rome and went for further leukemia treatment in the USA. Ironically, he was assisted by the CIA in traveling to the United States to receive treatment. He died in Bethesda [Maryland, US], on December 6, 1961 under the name of Ibrahim Fanon. He was buried in Algeria, after lying in state in Tunisia.
Recommended reading for anyone interested in history, psychology, or philosophy.
Poorly written, few new ideas..........2007-03-06
I find that most reviewers have based their evaluation on their agreement or disagreement with the ideas of the author. Although I liked many of his ideas, this book was very poorly written and contained very little new thinking, so I give it the rating it deserves.
Fanon doesn't state his idea and then support it, he just rambles on and beats around the bush and it's up to the reader to figure out what he's trying to say exactly. The result is that he uses a great many words to say very little. This makes for a very frustrating read.
The ideas he presents are not original either. Most of them can be found in Gandhi's "Hind Swaraj" (it's easy to download free English translations of this work off the internet and I stronlgy recommend reading it; plus it's much shorter than Fanon's book). Considering that "Hind Swaraj" was written almost 50 years earlier than "The Wretched of the Earth", the ideas Fanon presents were already old by the time he wrote the book!
Although Gandhi advocated non-violence while Fanon believes violence is inevitable in anti-colonial struggle, there isn't much that Fanon says that Gandhi hadn't already discussed. For instance, Fanon is often credited for predicting (or warning about) the fact that the intellectual and political elite of newly independent countries may simply replace the foreign oppressor. Gandhi had already warned his people about that, when he said that the leaders who overthrow colonialism by violence will also govern by violence. The example if India, which is one of the few colonies that gained independence by non-violence and which is one of the few that has been and remains democratic, proves that Gandhi's predictions were better than Fanon's since Gandhi also knew that violence was not inevitable in the fight for independence and that non-violence was the best way to avoid a simple substitution of the opressor.
In other words, if you want to read well-writen work and interesting ideas about anti-colonialism, don't waste your time with Fanon, read Gandhi instead...
An Analysis of Bad Behavior and Greed.......2006-11-28
Approximately one hundred and fifty years after the Gaul- tites wreaked havoc on the island of Hispanola, they've unleashed themselves again, this time behaving badly in Algeria. Using colonialism as the weapon of mass destruction the author gives a first hand analysis of the psychological and physical warfare during a time when he was assigned as a physician by the colonizing country to this geographic location. He leaves no stone unturned, including his depiction of the petty indigenous elite some of whom are highly educated, but are unqualified, unable to run the government and lead the people without going to their daddy, the colonist, for answers. And though the piece is somewhat over analyzed and redundant in some cases, this work is essential for gaining a clear understanding of colonialisms collateral damage, its affects on the colonized and the psychology behind detestable invaders. The long term destruction , as seen first hand by the author, undeniably can be seen openly now .
Book Description
Winner of the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature. Jean-Paul Sartre, philosopher, critic, novelist and dramatist, hold a position of singular eminence in the world of French letters. Among readers and critics familiar with the whole of Sartre's work, it is generally recognized that his earliest novel, Le Nausée (first published in 1938), is his finest and most significant. It is unquestionably a key novel of the Twentieth Century and a landmark in Existentialist fiction.
Nausea is the story of Antoine Roquentin, a French writer who is horrified at his own existence. In impressionistic, diary form he ruthlessly catalogues his every feeling and sensation about the world and people around him. His thoughts culminate in a pervasive, overpowering feeling of nausea which "spread at the bottom of the viscous puddle, at the bottom of our time—the time of purple suspenders and broken chair seats; it is made of wide, soft instants, spreading at the edge, like an oil stain." Roquentin's efforts to come to terms with his life, his philosophical and psychological struggles, give Sartre the opportunity to dramatize trhe tents of his Existentialist creed.
he introduction for this edition of Nausea by Hayden Carruth gives background on Sartre's life and major works, a summary of the principal themes of Existentialist philosophy, and a critical analysis of the novel itself.
Customer Reviews:
Over rated author........2007-08-04
I'll open by saying I've always found Sartre overly pretentcious, much preferring the writing of Camus (both literiture and philosophy). Though Sartre undeniably has had a huge impact on modern philosophy through his academic writings (for which he owes Dovstoyevski, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and Heideggar obvious debt) I find him overly boring. This novel is not bad, its just that the protagonist is unlikeable- he doesn't seem to do anything, which isn't really an answer to the existential dilema of the nihilist dissolution it seems Sartre tried to see through in his works, rather he seems to pissfart around his own nuerosies. The themes come through well enough it's just that the work doesn't reach out and grab me with emotional intensity as Thus Spake Zarathustra does, nor is their any attractivness of the sheer cold honesty of Camus's protagonist in L'Etranger. There are much better philosphical (particularly existential) novels out there than this one such as L'Etranger, Stepphenwolf, Damien and the classic Brothers Karazamov (wordy as it is). Contry to some impressions, Sartre did not discover or invent existentialism (it can't even be called an 'ism' there is way to much variation), he simply siezed onto the ideas of those who came before him. I would respectfully (perhaps stuffily)suggest that his ending answer to nihilism is to commit to communism ( whatever the original intentions of this system it destroys individuality and despises spiritual and existential crises) is laughable, but that is for adifferent review. Nausea is like the matrix movies- a great idea with heaps of hype but done very badly and lacking in substance.
