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Simone de Beauvoir
Simone de Beauvoir stands as a towering figure in the twentieth century's flowering of thought among women. There are probably more women philosophers alive today than in all of prior history, and their perspective brings new ideas and fresh approaches to old problems. We are just now beginning to understand women's unique contribution to philosophical thought.
The World of Philosophy series is a dramatic presentation, in understandable language, of the concerns, questions, interests, and overall outlook of the world's great philosophers and philosophical traditions. Special emphasis on clear and relevant explanations gives you a new arsenal of insights toward living a better life.
The World of Philosophy series is a dramatic presentation, in understandable language, of the concerns, questions, interests, and overall outlook of the world's great philosophers and philosophical traditions. Special emphasis on clear and relevant explanations gives you a new arsenal of insights toward living a better life.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 1997
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About the author
Ladelle McWhorter
10 books2 followersLadelle McWhorter is the James Thomas Professor of Philosophy and Professor of the Women's, Gender, and Sexualities Studies Program at the University of Richmond. She is author of Bodies and Pleasures: Foucault and the Politics of Sexual Normalization (IUP, 1999).
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 16, 2020
I enjoyed this quick read that helps you form an idea of what Beauvoir contributed to the realm of philosophy- the context her ideas were rooted in and a significant chunk of personal history that shaped her biographical narrative.
January 29, 2019
I had only read The Second Sex and this book gives insight about her philosophy and her atitude towards philosophy itself. I want to read more from the author.
July 30, 2020
Sartres deal had beter uitgelegd kunnen worden, maar voor de rest was het een heldere kijk in de filosofie van De Beauvoir. “To be for the self one must be for oneself only then someone will find the self in oneself” - incorrecte parafrasering van sartre want ik snapte er helemaal niks van
May 13, 2024
I could have used a little less about Sartre a little more about the subject. Understandable that’s their works have bound their histories together. But I doubt most books about Sartre would use Simone to validate his work like this does with hers.
January 12, 2023
This audiobook is a summary without footnotes so you are mostly trusting that the authors know what they are talking about. They make one big error of omission. Here is a quote from Paul Johnson's Intellectuals: From Marx and Tolstoy to Sartre and Chomsky, page 235:
"Yet this brilliant and strong-minded woman became Sartre's slave from almost their first meeting and remained such for all her adult life until he died. She served him as mistress, surrogate wife, cook and manager, female bodyguard and nurse, without at any time acquiring legal or financial status in his life. In all essentials, Sartre treated her no better than Rousseau did his Therese; worse, because he was notoriously unfaithful. In the annals of literature, there are few worse cases of a man exploiting a woman."
The current audiobook missed all of this except the part where Sartre cheated on her. The current audiobook mentioned that Beauvior and Sartre had a relationship contract for 2 years, renewable if both parties agreed. Apparently they agreed that Sartre could have several lovers. But Paul Johnson's book states, "...from the 1940s their sexual relations seem to have been largely non-existent: she was there for him when no one better was available."
The current audiobook did suggest vaguely that today's feminists were somewhat embarrassed by Beauvior, but never mentioned any of the above as far as I recall. That seems like a BIG omission.
The stuff they did include was reasonably good. I had the impression of an atheist trying desperately to justify her own life and doing so admirably for a philosopher. Some of it seemed like needlessly complex justification and not really applicable to most people, but if it worked for her... I'm OK with it.
I doubt I will revisit this audiobook, but I might try reading Beauvior's "The Second Sex".
"Yet this brilliant and strong-minded woman became Sartre's slave from almost their first meeting and remained such for all her adult life until he died. She served him as mistress, surrogate wife, cook and manager, female bodyguard and nurse, without at any time acquiring legal or financial status in his life. In all essentials, Sartre treated her no better than Rousseau did his Therese; worse, because he was notoriously unfaithful. In the annals of literature, there are few worse cases of a man exploiting a woman."
The current audiobook missed all of this except the part where Sartre cheated on her. The current audiobook mentioned that Beauvior and Sartre had a relationship contract for 2 years, renewable if both parties agreed. Apparently they agreed that Sartre could have several lovers. But Paul Johnson's book states, "...from the 1940s their sexual relations seem to have been largely non-existent: she was there for him when no one better was available."
The current audiobook did suggest vaguely that today's feminists were somewhat embarrassed by Beauvior, but never mentioned any of the above as far as I recall. That seems like a BIG omission.
The stuff they did include was reasonably good. I had the impression of an atheist trying desperately to justify her own life and doing so admirably for a philosopher. Some of it seemed like needlessly complex justification and not really applicable to most people, but if it worked for her... I'm OK with it.
I doubt I will revisit this audiobook, but I might try reading Beauvior's "The Second Sex".
August 23, 2021
I read this yesterday and then again today. Imagine such harassment in France about someone with individual ideas of freedom. Perhaps Hitler was right.?
