Meditations of a Solitary Walker

by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Peter France (Translator)

Penguin 60 excerpt from 'Reveries of a Solitary Walker'.

Genres: Philosophy, Classics, Nonfiction, French Literature

54 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 1996

About the author

Genevan philosopher and writer Jean Jacques Rousseau held that society usually corrupts the essentially good individual; his works include The Social Contract and Émile (both 1762).

This important figure in the history contributed to political and moral psychology and influenced later thinkers. Own firmly negative view saw the post-hoc rationalizers of self-interest, apologists for various forms of tyranny, as playing a role in the modern alienation from natural impulse of humanity to compassion. The concern to find a way of preserving human freedom in a world of increasingly dependence for the satisfaction of their needs dominates work. This concerns a material dimension and a more important psychological dimensions. Rousseau a fact that in the modern world, humans come to derive their very sense of self from the opinions as corrosive of freedom and destructive of authenticity. In maturity, he principally explores the first political route, aimed at constructing institutions that allow for the co-existence of equal sovereign citizens in a community; the second route to achieving and protecting freedom, a project for child development and education, fosters autonomy and avoids the development of the most destructive forms of self-interest. Rousseau thinks or the possible co-existence of humans in relations of equality and freedom despite his consistent and overwhelming pessimism that humanity will escape from a dystopia of alienation, oppression, and unfreedom. In addition to contributions, Rousseau acted as a composer, a music theorist, the pioneer of modern autobiography, a novelist, and a botanist. Appreciation of the wonders of nature and his stress on the importance of emotion made Rousseau an influence on and anticipator of the romantic movement. To a very large extent, the interests and concerns that mark his work also inform these other activities, and contributions of Rousseau in ostensibly other fields often serve to illuminate his commitments and arguments.

Reviews

[Michael Percy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it hard not to feel like I am cheating when I read abridged books, but I have a stack of these Penguin 60s classics that need to be read properly, so I started with the master. Rousseau sums up his philosophy in the last line: "I laugh at all their scheming and enjoy my own existence in spite of them" (p. 52). This work is an abridged version of Reveries of a Solitary Walker and I will get on and read the full book this year. But the shortened work does not lose much as a standalone piece of work. I see Rousseau as the polar opposite of Benjamin Franklin. Both Enlightenment creatures but while Franklin looked at the process of becoming a better person by reflection and deliberate self-improvement in the eyes of others, Rousseau worked at self-improvement as living by one's very nature. While you can feel Rousseau's pain in this work, you can also identify elements of Stoic philosophy, and no doubt precursors to Emerson. It is worth reading even this abridged version. The cover is interesting, too, with a painting by Gustave Courbet, The Artist before the Sea. Courbet, too, lived life his way, and is a fitting companion to Rousseau. Both admirable characters in their own right who present lessons for living even in today's times.

[Barrowsend · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unbearable levels of navel-gazing.

[kaisa pung]

fantastiline tekst tähelepanuvajaduse käes vaevleva inimese jaoks.

“ma oleksin armastanud inimesi isegi vastu nende tahtmist”

[Olivier Goossens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this selection of ‘reveries’. The last one really resonated. Stop trying to reason with pain, don’t focus on intention but on the effects, on the physical pain itself. Accept everything as random and also realize that suffering will be a part of you life until the end of your days. Throw away your pride. Once you start accepting crises as random and focus only on the effects, you’ll be able to control them better and avoid carrying these problems with you everywhere you go. ‘The evil that men have done me does not affect me in the least; only the fear of what they still may do to me is capable of disquieting me, but being certain that there is no new hold which they can use to inflict some permanent suffering on me, I laugh at all their scheming and enjoy my own existence in spite of them’ … in spite of them

[Janith Pathirage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read anything like this before. Don't know whether it's philosophy or pessimism, it should be both I guess. But one thing I added to my life from this tiny book's the way he sees things in the present, without thinking about what'll happen in the future or what happened in the past. Cherish the moment while you're living in it. He said it's the way of gods and you can feel how gods feel by doing, which I think's true to a certain level. I know it's not very practical but you can try it for small things and see the results

[Amna Memon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Penguin 60s Classics are nice little palate cleansers between books, when you don't have the time to commit to a hefty novel.

I particularly liked this one, as I haven't read much Rousseau outside of required course reading. It reads like a bit like a travelogue, and is oddly uplifting in spite of multiple references to his misfortune. Made for a pleasant hour and a half or so of reading.

[Harry · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I am alone on earth, with no brother, neighbour, friend, or society but myself."

While I’m cleaning up my Goodreads, some musings on this gentle pocket-pal:

This book is so endearing and it can't help but place Rousseau in a special corner of my affections. He tries - earnestly, stubbornly - to think himself into peace. The walks are gentle, the attention to plants and weather unforced, and the self-scrutiny relentless. What lingers is not serenity but friction: calm repeatedly disturbed by memory, grievance, and the need to account for oneself in a world that has already passed judgment. That texture includes the small, awkward recollection of a youthful moment of public exposure - recounted without drama, apology, or joke. It appears simply as another instance of refusing the terms on which shame is imposed, an instinctive withdrawal from social scripts rather than a performance against them. Rousseau's sincerity does not discriminate between the dignified and the undignified; both are admitted as evidence.

Finally, to give some context on the quote I opened with: I don't think it's so much self-pity as much as a premise. From that solitude follow the walks, the recollections, and the careful tending of inner life once external recognition is no longer trusted.

There is no resolution here, only a sustained attention to experience as it is lived and remembered. Best read slowly, and kept on hand. By no means an academic tome, but by all means a staple for anyone who wants to get to know Rousseau. I think Meditations of a Solitary Walker finally gave me the generosity to actually read The Social Contract with the time it deserved.

[Kubra Colak · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writer says in the book; sometimes I tell my stories while I tell the people those are from my own experiences, if I forget stg or I want to give audience enthusiasm. This book is also his imagination. While I reading I searched about his life to find out what did the society do to him. His solitude was his choice but he blamed society for it. What was the aim? Idk. By the way I love Rousseau, and I will continue to read him more. Hopefully I will find out in further reading.

[Raffy Rillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who had the same thoughts whilst walking as a form and as a way of exercise, this spoke to me, and more.

[Peter Eze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Rousseau. Rousseau is that philosopher and writer who was not keen on rigorous arguments. He was profoundly sensitive and emotional. He wrote from the heart. I like him that way, really.

This little book of his, written in his later years, is just 54 pages. Might this be the smallest book I would read this year? But I find it rich. And it speaks to me greatly. What's more? Solitude. It's what I crave for. Life is peaceful when we stop resisting life, and take solace in ourselves. In the end, that's all that matters: being at home with ourselves.

I am not where I want to but one is still striving to be there.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these little mini pocket series books. You can literally fit them in your pockets and take them anywhere as they are about the size of an iPhone. Read this one a long time ago, but I remember not thinking the content was the greatest ever but was still extremely good but what I loved about it was the way in which is was written. It's autobiographical yet it reads almost like poetry. I'm a sucker for this type of romanticism. A good read if your looking for something a little bit different to the average autobiographical style.

[Mitch Flitcroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but fascinating insight into personal struggles of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a sensitive, troubled, possibly unstable man, who is also one of the greatest political philosophers of all time. He reflects on his sorrow from social rejection, struggles with the Christian faith, appreciation for natural beauty, and life lessons.

He is a brilliant writer whose presence you can feel and anguish you can taste. I highly recommend to anyone interested in the personal side of Rousseau.

[Mcnorton]

Meditations of a Solitary Walker (Penguin Classics 60s S) by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1995)