Not an essay!.......2007-06-02
Picking up this book, I was expecting a philosophical essay, since that's what I've become accustomed to reading from famous philosophers. As I began to read "Nausea", however, it was soon clear that this was a work of fiction, but based around his own philosophical ideas: "philosofiction". This is the first thing from Sartre that I have read, but it won't be the last.
His writing style is really incredible. The solitary figure he creates is wonderfully sick, innocent, sinister, amiable, a truly three-dimensional character. Sartre's imagery is clear, yet subtle in its sickness. I actually began to feel naseous myself a few times reading it; it's just one of those books that has a sort of ineffable feeling pervading from it.
I definitely recommend reading it, if not for the philosophy, then definitely for an extremely well-written novel.
There's a reason why we remember him for his plays..........2007-02-26
There is a very good reason why we adore Sarte for his plays, simply: they are better. This 'novel' or treatise, or manifesto, or journal, or however you choose to classify this work...is well boring. Very boring. I don't understand people...I mean, if you want to share your thoughts, ideas, theories maybe even an answer to the quiz that is life with your fellow man. isn't simplicity the best answer?
I believe ulitmately this work derailed Sarte's purpose.
Something we've all felt and have been unable to put it to words. .......2006-09-08
Everything that is, wants to be. To the hero of this story, everything wants to be in vein: existence is meaningless, actions are meaningless. This is the source of his Nausea. What kept me reading this book until the end was the hope of finding out what, if anything, the hero would do to cure his Nausea. The answer to that question was rewarding and insightful; it has helped me accept my own existence.
We've all wondered (think back to your early 20's) "What's the point? Is it to be successful? What is success? What then shall matter after I am successful?" This being so, this book is easy to relate to.
My favorite minor character in this novel is the Self Taught Man. I felt as if I was reading dialogue and mannerisms written straight from my mind. I especially enjoyed the passage where Antoine (the hero) mentally tore him apart.
My only complaint is that the names of towns and other places were difficult to remember and therefore difficult to place. The hero's wanderings seemed to jumble together which is unfortunate because his wanderings are a big part of the story.
ended better than it started.......2006-07-19
Sartre's "Nausea" is always extolled as possibly one of the greatest novels on the human condition. It truly is a great book but I have yet to see any reviews that offer any critical comments. Personally, I thought the book had a slow beginning. Although it was meant to be a narrative, the inital part did not go so far in analyzing the the main character's feelings and sensations as the latter part did. I expected a lot less of, "I turned left down the street" and more of "my God how strongly things exist today...it is repugnant." The second part of the book went more into depth on this feeling of nausea- the scene in the garden is brillant (pg. 129-135). This is defintely the best part of the book- the angst of existence simply jumps out of the page and it is expressed so eloquently. Overall, a great read that introduces one to the complex mind of Sartre.
Average customer rating:
- Fabulous plays!
- Beautiful melancholy
- "The folk of Argos are my folk. I must open their eyes."
- good but not great
- Hell is other people, and they exist to torture you.
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No Exit and Three Other Plays
Jean-Paul Sartre
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Similar Items:
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The Stranger
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Waiting for Godot: A Tragicomedy in Two Acts
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Nausea
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Being And Nothingness
ASIN: 0679725164
Release Date: 1989-10-23 |
Book Description
4 plays about an existential portrayal of Hell, the reworking of the Electra-Orestes story, the conflict of a young intellectual torn between theory and conflict and an arresting attack on American racism.
Customer Reviews:
Fabulous plays!.......2006-12-23
This book is a wonderful collection of plays written by the brilliant intellect of Sartre. It is an essential reading for the philosopher at heart.
Beautiful melancholy.......2006-11-26
Sartre is sometimes given a reputation that far precedes him, as with many Nobel recipients. These plays are a testament against the skeptic's mindset.
