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incognateo's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
casparb's review against another edition
3.0
This is a 1200+ page brick, so it is with some relief that I put it on the shelf. In all honesty, I cannot recommend this complete version - there's a 400-500 page selected edition that would be a better use of time.
Something that soon strikes the reader of this mammoth project is that Montaigne could have used a good editor. I'm sure that inventing the form of the essay (cheers Mike) complicates this, but a deft hand could have easily halved the length of many of these essays.
Now that the whining is out of the way - praise! I've never encountered a better contemporary insight into Renaissance thought and its development from the ancients. I was particularly surprised by how un-prudish it is: Montaigne is perfectly willing to discuss sex and peripheral activities (including, in detail, his own preferences). I had a great time learning about female semen.
When the collection is this large, they can't all be winners. It took about 1000 pages for them to really pick up for me - I'm aware that this may be off-putting for some. But when they do - there is little so human in the world.
Something that soon strikes the reader of this mammoth project is that Montaigne could have used a good editor. I'm sure that inventing the form of the essay (cheers Mike) complicates this, but a deft hand could have easily halved the length of many of these essays.
Now that the whining is out of the way - praise! I've never encountered a better contemporary insight into Renaissance thought and its development from the ancients. I was particularly surprised by how un-prudish it is: Montaigne is perfectly willing to discuss sex and peripheral activities (including, in detail, his own preferences). I had a great time learning about female semen.
When the collection is this large, they can't all be winners. It took about 1000 pages for them to really pick up for me - I'm aware that this may be off-putting for some. But when they do - there is little so human in the world.
meme_too2's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not an expert on Montaigne, but his essays have personality. It's an art that he puts enough of himself in his writings without pointing fingers at himself, while he rambles on about all kinds of topics.
mahir007's review against another edition
5.0
نحن لا نعيش أبداً في أماكننا بل نعيش دوماً في ما وراءها ، إن الخوف والرغبة والأمل تحدونا جميعها إلى الارتماء نحو المستقبل ، فتعمي بذلك أعيننا عما هو كائن ؛ کي تلهينا عما سيكون ؛ حتى بعد الموت. وكما يقول سينيكا: « ويل لعقلٍ مهمومٍ بالغد »
ميشيل دي مونتين
المقالات
ميشيل دي مونتين
المقالات
leahkrason's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
didn't read this all but i read enough stg,,,, i enjoyed a lot of what he had to say, incredibly human
clayjs's review against another edition
Delightful, but it's just really fucking long.
imogenrobinson__'s review against another edition
3.75
Some really profound thoughts on humanity and the world.
I'd like to pick this book up again when I feel I need guidance in life.
I'd like to pick this book up again when I feel I need guidance in life.