Antología

by Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Russell was regarded as one of the twentieth century’s greatest minds. Well known for his profound knowledge and controversial approach to a myriad of different issues and subjects, his prolific works also exhibited great intellectual wit and humour. Bertrand Russell’s Best is a collection of Russell’s wittiest and most pungent writings. First published in 1958, this delightfully funny and entertaining book is a striking testament to the remarkable life, work and wit of Bertrand Russell.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Education, Psychology, Essays, Classics, Politics

486 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS, was a Welsh philosopher, historian, logician, mathematician, advocate for social reform, pacifist, and prominent rationalist. Although he was usually regarded as English, as he spent the majority of his life in England, he was born in Wales, where he also died.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 "in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought."

Reviews

[Nestor Leal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes the truth you don't want to hear hurts, specially when you know it’s being told by an intelligent and studied person with clear logical arguments. That is the case of Bertrand Russell, philosopher, mathematician, educational and sexual reformer, pacifist, prolific letter writer, author and columnist plus Literature Nobel Prize winner recognized for his humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought.  

I was looking for a compendium or summary of Lord Russell’s philosophy and was fortunate to find this little gem called Bertrand Russell’s Best on the used books store. Not for the faint-hearted, this small book is a selection of paragraphs from his multiple books and articles, well organized by Psychology, Religion, Sex and Marriage, Education, Politics and Ethics. Filled with sarcasm and a special kind of humor, it made me chuckle quite a few times. I can see why he was not liked by Christian leaders and Politicians even though he was a pacifist and advocate of Love.

This is a very good introduction to Russell’s work. The editor, Robert E. Egner, starts each subject with his own opinions and clear explanations on Russell’s view in the following collection of paragraphs. Also, the great book’s introduction clearly states Lord Russell’s view that what the the world needed was an old fashioned thing, an attitude of love or compassion for humanity. Too bad most of his critics didn’t share his opinions.

There is much material to digest from this collection, starting by his famous quote "The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge”. We need more freethinkers.

[Hayati · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completely agree with him especially his remaining sane in the face of all types of extremeism especially the religious kind..reading it was the epiphany for me to change my views and behaviour and change it for the better.A life changer.

[Ahmad Badghaish · Rating 4 out of 5]

الكتاب عبارة عن اقتباسات مختلفة في عدد من المواضيع حول السياسة والمجتمع والأخلاق، وغيرها من المواضيع التي كتب عنها عددًا من المقالات. ميزة الكتاب بأنها جميعها اقتباسات من مقالاته التي نشرها خلال حياته، كما أن الكتاب بنسخته الأولى قد تمت طباعته في حياة (راسل)، حتى أنه كتب له مقدمة.

[مـريم · Rating 1 out of 5]

لا أنصح بهذا الكتاب أبدًا. اقتنيته كمدخل لفكر راسل لكني وجدته أشبه بقصاصات "فكاهية" وتهكمية من مقالاته، ولا أخفيكم أني لم أجدها مضحكة أصلا:) لست بصدد انتقاد فِكره الذي يخالفني لأني اقرأ في الفلسفة لأستفيد ولو خالفني الفيلسوف في المرجعية والفكر عموما، لكني لم أظفر بأي فائدة من هذا الكتاب، بالإضافة إلى أن الترجمة ركيكة.

[Marco Ocram · Rating 5 out of 5]

My influence on Russell's thinking has borne bounteous fruit- a ripe five stars.

[Mandar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, brilliant collection of Russell's thoughts, quips, and witticisms. His wit shines through in his incisive commentary on religion, human relationships, politics, and ethics. While the topics are deemed serious, nowhere is Lord Russell drab; employing humor and sarcasm to provoke thoughtfulness.

[Mahnoor Rehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book at a coffee shop on a video shoot I was doing, while waiting for my turn to be shot, I ended up finishing the almost all the essays except a few, Russell has a way of expressing his ideas in a way to grasp the reader’s attention. He’s raw, honest and unapologetic, he makes sure philosophy is understood by anyone, and everyone

[Wakinglife]

"İnsan çıkarları nedeniyle topluluk içinde yaşar olmuştur, fakat içgüdüsel olarak büyük oranda yalnızdır..."

[Mert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet the modern cold reasoning of Russell, full of sarcasm.