"No Exit" is a modern-day interpretation of the antiquated "fire and brimstone" hell we are so accustomed to hearing about. Sartre adroitly picks up on the small idiosyncracies of human behavior and capitalizes on them with his version of hell. Three incompatible personalities are locked in a hot, stuffy hotel room for eternity, unable to get along with one another or reconcile their personal differences. The lights are always a bit too bright, the furniture a bit too stiff, and the wonder at "what lies down the hall" eats at the occupants for eternity. This is a far cry from biblical interpretations of hell, where an individual can mentally will themselves against pain. Instead, Sartre focuses on the interpersonal nature of unhappiness, and gives his spirits "one of those days" for eternity.
"Dirty Hands" is perhaps my favorite piece of literature. It plants its focus on a young intellectual revolutionary intent on assassinating a corrupt party leader. As he grows closer to Hoederer, the man he is sent to kill, he comes to realize that pure intellectual theories will always become muddied in the waters of reality.
"The Respectful Prostitute" depicts a young woman, a prostitute, who spends the night with a man who turns out to be a politician. The man completes his sordid mission, but the next morning scorns the woman. An lesson in objectivity and the two-faced nature of those who tend to preach loudly.
"The Flies" is set in Ancient Greece, but possesses Sartre's aptitude for human behavior. Just as good as all the others, though not as indicative of how humans behave.
These are all plays, making them quite easy to read. The characters are not hard to keep straight. The ease of reading doesn't detract from their literary quality. These four plays are elegant simplicity at its finest.
"The folk of Argos are my folk. I must open their eyes.".......2006-08-04
I have read this little collection countless times over the years. I have seen Huit Clos (No Exit) performed several times (generally poorly) but it has never quite lived up to the power that I find in the written version. I realize that this is unusual for a play, and may reflect a fault in Sartre's work rather than a strength.
It is important to remember, however, that Sartre's work is always more about the ideas behind it than it is about the form he is using. Sartre wrote novels, plays, essays, and criticism during his long career. Through it all, he was a philosopher-- struggling with the notion of freedom and indifference.
People (particularly students) tend to stop with No Exit, neglecting its less famous cousins. This is a shame, as both The Flies and Dirty Hands are fascinating pieces. Particularly if you have an interest in the Oresteia then The Flies is a wonderful interpretation.
A must read book.
good but not great.......2006-07-09
These four plays were good plays- they are easier to understand if one is familiar with Sartre's philosophy. The plots in all these plays were both unique and exciting yet at times, especially in dirty hands and the flies, the plays seem to drag on and on. Had the plays been shorter, Sartre's main point would have been made clearer and more forcefully. In plays, it's hard to communicate character background yet with a novel the author can just describe it from third-person perspective. I think perhaps these plays would have been more successful and more dramatic had they been written as short novels with more description and character analysis. At times I felt that the characters were explored and described in superfical ways. All in all, these were good plays yet I cant say I loved them. This might just be me though since I have never been too fond of the format of plays- i feel like it never gets to the heart of the character since you only get dialogue with little analysis.
Hell is other people, and they exist to torture you........2005-10-13
This book is an answer to a question many people have been avoiding all their lives. And when you finally develop the ability to ask it to yourself, Sartre provides his suggested answer for you, though it may not be the answer you wanted.
The premise of the main play, "No Exit", is that many people have chosen to exist in misery, even when the exit to that misery presents itself clearly. For these people, there is "no exit". Their existance is defined by their misery. If they make the concious decision to exit, then they have nothing to live for.
All four plays are written in non-pretentious and easy to understand styles, unlike many philisophical writings. They don't require a great deal of effort to read or understand. In fact, they are quite enjoyable and I found myself reading each play many times before moving on to the next one.
Don't expect to feel uplifted about the state of humanity while reading these plays, however. Sartre's message about human existance can be a dismal one. It is quite helpful, though, to come to terms with the fact that many of our fellow humans are just puzzled about their lives, and sharing a social existance with these people can be precarious to your own search for meaning.
Amazon.com
Jean-Paul Sartre, the seminal smarty-pants of mid-century thinking, launched the existentialist fleet with the publication of Being and Nothingness in 1943. Though the book is thick, dense, and unfriendly to careless readers, it is indispensable to those interested in the philosophy of consciousness and free will. Some of his arguments are fallacious, others are unclear, but for the most part Sartre's thoughts penetrate deeply into fundamental philosophical territory. Basing his conception of self-consciousness loosely on Heidegger's "being," Sartre proceeds to sharply delineate between conscious actions ("for themselves") and unconscious ("in themselves"). It is a conscious choice, he claims, to live one's life "authentically" and in a unified fashion, or not--this is the fundamental freedom of our lives.
