Sartre, Jean-Paul

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Revolutionary Literature with a Pulse
Revolution of thought
Understand the Psychology of Violent Revolt
Poorly written, few new ideas...
An Analysis of Bad Behavior and Greed

The Wretched of the Earth
Frantz Fanon
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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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 .

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Roquetin's whole life is a bad day!
Not an essay!
There's a reason why we remember him for his plays...
Something we've all felt and have been unable to put it to words.
ended better than it started

Nausea (New Directions Paperbook)
Jean-Paul Sartre
Manufacturer: New Directions Publishing Corporation
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Binding: Paperback

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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:

Roquetin's whole life is a bad day!.......2007-06-09

As John Lovetts once said in the role of the Critic,"Camus can do, But Sartre is Smartre!"

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.

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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.

No Exit and Three Other Plays
Jean-Paul Sartre
Manufacturer: Vintage
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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.

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Excellent service.
Being and Nothingness
difficult? yes. worthwhile? possibly.
The Bible Of Existentialism !
French-fried philsophy

Being And Nothingness
Jean-Paul Sartre
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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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:

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.

French-fried philsophy.......2005-10-22

I read this book many years ago as a philosophy student, and I was eager to commit any amount of study this book might require to develop a comprehensive understanding. Now, the reason I approached Being and Nothingness with such enthusiasm is because of the reputation which precedes this book: it was hailed as the existentialist's bible -- and, to some degree, remains as such. So, I gave the book several careful readings and meditations.

Okay, let's be forthright here. The book is a waste of time. It is a lot of "nothingness" concealed behind a dazzling wall of language that is purposefully esoteric and employs vague and ambiguous terminology. Naturally, proponents of this book (and others like it -- there are plenty more out there) reason that such critism is the result of frustration, the readers' having not given the book an ample study, or are lacking the intellectual capacity to comprehend the matter. But the truth of the matter is, the book provides nothing satisfying, practical, or enlightening. And of those who do acknowledge Sartre's elaborate charade, a few insist on praising him solely on the grounds that, hey, at least he devised a grand philosophical system. So what? Any buffoon with enough time on his hands can devise a system...just look at L. Ron Hubbard.

At any rate, whatever you think of Sartre's existentialism and phenomenology, consider what Einstein said. He said (among other things) that if you cannot explain your theory to a child, your theory probably isn't worth explaining at all. And also consider that Einstein was able to write his The Special and General Theory of Relativity to be understood, not only by physicists, but by laymen as well. Unfortunately, most philosophers abhor clear, concise writing (especially 20th century philosophers of deconstructionist and postmodernist movements).

My advice: save yourself some disappointment. Take your money and buy something worth reading. The only purpose of this book was Sartre's using language to force others to defer to him as the authority of an elusive ideology...that, and to make himself a buck.

Existentialism And Human Emotions (A Philosophical Library Book)

Average customer rating:

A Good Introduction
Most Accessible of Sartre's Philosophy
The most readable philosophy work of Sartre
Excellent definition of existentialism
Good for starters

Existentialism And Human Emotions (A Philosophical Library Book)
Jean-Paul Sartre
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Myth of Sisyphus: And Other Essays
No Exit and Three Other Plays
Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Sartre (Meridian)

ASIN: 0806509023

Customer Reviews:

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.

Good for starters.......2003-07-25

If your interest has been picqued by existentialism, whether it be Sartre's or existentialism in general, this is a decent place to start for a theoretical work. This should be read with Nausea, as the latter is his first novel in addition to being a complete work (so is the first essay, however it is a speech and was not intended at first for publication). If you are fairly serious about understanding the complexities of Sartre's philosophy, I would highly recomend Being and Nothingness or, at least, The Philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre, a collection of Sartre's works as edited by Robert Cumming. Nevertheless, this was my first introduction to Sartre and though it failed to give me a full explanation of Sartre's ideas, it will satisfy those desiring a fleeting encounter with a philosophy that speaks more loudly to us even today than it did when it shouted to the resistant spirit of the French in 1943.

Sartre for Beginners (Writers and Readers Documentary Comic Book,)

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Really Bad
Sartre, presented in a funny and easy way
A Good Start on Sartre
Existentially Simple Sartre
No Place to Begin But Here

Sartre for Beginners (Writers and Readers Documentary Comic Book,)
Donald Palmer
Manufacturer: Writers & Readers Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0863161774

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.

Witness to My Life: The Letters of Jean-Paul Sartre to Simone De Beauvoir, 1926-1939

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Witness to My Life: The Letters of Jean-Paul Sartre to Simone De Beauvoir, 1926-1939
Jean-Paul Sartre
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Second Sex

ASIN: 0684193388

Average customer rating:

The Dawn of Marxist Existentialism
wonderfully evinced
This is the best and most concise intro to Sartre.

Search for a Method
Jean-Paul Sartre
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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What is Literature?" and Other Essays
Being And Nothingness
Essays In Existentialism
The Transcendence of the Ego: An Existentialist Theory of Consciousness

ASIN: 0394704649
Release Date: 1968-08-12

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!

