Man Alone: Alienation in Modern Society

by Eric Josephson (Editor)

From Karl Marx to James Baldwin, from Dostoyevsky to Ignazio Silone, an unflinching survey of one of the most critical dilemmas of our time.

Genres: Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology, Nonfiction, Essays

592 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1962

Reviews

[P.J. Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alienation has many faces. From the Bowery derelict to the London prostitute to the Harlem slum dweller to “those on the bottom,” alienation is the human condition of millions. Emotional, spiritual, political, occupational, alienation is epidemic and growing. This book analyzes the problem from many points of view, from the detached academic to the deeply personal. Here you get the views of Fyodor Dostoyevski, Karl Marx, James Baldwin, C. Wright Mills, Erich Fromm, Lewis Mumford, and many others. It is impossible to generalize about such a selection. You will surely find something to like and just as surely something to disagree with.

My favorite is Alan Harrington’s “Life in the Crystal Palace,” about the alienation that comes from working for a seemingly benevolent paternalistic corporation. Most of these essays are academic, some are dry and almost esoteric, but “Streetwalker” reads like a short story. They deal with the sociology and psychology of alienation, plus some politics and criminology.

[Luvuyo Gantsho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Philosophical, psychological, historic, and socioogical analysis on loniness and alienation from others and ourselves.

The book reveals loniless to be an inseparable component of the human nature, that (at best) can be embraced as a way of being and space for self improving. At worst, loniless is a symptom of some deeper or existential malady.

All told, the book teaches that we must all come to grips with our familiarity with loniness, but also to have the wisdom in being able to discern pathological from unavoidable forms of isolation.

[Bernard Windwillow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book with psychological and philosophical portent for the time for which it was written and published.

[Brooks Kohler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book in college for less than $1.00. The pages are torn, the binding is green, and the cover has seen much better days. The book contains some great essays by writers that are/were on the edge, and by edge, I mean, here's a bottle - now add some gas - edge, the radical edge, the fist to the sky and take to the streets edge. It's a wild ride of a read and for some time I kept it by my bed where I would turn to it. One of the most notable persons in the books is William Burroughs, the so called "Pope of Dope" who offers up his thoughts on addiction, life, and getting on in an age of getting by. It's classic Burroughs because it was. The book is from the 1960s. I recommend it.

[Beth Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of perspectives/different authors. Interesting, but took a while to get through. My copy was a yellowing 1970s paperback, I believe.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

collection of essays.