Drawing on history and his own rich imagination for examples, Sartre offers compelling supplements to his more formal arguments. The waiter who detaches himself from his job-role sticks in the reader's memory with greater tenacity than the lengthy discussion of inauthentic life and serves to bring the full force of the argument to life. Even if you're not an angst-addicted poet from North Beach, Being and Nothingness offers you a deep conversation with a brilliant mind--unfortunately, a rare find these days. --Rob Lightner
Customer Reviews:
Being and Nothingness.......2007-09-18
I began reading this book for a course in college. I keep coming back to it and read tidbits. I think this book was banned by the Catholic Church because Jean-Paul is in my opinion the boldest man to ever live. Very sharp book--some of the sentences make me think over and over and over again. This book is not to be strived at.
Excellent service........2007-06-14
Haven't read book yet. Quality as expected and described.
Being and Nothingness.......2007-03-09
First of all, to read this book one needs a thorough grounding in modern western philosophy. Without that, don't even bother buying it. Seriously, the amount of esoteric jargon, while justified, as the ideas communicated are complex, is something that needs to be fully understood BEFORE opening this book. That means you need to read Heidegger, Husserl, Kant, Hegel, etc... before this. This is recent stuff and draws on a lot of material.
That small warning out of the way, Sartre's metaphysics suck. I mean like first-rate Hoover action. He's just wrong. Quite simply, he makes Neo-Cartesian (or Neo-Kantian, if you want to be generous, which I don't) errors that nobody who's taken an intro to philosophy course should be taken in by. Sartre has volitionalist ideas and the most radical concept of human liberty ever, then builds a metaphysics around them. His phenomenology is suspect, with the descriptions he gives being too vague. The idea of human consciousness being a sort of "nothingness" which is pure function is totally incoherent and falls into the aforementioned Cartesian metaphysical dualism. He just didn't know his stuff.
That being said, Sartre makes some very insightful comments about existential authenticity and self-deception. The book is worth reading simply for those insights.
In conclusion, if you want to read a really good treatment of phenomenology and the question of Being itself, I suggest you read Being and Time by Martin Heidegger. Very difficult to read, let alone to understand, but well worth it when you're through. B&N is good psychology, but really bad metaphysics, good for those who want to hang around in cafes smoking too many cigarettes and trying to impress the ladies, but a bit of a joke for anyone interested in really good philosophy.
difficult? yes. worthwhile? possibly........2006-02-11
With so much inauthenticity inherent in modern societies, difficult a read as this is, it is worth the plowing. And plowing we must. There are many paths to the mountaintop of self-actualization. The renowned philosopher points a studied finger. I would contrast this classic with his lesser known autobiography, "The Words"...unimaginably poignant poetry guised in the cloak of prose.
The Bible Of Existentialism !.......2005-11-18
"Being And Nothingness" is definitely an old time classic. It is Sartre's Chef D'oeuvre. This book belongs in every library and on every book shelf. I would highly recommend it for every person that harbors an interest and passion for stimulating thoughts and philosophy.
Customer Reviews:
A brilliant work by a brilliant author!.......2007-09-01
Sartre hass eloquently and brilliantly defended existentialism and elucidated the meaning behind the words. Sartre emphasized the importance of actions and responsibility in defining man. No more excuses. You create yourself and you are responsible for it. Sartre debunks the victim role perpetuated by religion, determinism, and fatalism, and in lieu he accentuates freedom of choice and responsibility.
This book is a must read for any student or lover of philosophy....
A Good Introduction.......2007-03-06
This is a very accessible book for anyone who has a passing acquaintance with philosophical terminology and discussion. As a Christian, I of course differ with Sartre in many fundamental ways, but one has to admire the consistency of his thought given his philosophical presuppositions.
Sartre is unafraid to face and even embrace the consequences of the idea of life lived without hope of fundamental purpose or meaning. Life, both corporate and individual, is the outcome of choices we make. Every man carries the burden and freedom of all humanity and in his time through his own actions makes the human race what it is and becomes through him.
The weakest areas of his ethics is when he seeks to divorce them from absolute standards. Though he requires that individual man must necessarily act on his freedom to judge and evaluate the actions of others, and to make statements about his evaluation, yet he seeks to distance such statements from any claim that all should so evaluate them. I think Sartre recognizes the logical tension he creates here but his explanation is not satisfying.
All in all, if someone wants to sample the waters of atheistic existentialism, then you can't go far wrong with this book. It is not light reading but it is worthwhile. After reading it find a similar book on Christian ethics for the other side of the story.
Most Accessible of Sartre's Philosophy.......2006-09-21
I give this book 5 stars for its accessibility and clarity of Sartre's philosophy, but I give it 3 for its consistency (hence the 4 stars on the rating).
The first section of the book is his lecture "Existentialism" or "Existentialism is a Humanism." The rest contains excerpts from "Being and Nothingness."