[Shalan al shammary · Rating 3 out of 5]

اشبه مايكون بمقالات صحفية في مواضيع عامة

[عبداللطيف القرين · Rating 1 out of 5]

ترجمة سيئة جدًا

[Mahrous · Rating 2 out of 5]

رأيه في موضوع واحد متصل احسن من نبذة عن أرائه في عشرات المواضيع المختلفة

[Alya AlShaibani · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Mertan Deniz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bertrand Russell hocamizin kitaplarindan, makalelerinden kes-yapistir yapmislar dolayisiyla biraz corba olmus. Russell'in din, ahlak, cinsellik, egitim, siyaset gibi konulardaki goruslerini ozet olarak okuyabilirsiniz. Yine de hoca efendinin diger kitaplarina gecis yapmak icin ideal.

[Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

في هذا الكتاب نجد بعض من أقوال رسل والتي كتبها بطريقة ساخرة تهكمية في بضعة مباحث(علم النفس،الدين، الجنس والزواج، التعليم، السياسة، الاخلاق) ورغم أني أخالفه في كثير من آراءه، إلا أنه يضحكني ويبين لي مدى سخف الرأي الذي يخالفه.


سيمتعك هذا وسيدهشك سواء تخالف رسل أم توافقه.

[Andrew Doig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great bits that reinforce any bourgeoise humanist. Makes me want to read more because his satire puts smug smiles on my face. I'd like to disagree more often than I can with these little snapshots. Guess I kind of like him.

[Joe Krudys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart, witty, and thought-provoking. I enjoyed this compilation of Bertrand Russell's best thoughts, ideas and retorts, some served with a perfect dose of subtle snark.

[Joe Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of perceptive comments on a wide range of topics.

[Jose Martin C.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you will read anything, read Russell. If you can – if you are allowed to – read only one author, choose Russell always. Because, where else can you find such gems in abundance?: 

(These are not necessarily from the book under review, which is also a collection of some of his very many great ideas – sometimes incomprehensible [for mediocre minds like mine] and often surprising ideas at first reading, yet eminently logical ideas when you make the effort to dissect them, and supremely functional, effective and rewarding ideas when you make the effort to assimilate them and make them your guides to action.)

The good life is the life that makes for happiness both in oneself and in others. – The Conquest of Happiness (Chapter: The Sense of Sin).

 A happy life must be to a great extent a quiet life, for it is only in an atmosphere of quiet that true joy can live. – The Conquest of Happiness (Chapter: Boredom and Excitement).

Any pleasure that does no harm to other people is to be valued. – The Conquest of Happiness (Chapter: Is Happiness Still Possible?).

A life confined to what is personal is likely, sooner or later, to become unbearably painful; it is only by windows into a larger and less fretful cosmos that the more tragic parts of life become endurable. – In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays.

Never let yourself be diverted, either by what you wish to believe, or what you think could have beneficent social effects if it were believed; but look only and solely at what are the facts.

The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind without the cooperation or consent of his deliberate reason. – The Problems of Philosophy.

No satisfaction based upon self-deception is solid, and however unpleasant the truth may be, it is better to face it once and for all, to get used to it, and to proceed to build your life in accordance with it.

Love cannot be a duty, because it is not subject to the will. – On Education, Especially in Childhood (Chapter: Sex Education).

The fundamental principle of ethics should be the promotion of human happiness. – My Religious Reminiscences.

Good nature is, of all moral qualities, the one that the world needs most. – In Praise of Idleness.

(There are scores more such jewels from the great man in my collection.)

To describe Russell's books (and I am here NOT talking about his books on mathematics and formal logic and abstruse philosophy – I have not attempted to tackle them: I know they'll just fly over my head), I can't find anything better than this description of 'good books' by Henry David Thoreau:

"Books, not which afford us a cowering enjoyment, but in which each thought is of unusual daring; such as an idle man cannot read, and a timid one would not be entertained by, which even make us dangerous to existing institution – such I call good."

Exactly such are Bertrand Russell's books.

[Virtue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bertrand Russell is a bullshit artist whose contribution had been inflated and put to an undeserved pedestal. He is one of those Western celebrities who were made to look like an embodiment of superiority of Western civilization, while in fact they were deficient and inadequate. Russell advocated for commencing nuclear war against the USSR while the Soviet Union had not possessed nuclear weapons. When the USSR became a nuclear power, Russell completely reversed his position and started advocating for peace. Obviously, he was no longer willing to incite a nuclear war against the nation that could defend himself. He may have preferred British colonial wars against powerless tribes that could be bombed, destroyed by artilery and submachine gun fire in the 'old good' style of his homeland. His contributions to mathematics, logic and philosophy are so vague that it is hard to describe it convincingly. Mathematicians do not consider him to be one of them, and neither do philosophers. He was most prominently a pretender who pretended to be a mathematician when he was talking to philosophers and pretended to be a philosopher when he was talking to mathematicians. He supported idolization of another false celebrity - Wittgenstein, who was equally non-productive bullshit generator, who was embraced by Western society as some kind of celebrity.

