Customer Reviews
Handbook on Existentialism - By: M. A. Ramos, 07 Oct 2007 
This book is well written, even by today's standards. Should be used as a text book. The book book also shows how relevant existential philosophy still is even today - with alienation such a persuasive feature in contemporary society existentialism may be more prevalent now then ever. This book is very readable. It will provide the reader with an understanding of the most obscure exitentialists. This book should be a classic in existentialism.
Clear, Lucid, Free of Jargon - By: David J. Smith, 15 Jun 2005 Alongside Cooper's "Existentialism: A Reconstruction" I rate this as best amongst introductory studies in existential thought. Barrett deals with a few individual philosophers, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Heidegger & Sartre, highlighting differences in their outlook & their milieu while underscoring the philosophical constants. The author suceeds in writing in an interesting & engaging way, pacing well to clarify the more difficult concepts. The heart, human affectivity, & its need for meaning, so central to existentialism, is exposed in this work as the throbbing organ that other philosophies tend to disregard.
An excellent survey - By: Dagfinn Hobaek, 18 Mar 2003 This classic study by William Barrett is _the_ most lucid & consistent work I've devoured on the subject of Existentialism. The author approaches the existential tradition by neatly placing it within the broader history of European thoughts & beliefs in an admirably perspicuous way. Not a single word of dispraise - I can only express delight at the unambiguous & sensible manner in which the book is written. Whether you already have some prior knowledge of Existentialism & would like to expand your general knowledge on the subject, or are merely curious, I strongly recommend this book.
A fantastic introduction to complex ideas - By: , 05 Mar 2003 This book gives an introduction to the concepts put forward by some of the main figures in the Existentialist school of thought & the historical roots from which these ideas came. I bought it because I'm a relative newcomer to philosophy & was very impressed. Barrett has a great eye for detail, whilst retaining a clear & lucid style. His analysis of the lives & thought of four main Existentialist thinkers - Kierkegaard, Nietzsche (forgive me if the spelling is wrong!), Heidegger & Sartre - is full of insight & reveals the linking threads that connect their ideas; & in fact it is this aspect of the book I liked the most. He draws out the links & hidden themes that run through the writings of the four thinkers & Existentialism in general, & places alll this in a firm historical context to show how the ideas have developed from various sources - not just philosophy but literature, art, politics & so on. What we end up with is a conception of the world quite different from that put forward by other schools of philosophy; the focus is on our existence in the world, & the nature of this existence as experienced by us, with alll our imperfections & limitations. The main question seems to be: 'is there any meaning to human life?' Overalll it's very easy to read, provides a lot of food for thought, & fulfils its stated task admirably. I almost don't want to give it five stars because that's what everyone else seems to have done - but it reallly is that good. Highly recommended.
Excellent overview of existentialism, I think. - By: , 14 Jan 1999 I'm only a beginner in educating myself on philosophy, but Barret has a brilliant, balanced overview of the defining philosophers of our time, & the thought that produced them: Kirkegaard, Neitzche, Heidegger, & Sartre. I had trouble setting the book down once I started reading.