On the surface, Sartre's philosophy seems insightful and profound, especially the chapter on personal responsibility. However, the extreme lengths that Sartre takes to create a coherent atheistic position are enough to drive anyone to their nearest priest. He assumes atheism, but never proves it. At one point he says it is profoundly distressing that there is no God. Later on he says that it doesn't matter if God exists or not because existentialism is about man, not God.
Nonetheless, he says he is trying to create a coherent atheistic philosophy, since the modern philosophers rejected God but tried to keep the a priori ethics that can not exist without God (in the words of Dostoevsky, "If there is not God, all [moral] things are permissible.") He takes this to such a profound extreme (and I think he would be correct if there were no God) that, had I not known better, I would have thought he was a Christian arguing against atheism!
The book is not difficult to read, though it is difficult to reconcile Sartre's apparent contradictions (e.g. do we define our own essence or is it our essence to desire to be God?) There is minimal technical language. I recommend reading this book 1) to understand Sartre's brand of existentialism, 2) to understand why so many other existentialists rejected the label "existentialism" and 3) understand why so many people today live a philosophy of despair (not unlike Sartre's own philosophy, which he described as being full of despair).
Don't think too much of Sartre's supposed "rejection" of this book. Sartre wrote and said a lot of things; he was said to have written 10,000 words a day, mostly garbage, and to have talked incessantly to others (and even to himself). On one hand, he completely lived out his philosophy by engaging in anything he so desired (especially sex with many women, often his students). But on the other hand, he was completely hypocritical because he did not afford the freedom he preached on others (especially his mistresses, and most especially Simone de Beauvoir).
The most readable philosophy work of Sartre .......2005-03-18
This work is readable and clear. In this it is possible to learn more from reading a few pages of it than from reading all of Sartre's major philosophical work 'Being and Nothingness'. The basic idea of Sartre's Existensialism is that we are born into the world without having any prior purpose or meaning. Our life is the story of the meaning we make for ourselves. And we do this through our decisions and choices. We make the meaning by our action. And should we decide not to take action then this too is a meaning and action. For Sartre the rejection of all a priori systems most especially those of the great religions leads to the idea of human dignity as based primarily on human freedom and decision. This is an appealing doctrine in some ways because it would seem to free Mankind of all shackles, liberate it to be itself completely. The problem is that the meaning we make is mortal as we are, and the path of freedom would then seem to lead no matter who we are to an ultimate annihilation and nothingness.
We need God if we are to have a meaning that will endure. But this of course would not be acceptable to Sartre.
Excellent definition of existentialism.......2004-09-02
This is a fantastic and very understandable definition of existentialism and how it is applied to metaphysics and ethics. Sartre proves that existentialism is a hopeful and optimistic philosophy in this essay.
Customer Reviews:
Really Bad.......2006-06-17
I'm surprised people actually enjoyed this...
I love the "For Beginners" series but this is by far the worst one I have read. The difference between this and, for example, Kierkegaard for Beginners is amazing. It's basically just a lack of real content. I'd still say it's alright as an introduction considering it's not wrong or anything, but honestly I expected much more from a book in this series.
Sartre, presented in a funny and easy way.......2005-12-16
This book is very easy to read. It consists of cartoons and some text. The text presents some of Sartre's ideas in a humorous way. For example:
"We are condemned to be free",
"Hell is other people",
"Nothingness lies coiled in the heart of a being, like a worm", etc.
I wish I had read this book in elementary school.
Buy this book and read it in one breath. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, as it will open your appetite to read more of Sartre.
The book is not written by Sartre himself, but as the saying goes, "it is even better than the real thing".
A Good Start on Sartre.......2002-03-17
I have to agree with the Reader from New York below. _Sartre For Beginners_ from Writers and Readers Publishing was indeed a good place to start, unlike _Introducing Sartre_ from Totem Books.
The writing style was clear and concise, and the illustrations appropriately complemented the material. The book is well structured, with a short Biographical section, a lengthy section on Sartre's Existentialism (focusing primarily on Being and Nothingness), and ending with a short section on Sarte's Marxism. The Glossary was greatly appreciated as was the Sources of Quoted Passages and Bibilography.
While I don't agree with half of what Sartre has to say, Donald Palmer's introductory presentation of Sartre's Philosophy is first rate, and thus I gave it 5-Stars.
Existentially Simple Sartre.......2000-06-13
This book is a joy. I knew nothing about Sartre or Existentialism and found this book very clear and easy to follow. Unlike another Sartre book claiming to be an easily understood introduction, this one contains graphics and cartoons that aren't just caricatures of the people involved (how is knowing what they looked like going to help me follow the facts?). The graphics in this book are simple, funny visual descriptions and explanations of a rather complex subject. Not complex at all since I read this book. It's not a vastly detailed scientific study of Sartre's work. It is what it promises to be: A Beginner's Guide to Sartre. With no knowledge of philosophy, I found it fascinating and easy to follow, and it's whetted my appetite for further reading. There are others in this series, about other philosophers, and I'd recommend them all if you just want a little basic knowledge to enhance your knowledge of the world!
No Place to Begin But Here.......2000-02-19
Sartre for Beginners by Donald Palmer (whom wrote a few of the 'For Beginners' books) gives a fun look at the popularizer of existentialism. Drawing from Sartre's life experiences, biography and influences to show how Sartre came to his theories. An easy read, although one must still contemplate on some level the philosophies that are presented before them. A good beginning book for anyone who wants to learn more about Sarte and existentialism in general. A good addition to the For Beginners book series.
Customer Reviews:
The Best Introduction to Existentialism.......2007-05-09
This anthology of Existentialist texts is the best introduction to Existentialism currently available in English. Walter Kaufmann (best known to philosophy readers as the twentieth century's most important translator of Nietzsche) presents a selection of key texts from Kierkegaard, Dostoyevski, Nietzsche of course, Heidegger, Sartre and others, and Kaufmann prefaces the anthology with a magisterial intro. The most important piece included is the complete text of Sartre's early lecture "Existentialism is a Humanism," the most accessible and clearest exposition of the most influential phase of his thought. If you want to know what Existentialism is all about (or if you already know but want to own a great reference book of essential texts), this is the book to buy.
i disagree with the previous review........2006-12-09
I believe this book is fantastic, especially as a beginning point for understanding what existentialism is. The book has a well written preface that explains that existentialism is not really well defined, but encompasses certain themes. This book does a good job of taking a selection of those who share those themes, and introducing them here. I think it gives one a good representation and idea of existentialism, that can be studied more in depth later, by reading the full text of what is represented here. Very well translated by WK.
Watch your Step.......2005-05-21
This book is most useful if one wishes to study Walter Kaufmann. This book is a waste of time if you wish to study the writers Kaufmann presents to us. Kaufmann warps the texts to suit his own agenda. If you share his agenda you will likely not even notice that he has an agenda.
"If you make people think they are thinking they will love you, but if you really make them think they will kill you. " - Albert Einstein
the Realm of Existentialism.......2005-04-13
"The stone is given its existence; it need not fight for being what it is---a stone in the field. Man has to be himself in spite of unfavorable circumstances; that means he has to make his own existence at every single moment. He is given the abstract possibility of existing, but not the reality. This he has to conquer hour after hour. Man must earn his life, not only economically but metaphysically." --Ortega
Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Sartre, by Walter Kaufmann is a must have for anyone seriously undertaking a jaunt into the Realm of Existentialism and Phenomenology.
Although a small book, the paperback edition weighing in at a mere 384 pages, one will find that Kaufmann has packed it to the gills with usable, and reliable, information. Whole chapters are devoted to Existentialist giants like: Dostoevsky: Notes from Underground, Kierkegaard: The First Existentialist, Nietzsche: "Live Dangerously", Rilke: The Notes of Malte Laurids Brigge, Kafka: Three Parables, Ortega: "Man Has No Nature", Jaspers: Existenzphilosophie, Heidegger: The Quest for Being, Sartre: Existentialism, and Camus: The Myth of Sisyphus.
One should be aware that there are a lot of different writing styles, because of all the different authors, being introduced in one book. So, in some ways, to the casual reader Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Sartre may seem a bit choppy and academic, intimidating and complex. --Katharena Eiermann, 2005, the Realm of Existentialism -- Presidential Hopeful
A thought- provoking anthology .......2004-11-10
Literature, Philosophy and Religion all have their parts in this anthology compiled by Walter Kaufmann. Kaufman was of course more expert on certain matters ( Neitzsche ) than on others(Kierkegaard) but he here provides a variety of texts that enable the reader to know and think for himself about the major ' existensial writers and thinkers'.
Book Description
From Socrates To Satre presents a rousing and readable introduction to the lives, and times of the great philosophers. This thought-provoking book takes us from the inception of Western society Plato's Athens to today when the commanding power of Marxism has captured one third of the world. T.Z. Lavine, Elton Professor of Philosophy at George Washington University, makes philosophy come alive with astonishing clarity to give us a deeper, more meaningful understanding of ourselves and our times. From Socrates To Satire discusses Western philosophers in terms of the historical and intellectual environment which influenced them, and it connects their lasting ideas to the public and private choices we face in America today From Socrates To Satre formed the basis for the PBS television series of the same name.
Customer Reviews:
Great Introductory Book.......2006-07-11
This was one of the first philosophy books I read and it turned out to be very helpful for my introductory philosophy classes.