[Chris McCloud · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Remember your humanity, and forget the rest" - Russell was unwavering in his love for logic and exactness. He believed objective analysis would prevent otherwise unavoidable personal bias. Apart from his accomplishments in math and logic, Russell was an outspoken pacifist who feared a nuclear apocalypse. He also spent some of his time questioning traditional morality and long held religious dogmatisms. He believed traditional morality lacked consequential awareness beyond the original tenants. Russell found the expression of certainty to be a strong indication of ignorance. There is also some commentary on his political views, mainly his belief that a world government and globalization would lead to a more peaceful world. He believed in promoting the idea that assisting others would ultimately be in one's self-interest because the world has become so interconnected. Finally, Russell strongly disagreed with those that believed human nature was immutable. While humans may be inherently violent, Russell believed the cure is to provide an outlet for our baser tendencies and not to repress them. Overall, this short book provides a general idea of Russell's thoughts on more interesting topics than his mathematical proofs. The pithy and sarcastic style of Russell is not only entertaining, but effective. Highly recommended.

[Modi · Rating 3 out of 5]

مرحبا
كتاب جميل بسيط ممتع , اول كتاب لراسل ولا رح احكم بشكل كامل , لان في النهاية هي مختارات من المؤلف .
عرفت اشياء جديدة وأكدت على أشياء قديمة , فكرت وتأملت معه ,
ولكن مرات يشعرني انه كتب المقال بالكامل عشان يعطيني شعور سخرية , أو استهزاء ,
وانا ماعندي مشكلة مع السخرية ولكن هي ليست المقصد بل المقصد تغيير الناس للأفضل وهو يشاركني هذه الرؤية ,
ولكن بطريقة أخرى ,
هو بهذه الطريقة يعتقد انه يكتب (لعامة الناس ) , ولكن لا يتطلب الوضع سخرية في كل مقال .
النقطة الأخرى اللي أعجبتني في تفكيره واستغربت انه اعترف فيها , انه يفكر اولا بطريقة سلبية مدمرة من البشر والعالم .
مع انه يعيش خلف الشوق للحب والعدل والمساواة .

[Zahra'a Bin Shaibah · Rating 4 out of 5]

ان افضل سلاح لمواجهة الصرامة هو التهكم، فمعظم الأسلحة الأخرى تنتج فقط صرامة طائفية متعسفة" راسل
.
و هذا ما تميزت به هذه المقالات، فكان راسل كسقراط يجادل و يشير إلى الحقائق التي تراها العين وتتجنبها، كما يهز جلاميد الأوهام التي تسد مجرى المعرفة، من خلال تهكمه البارع.
هو يدق أجراس العقل التي لم تدق من قبل أو دُقت بشكل خاطئ، فأنتجت هزات مضطربة.

[Olja · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice intro to Bertrand Russell writings, but I would definitely NOT call it "his best".
The way how the excerpts are structured is nice, but I feel that you do lose a flow of Russell's brilliance by reading how the editor structured it.

If you read Russell, read it properly :)
Meaning: read his books.

[Vijay Prabu S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a selection of the wittiest arguments of Bertrand Russell in a wide range of domains. The contents of this book is surely witty, intellectual, and thought provoking. But Bertrand Russells best still is just a compilation of writings from various other of his books, so it doesn't feel complete.

[Nandan B S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord Russell's perspectives on politics, education, religion, psychology, sex, and marriage are meticulously organized into separate chapters. Each chapter begins with a backdrop of his life events, serving as an introduction to the respective topic. Subsequently, it delves into his opinions sourced from various books and works authored by him.

[Kristoporus Primeloka · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ini edisi yang tidak bagus penyajiannya, seperti menginjak lantai dari pecahan-pecahan keramik yang dipasang asal jadi. Maksud hati mau belajar filsafat matematika, eh malah mati-matian ngejar kamu. uuh untung malem ini #igheatyourmagicmoments

[Odín Escorza Soria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nunca dejaré de admirar las aportaciones de Russell a las matemáticas. En cuanto a sus ideas sobre otros asuntos de la humanidad (muy bien reflejadas en esta antología), aunque estoy de acuerdo con varias, en otras tantas creo que le ganó el prejuicio y a veces hasta el candor.

[Ibrahim · Rating 1 out of 5]

مقتطفات من مقالات مطولة وفي كثير من الاحيان مختزلة

[A Crawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un auténtico genio. La filosofía nunca fue tan graciosa. La irreverencia de sus declaraciones solo puede ser superada por su inteligencia.