Who Would Like This Book:
If you love wrestling with big ideas and have a passion for dense philosophical puzzles, "Being and Time" is a goldmine. Heidegger's analysis of what it means to exist inspired some of the world’s greatest thinkers and is foundational for existentialism, deconstruction, and continental philosophy. If you’ve already enjoyed Nietzsche, Sartre, or even Foucault, you’ll appreciate tracing their roots here. The book rewards careful, thoughtful reading - perhaps best taken in small bites, with a reading group, or alongside commentaries. Those interested in questions of authenticity, existence, and what it means to be will find plenty to chew on.
Who May Not Like This Book:
This is not a casual weekend read. Heidegger’s writing is famously dense, full of invented terms, and sometimes requires knowledge of German, Greek, or Latin to fully decode. Many find the prose unnecessarily complicated, sometimes bordering on frustrating or impenetrable. If you’re looking for clarity, quick insights, or straightforward arguments, this book may feel like wading through philosophical molasses. The philosopher's own political background and the lingering sense of his personal views can also be off-putting for some readers.
About:
'Being and Time' by Martin Heidegger is a challenging philosophical work that delves into the structures of everyday life, exploring concepts of authentic existence versus conformity to societal norms. The book introduces new terminology and complex ideas, requiring careful and patient reading to grasp Heidegger's unique perspective on human existence and temporality. Despite its difficulty, readers find value in the book's depth and thought-provoking content, even if it may be hard to fully comprehend.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include high levels of abstract, dense philosophical language and potential discomfort due to Heidegger's controversial political views, including his affiliation with Nazi ideology.
From The Publisher:
"Being and Time changed the course of philosophy." -Richard Rorty, New York Times Book Review
"What is the meaning of being?" This is the central question of Martin Heidegger's profoundly important work, in which the great philosopher seeks to explain the basic problems of existence. A central influence on later philosophy, literature, art, and criticism-as well as existentialism and much of postmodern thought-Being and Time forever changed the intellectual map of the modern world. As Richard Rorty wrote in the New York Times Book Review, "You cannot read most of the important thinkers of recent times without taking Heidegger's thought into account."
"Heidegger's masterwork." -The Economist
"Heidegger's greatest work." -The Guardian
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Being and Time?
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