This book doesn't cover all the famous philosophers in depth, but that is not a problem beacause the book follows a nice theme and is clearly written.
The themes that stick their head out are the status of concepts and how we know them. Concepts are given by different names, such as forms, but they are basically the same, depending on what you subscribe to. However, seeing them as concepts will make for easier reading.
Starting from Socrates and Plato we get the idea that concepts have their existence in some other world, neither in our mind nor the spatialtemporal reality. We come to know these concepts by reasoning using the socratic method.
Aristotle counters with the idea that concepts exist in the objects we observe and neither in our mind or some Platonic world.
Eventually we get to Kant who says that concepts are in our mind and existed there since we were born and are necessary for us to even experience reality itself.
Hegel takes the idea of concepts even further and uses them to explain just about everthing.
The idea of concepts eventually are no longer in the world or a Platonic world nor even permantely in our mind, but are nothing more than just concepts that are made up and constitute language.
We come to know these concepts by learning their meaning from the culture we are a part of.
I gave a very simple synopsis, but you will see these themes too and will make for better reading if you keep them in mind.
There are many other themes that are weaved throughout this book, but all these other themes are related to concepts. For example, ethics revolves around values and their justification, but when one examines ethical values we come back to an examination of concepts. This is also true with political and social themes that run through this book and philosophy. In politics there is an examination of values too, called liberty, justice, equality etc, which in the end are just concepts that are examined and eventually justified or so it seems.
A solid survey, but a bit brief.......2006-04-17
Thelma Lavine's _From Socrates to Sartre_ provides a good introduction to the major western philosophers, and a truly outstanding summary of their ideas; however there were a number of thinkers I wish she had discussed in more detail.
Her survey begins with a brief discussion of the pre-Socratic thinkers and does a fantastic job of summarizing Socrates before giving a truly outstanding overview of Platonic and Aristotlean logic. This, (and her later overview of Existentialism) were real highlights of the book.
The contributions of St. Ausustine and Thomas Aquinas are touched upon, before providing a lengthy analysis of Descartes - it, too, is first rate, although I found myself wishing she had given more detail to Sir Francis Bacon's empricism. Lavine next turns her attention to the Enlightenment and Hume - the treatment of his ideas and general philosophy is good, although again, I wish greater attention was given Immanuel Kant.
Her sections on Hegel and Marx were solid - I particularly enjoyed her biography of Marx, but again, more information on Feurbach and his influence on Marx would have been helpful.
In discussing the predecessors to Existentialism, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche are discussed, but I had hoped for a deeper explaination of their ideas about the human condition. I was disappointed that Heidigger was scarcely mentioned at all.
The last 100 pages detail Existentialism in general and Sartre in particular, which is the strongest part of the book. The ideas behind Existentialism and its influences are very well explained, and were very insightful.
For a book on philosophy, its accessable for the layperson (such as myself) and provided a good overview of a few of the major western thinkers. Her lists of recommended readings are also helpful - but I kept finding myself wanting to know more. This, of course is the measure of a good survery, as it serves to whet the readers appetite for deeper material.
From Socrates to Sartre.......2005-11-25
A nice summary of the study of philosophy from the time of Socrates (before Christ) to Sartre (20th century). It is written in clear, simple language, explaining philosophical concepts at a high level overview. I used this book to understand the history and context of Husserl's philosophy for a graduate paper. It is a handy reference for a philosophy course.
the Realm of Existentialism.......2005-04-22
Thought Provoking, Quick Reference...
From Socrates to Sartre: the Philosophic Quest, by T.Z. Lavine.
This was my introduction compilation to all things philosophical -- and that foggy world of philosophy. Tattered and yellowed from years of reference, I concure with Professor of Philosophy Peter Diamandopoulos, "...it is an elegantly written, lucid and informative work."
The Preface states "Try to imagine a world without philosophy. In From Socrates to Sartre, the works of six philosophers and their views of man, God, nature, truth, ethics, and politics will be explored." Granted, six philosophers does not seem like very many, but have you ever tried to read all the works by just one philosopher and thoroughly understand what you have read? "...and the philosophic viewpoints dominating the contemporary sense in philosophy are examined." What a plus, one gets it all right here!
This book is very easy to understand and absorb. One gets a peek at Plato with Virtue is Knowledge, Shadow and Substance, The Divided Line, The Tripartite Soul, The Ideal State. Delve into Descartes with Historical Transition to the Modern World, his ever popular Doubting to Believe, God Exists, The Clockwork Universe, and Body and Soul. Next, the philosophical quest takes you into the world of Hume with How do you Know? (a favorite of mine), A Well-Meanin' Critter, Will the Sun Rise Tomorrow?, and Reason: Slave of the Passions.