If only the later books the Lost book of ENKI or Book of Enoch were available to the early philosophical writers perhaps them Simone would say quiet the opposite and challenge the bases of male hood on the bases of fear verses “The other sex” as woman being viewed as weaker but instead understanding of the male inadequacies of simple protections.
Perhaps the reason for identification as well as underpinning of male hood when it says in genesis 6 that “The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them; the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown took the woman as they chose.” The women obviously liked the Nephilim and were even taught various arts including make up, medicine etc So now we have “human” men unable to protect their own potential propagation and the women being pleasing to strong wiser men of renown. They could not protect the women God gave them to care for. If someone else appreciates the beautiful and cares for their women how emasculating and now we have women still in 2021 forced to wear veils cover every part of their bodies they are made to feel ugly, unappealing and definitely not educated just so men can cover their own insecurities and attempt to secure their own propagation. Perhaps Simone and I could have rather interesting conversations.
Aren’t they just now admitting to years of only being able to watch the watchers….
If only the later books the Lost book of ENKI or Book of Enoch were available to the early philosophical writers perhaps them Simone would say quiet the opposite and challenge the bases of male hood on the bases of fear verses “The other sex” as woman being viewed as weaker but instead understanding of the male inadequacies of simple protections.
Perhaps the reason for identification as well as underpinning of male hood when it says in genesis 6 that “The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them; the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown took the woman as they chose.” The women obviously liked the Nephilim and were even taught various arts including make up, medicine etc So now we have “human” men unable to protect their own potential propagation and the women being pleasing to strong wiser men of renown. They could not protect the women God gave them to care for. If someone else appreciates the beautiful and cares for their women how emasculating and now we have women still in 2021 forced to wear veils cover every part of their bodies they are made to feel ugly, unappealing and definitely not educated just so men can cover their own insecurities and attempt to secure their own propagation. Perhaps Simone and I could have rather interesting conversations.
Aren’t they just now admitting to years of only being able to watch the watchers….
January 6, 2021
This book is a combination of a brief biography and a introduction to Simone de Beauvoir’s thoughts. As a person untrained in philosophy I appreciated the fact that the telling of Simone’s life history was well balanced with clear explanations of her thought and works in the context of her life and times. I also appreciated the excerpts that let the reader hear directly from Simone and from other authors essential to the understanding of her work and contribution to philosophy, literature and feminism, such as the writings of Sartre and Engels. Very nice volume for someone wanting to learn more about a fascinating woman.
February 15, 2022
Just beginning to put my toes into learning about Simone de Beauvoir for next month's Woolf Salon, I found this short introduction to be be clear and succinct. I used to teach the Intro to The Second Sex in my Feminist Lit Crit class, and this reminded me of how brilliantly paradigm-shifting her thinking was. I was also rather astonished to recognize how deeply rooted the principles and ethics of existentialism are to the foundations of my thinking. Another reason to thank Sally Bryan, who remains the first great teacher in my life.
April 23, 2023
Very good review of Beauvoir life and philosophy . It works through how her life family and loves modeled her philosophy. All her great work Second Sex and ambiguity were analyzed and compared to comtenpory existentialists
August 15, 2020
Lovely sneak a peak about the life of Simone de Beauvoir
September 13, 2020
Having read a bit of philosophy and just finished Blood of Others, I was intrigued to learn more about Simone de Beavoir and this book was well-edited, throughtful and comprehensive.
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January 10, 2021A crash course in existentialism and a short biography of Simone de Beauvoir. It was surprisingly effective.
May 21, 2021
Lovely and cogent summary of the life, work and historical context of a very important thinker.
October 7, 2021
Fascinating. How was this woman not someone we learned about in school?
January 13, 2022
Its a nice insight in the life of Simone de Beauvoir. Its explaining both the amazing life's work of Simone as well as the life outside her work.
June 23, 2022
A great introduction to Simone and her philosophy.
September 22, 2022
Great intro
July 13, 2023
An interesting woman, but the book spends too much time on Sartre and other side issues.
July 23, 2023
Very interesting and well explained
August 2, 2023
A good survey of Beauvoir's existentialism and feminism, covering some of Sartre's related ideas too. Not shallow.
April 14, 2023
A very rough and short summarisation of the life of Beauvoir. I would definitely like a detailed book on her and by her.
July 28, 2011
A quick but informative read. This is not only a condensed biography, but an overview of Satre-de Beauvoir existentialism focusing, of course, on Simone's impact and her struggles with using it as a basis for an ethical life during turbulent years in Europe and the world.
June 1, 2012
a really excellent biography, plus there is actually more meat about
the philosophy of existentialism in here than in any of Sartre's books.
the philosophy of existentialism in here than in any of Sartre's books.
September 15, 2012
I greatly enjoyed this. I was actually more impressed de Beauvoir then Sartre. I look forward to reading her book "Ethics of Ambiguity".
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews