How To Read Beauvoir

How to Read...

by Stella Sandford

'One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman' Simone de BeauvoirTo what extent does our social existence determine who we are? What is the meaning of sexuality for human existence? What is the meaning of 'old age'? What is a woman? And what, for that matter, is a man?Stella Sandford explores the philosophical basis of Beauvoir's reflections on these and other questions, from her early moral period, through her post-war philosophical crisis, to the astounding polymathic studies of her mature thought. She demonstrates the persistence of the fundamental existential and ethical questions that drove Beauvoir's work and her constant revision of her own positions. With a central emphasis on Beauvoir's major work, The Second Sex, extracts are also taken from her first philosophical and political essays, as well as The Mandarins, Old Age and her essay on the Marquis de Sade.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to Simone de Beauvoir's writing. It consists of short extracts from several her books and essays, each discussed and enlarged on in brief chapters explaining her ideas clearly in the context of her work and life generally and the ideas of other philosophers. The samples here cover a wide breadth of topics, including anxiety, sex, vengeance, ambiguity and old age. It's a very useful initial signposting for choosing where next to explore her political, philosophical and literary output further.

[Leonardo]

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