Part Four deals with Hegel. You will learn about his Revolution in Thought, The Real is the Rational, Master and Slave, The Cunning of Reason, and The Owl of Minerva -- Hegel's ethics and political philosophy. On to Marx with The Young Hegelian, Alienated Man, The Conflict of Two Classes, and The World to Come.
Sartre is the last of the six philosophers that Lavin explores -- this is my favorite: My Existence is Absurd (The Fundamental Existentialist premise: Existence precedes essence, a major theme of Existentialism), Nausea, Condemned to be Free, and No Exit. A good section for all studying, or even curious about Existentialism.
The last Chapter deals with Contemporary Science in Philosophy. --Katharena Eiermann, 2005, the Realm of Existentialism -- Presidential Hopeful
Indepth Overview of 6 Philosophers.......2005-02-11
I gave the book a 3 in the thought that there are better philosophy overview books than this one here, otherwise, I would give the book a 4. The book isn't necessarily a great start for anyone looking to get a good overview of most Western philosophy. Although, if one were looking to get a more indepth look at the six philosophers of Plato, Descartes, Hume, Hegel, Marx, and Sartre, then, yes, the book is certainly not bad. The book brushes briefly on the philosophers that pertain, at least marginally in some fashion, to the other philosophers mentioned (i.e. Aristotle to Plato, Locke to Hume, Nietzsche to Sartre).
On a side note, from what I've heard the hardcover version of this book, wrriten by a different author, is far better, and as for a good overall introductory philosophy book I recommend Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder instead.
Customer Reviews:
The Dawn of Marxist Existentialism.......2003-07-03
As the quote on the cover suggests, this may very well be "the most important work of Sartre's to be translated since Being and Nothingness." To be sure, The Critique of Dialectical Reason may be also, or even The Family Idiot. But it must also be recalled that Search for a Method, while first published as an occasional piece for a Czech journal, was latter published as the introduction to The Critique, and, moreover, Sartre states that The Family Idiot is in fact the sequel to Search in the preface of the former tome. Indeed, both of these works are much more comprehensible after having read Search. The reason being is that Search outlines the method and general strategy utilized in both of those books (and in Saint Genet to some extent even though it came out prior). The method is of course the progressive regressive method and the strategy is a quasi anthropology mixed occasionally with a new hybrid of existential psychoanalysis. As the two major works that came out of Search can attest - those being The Critique and FI - his method is equally accessible to both large scale cultural descriptions (the Critique) and in depth profiles of a single individual. The former case asks 'what are the conditions that have created modern western man as we know him,' the latter asks what are the conditions that have created this particular individual.'
For those who are aquainted with Sartre's earlier existential writings, this kind of thinking may seem altogether foreign. The old Sartre would have been loathe to suggest any form of conditioning or that one has been made in some way or other. But, this is part of the reason why many feel he abandoned his existentialism. I, on the other hand, do not feel that he did at all. In fact I suggest his existentialism is richer and his arguments more tenable in his later phase. As Sartre himself suggested in an interview late in his life, "life taught me the force of circumstances." It will be circumstances, both grand and minute, that all go into forming the people we are, both collectively and individually. Circumstances are, in other words, the factical moments out of which our contingent choices are made. Thus, Search sets out to examine a methodology that can account for both the factical and contingent, the necessary and the random, in the making of a people, person, or culture.
By Sartre standards this is a relatively easy read with a big payoff. As I mentioned, it is crucial to understanding the major works that would follow, as well as the occasional and literary works that would follow, e.g. his many writings on politics and even plays such as Condemned of Altona. But I also feel it stands well by itself and I do not feel that the reader necessarily have a background in Being and Nothingness or earlier Sartre to get something out of it. Indeed, it is also an excellent source for those seeking alternatives to the various more popular forms of psychoanalysis as well as cultural studies. Sartre was a maverick, no doubt, and often he failed in his attempts to construct a solid theory. But here, in Search, I believe that Sartre is at his best and most profound.
wonderfully evinced.......2001-09-10
Professor Barnes easily makes clear Satre's works even through his haze of Extentialism. As Sartre gave us his posture of dialectical materialism, Professor Barnes clearly explains Sartre. Thank you Professor Barnes, and, do it again and again, please.
This is the best and most concise intro to Sartre........1998-09-01
"Search for a Method" was originally intended as a postcript to the 1960 "Critique of Dialectical Reason," but it became the intro & then was published separately. Its thesis, "Cultural order is irreducible to natural order," forms the basis for an examination of contemporary Marxism, which Sartre calls "arrested." Between "Being and Nothingness" and the often puzzling posthumous material, this is the best and most concise intro to Sartre by Sartre. Kudos to Professor Barnes for another outstanding translation!
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