The Wall: And Other Stories (New Directions Paperbook)

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In depth study of human psychology
Who didn't feel the fear and smelled the sweat of Pablo Ibbieta?
Rationalization of marginality
A Mesmorizing Journey. Extreme Psychological Insight
LITERARY BLUEPRINT FOR CREATING 'TRUTH' FROM MEANINGLESSNESS

The Wall: And Other Stories (New Directions Paperbook)
Jean-Paul Sartre
Manufacturer: New Directions Publishing Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0811201902

Customer Reviews:

In depth study of human psychology.......2007-03-09

This particular work of J P Sartre should be ranked as one of the masterpieces in modern literature...The author used to possess a penetrating insight in the complex mind and behaviours of a modern human being...It is true that he analyses different reactions of any human mind on the basis of the doctrine of existentialism, of which he is one of the main proponents...However one should not look upon his judgement as biased as the celebrated basis of his philosophical doctrine, ie. "Existence should precede the essence " is really logical and highly optimistic as well as humanistic....All the five stories that are presented in this book bear the mature signature of an efficient interpreter of human mind along with it's anxieties and the decisions and choices taken at such critical moments,eg., when a man is condemned to die.....It seems the stories in this book imply that one should always consider those anxious moments,those contradictions that are constantly perturbing the man and only his response and choices that he make, ultimately defines him and give him a relative meaning in this otherwise meaningless world..I feel this book should be read by those who are aware of the divine futility of human life but still are optimistic about the triumph of human mind and creativity.....

Who didn't feel the fear and smelled the sweat of Pablo Ibbieta?.......2005-07-20

In fact "The wall" was one of the best stories in the book along with "Erostratus" where once more Sarte makes his claim on the proof of freedom, and how most of us tend to pretend we are not that free and crawl behind our available and yet limited choices.

Rationalization of marginality.......2005-02-12

The wall gives the reader the chance to infuse into the consciousness of characters with, seemingly, absurd & extreme behaviors. The depiction of the inner world of these marginal people, rationalize their conduct by using some common humane themes like willingness to survive, fear, submission to power, altruism etc.

A Mesmorizing Journey. Extreme Psychological Insight.......2000-12-11

"The Wall and other short stories" is a triumph in literature. Each story explores the depths of human thought and reason through an existential point of view. Each story can be interpreted different by all readers, therefore making this a great book for discussion.

"The Wall" is the first story presented. It consumes the reader because of its brilliant writing style. The story is narrated by a man named Pablo Ibbieta, who is in a jail cell with 2 others awaiting execution the following morning. Every event that transpires that particular night is analyzed almost too thoroughly thus leaving the reader in a trance. I wont get into it too deeply, but believe me, this story is worth reading...i guarentee it will have to be read again. After finishing the story, I felt as though nothing mattered. Who cares if the dishes were not washed, who cares if I would be late for work. Believe me, this story will have a profound impact on the way you think. Don't be surprised if you have a new appreciation for life. This story enlightens the mind.

Another great story from this book is called "Erostratus". Erostratus was a character who wanted to be famous, so he burned down the temple of Ephesus, which was one of the 7 wonders of the world. This is the central symbol of the story, the quest for glory. It also brings up an interesting point when the narrator asks one of his colleagues "Who built Ephesus?" and the colleauge did not know, he only knew who burned it. "Erostratus" in short is one mans decent into madness because of his quest to be remembered. The ending of "Erostratus" is filled with suspense and makes your heart beat in fear. It serves as a grim reminder that there are people of this type, and we should be prepared at any time for them to strike.

There are also 3 other stories, that being "The Room", "Intimacy", and "The Childhood of a Leader", which also draw the reader inside the workings of the mind through an existential window (ie: we are all here by accident, man is condemned to choose).

In short, these stories are all perfect, and leave the reader with a feeling of enlightment. Sartre is an extremely intelligent and clever writer. This is evident in these short stories. So turn off the television, buy this book, and start questioning your existence, you owe it to yourself. Besides, they are short stories, so you will be able to get through at least one a day...that isnt much to ask considering the benefits you will reap by reading them.

LITERARY BLUEPRINT FOR CREATING 'TRUTH' FROM MEANINGLESSNESS.......1999-08-14

'The Wall' rises up as a catalogue of man's solitary and free application of the existentialist's understanding. Sartre leaves no dark corner unlit in what could be considered his most biting renderings of the human condition's anguish in the face of meaninglessness.

'The Wall' itself is an astoundingly suspenseful glimpse at the fine line between life and death, the insanity in ultimate human will-power, and the psychological effects of foreknowing one's own time of death.

'The Room' is stark and vague. Interpretations abound, all from absurd (in itself) to Sartre's most profound writing. Nevertheless, the story's 'insanity' brings about many insights into the world of the individual of nothingness.

'Erostratus' follows quite well, asking whether it is moral, immoral, right, or wrong, to kill and whether a modern man is truly free to commit conscious evil. Furthermore, it questions our modern society's knack for making celebrities of villains.

'Intimacy' is a wonderful story with heavy-handed, deadbolt dialogue, well-crafted absurd heroes, and philosophical wit, wound up in a woman's tale of love, adultery, loyalty, friendship, impotence, and existence.

Book Description

This is one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date surveys of the philosophy of Sartre, by some of the foremost interpreters in the United States and Europe. The essays are both expository and original, and cover Sartre's writings on ontology, phenomenology, psychology, ethics, and aesthetics, as well as his work on history, commitment, and progress; a final section considers Sartre's relationship to structuralism and deconstruction. Providing a balanced view of Sartre's philosophy and situating it in relation to contemporary trends in Continental philosophy, the volume shows that many of the topics associated with Lacan, Foucault, Lévi-Strauss, and Derrida are to be found in the work of Sartre, in some cases as early as 1936. A special feature of the volume is the treatment of the recently published and hitherto little studied posthumous works. Thus new readers and nonspecialists will find this the most convenient, accessible guide to Sartre currently available. Advanced students and specialists will find a conspectus of recent developments in the interpretation of Sartre.

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