Reveries of the Solitary Walker (Penguin Classics)

Rating:
Summary: Portrait of an artist with paranoia and an ego!
Review: I must admit, I've read many of Rousseau's essays and books yet, I've never liked him. This book makes me like him less. "Reveries" is Rousseau's attempts to record his thoughts on ten solitary walks. In the first walk he compares his undertaking as like Montaigne's (that's Jean-Jacques for you!!). In a way, it is. These, like the essays of Montaigne are on both the 'trivial' subjects like botany and children, to the more philosophical, like the obligation to truth. Unlike Montaigne though, there is no order whatever to Rousseau's thoughts.

Another disjunction between the two is that Montaigne didn't think nearly as much of himself as does Rousseau who, towards the end of his life, did not have many friends and spends the greater portion of each essay telling us that it is their fault and who needs 'em anyway. He desperately wants us to feel sorry for him while protesting (way too much, wethinks) that he doesn't need our sympathy.

In fact, any good biography on Rousseau will tell you that the reason he didn't have any friends was that he was vain, selfish and trivial. After reading these essays, I see it. He was also losing his mind to paranoia and throughout the reveries, refers to the 'plot' against his life and in the ninth walk, even mentions the spies that follow him!! Whew!!

In the end, lack of structure, repitition of 'poor me' and conspiracy themes, and pure pompousness ruin this book. His 'Confessions' are slightly better, but I'd start with 'Emile.'

Rating:
Summary: Reveals more than Rousseau may have wished
Review: Many people often assume that they are the final authority on what goes on in their heads--after all, who is anyone else to tell me what's going on inside *my* head? However, the continued dissolution of depth psychology (esp. Freud) into popular culture, as well as a growing body of research by cognitive psychologists, is starting to make this assurrance suspect. I mention this because *Reveries of the Solitary Walker* is an excellent example of a literary version of this; here it is the readers more so than the author that can see what's going on in these "meditations".
Aristotle once thought that one's best tinking was done while walking, a sentiment later echoed by Nietzsche. In that same spirit, Rousseau offers this small book as recording of his "meditations" performed during his solitary walks. Instead of giving us some profound wisdom that comes from solitude and philosophy, this book instead serves as an amazing first-person look at paranoid schizophrenia. Rather than wise musings, we get instead Rousseau's ruminations about the extensive plot to (1) isolate him from others and politically marginalize him, (2) have him killed--witness his attribution of a near-fatal carriage accident to a deliberate attempt to run him down, and (3) systematically alter his writings and misrepresent him after his death.
As a book of reflective wisdom, this small treatise of Rousseau's is an utter failure. (One reviewer claims that this book changed his life, but how it could do so I have no idea.) However, this book succeeds in doing two things Rousseau did not mean it to do. First, it gives us incredible insight into Rousseau the man--more so even than his vaunted *Confessions*. Second, Rousseau's literary style and incredible gift for expression help to make concrete how the world looks to one suffering from paranoid delusions. (Sure, even paranoids have enemies; but this is probably because persecution complexes are likely to become self-fulfilling.)
This is not a book that is of much use to those looking for spiritual or philosophical wisdom, but in other ways it is indispensible. For understanding Rousseau the man, there is nothing better in his own words. Psychologists and psychology students (esp. those involved in clinical psychology) have much to gain from studying this small book. Rarely, if ever, will one find a victim of mental illness so eloquently able to bring you to an unerstanding of his world.

Rating:
Summary: Reveals more than Rousseau may have wished
Review: Many people often assume that they are the final authority on what goes on in their heads--after all, who is anyone else to tell me what's going on inside *my* head? However, the continued dissolution of depth psychology (esp. Freud) into popular culture, as well as a growing body of research by cognitive psychologists, is starting to make this assurrance suspect. I mention this because *Reveries of the Solitary Walker* is an excellent example of a literary version of this; here it is the readers more so than the author that can see what's going on in these "meditations".
Aristotle once thought that one's best tinking was done while walking, a sentiment later echoed by Nietzsche. In that same spirit, Rousseau offers this small book as recording of his "meditations" performed during his solitary walks. Instead of giving us some profound wisdom that comes from solitude and philosophy, this book instead serves as an amazing first-person look at paranoid schizophrenia. Rather than wise musings, we get instead Rousseau's ruminations about the extensive plot to (1) isolate him from others and politically marginalize him, (2) have him killed--witness his attribution of a near-fatal carriage accident to a deliberate attempt to run him down, and (3) systematically alter his writings and misrepresent him after his death.
As a book of reflective wisdom, this small treatise of Rousseau's is an utter failure. (One reviewer claims that this book changed his life, but how it could do so I have no idea.) However, this book succeeds in doing two things Rousseau did not mean it to do. First, it gives us incredible insight into Rousseau the man--more so even than his vaunted *Confessions*. Second, Rousseau's literary style and incredible gift for expression help to make concrete how the world looks to one suffering from paranoid delusions. (Sure, even paranoids have enemies; but this is probably because persecution complexes are likely to become self-fulfilling.)
This is not a book that is of much use to those looking for spiritual or philosophical wisdom, but in other ways it is indispensible. For understanding Rousseau the man, there is nothing better in his own words. Psychologists and psychology students (esp. those involved in clinical psychology) have much to gain from studying this small book. Rarely, if ever, will one find a victim of mental illness so eloquently able to bring you to an unerstanding of his world.

Rating:
Summary: Walk abouts
Review: One way to view this (if you are someone who is new to him) is of a Blake's "Age of Experiance" as this was written near his death when alot of his other works still hold his youthfull optomisum in them

I first picked up this book in Oz, not knowing what it realy was. I must say, that as most people howm read his writings are of simular mind, I find that his last ever colection of writing (which this is) explores the darkest corners of ones mind. So many times did I have to stop on a page, think, thake it all in, then carry on to the next page. Only having to do the same again. This is him (his mind is realy all there is to him) when he is free to walk about in circles and wander about everywhere. This is how his mind realy works. It was with this book that I think he should have started his life long writings, for this is a summary of his wondering mind as our minds do. In the wanderings, questions and notions pop up from every where, and instead of doing what the avaredge Jo does and dismisses without much thought, JJ searches and explores for notions and possible view points that would realy shock some people, but bring great moments of clarification and agreament with others like my self. I can not say how much this book has in fact shaped and changed view on my own socail views, of relationships, and spirituality

I love him with all my heart. This small book being him. Ed.

Rating:
Summary: Walk abouts
Review: One way to view this (if you are someone who is new to him) is of a Blake's "Age of Experiance" as this was written near his death when alot of his other works still hold his youthfull optomisum in them

I first picked up this book in Oz, not knowing what it realy was. I must say, that as most people howm read his writings are of simular mind, I find that his last ever colection of writing (which this is) explores the darkest corners of ones mind. So many times did I have to stop on a page, think, thake it all in, then carry on to the next page. Only having to do the same again. This is him (his mind is realy all there is to him) when he is free to walk about in circles and wander about everywhere. This is how his mind realy works. It was with this book that I think he should have started his life long writings, for this is a summary of his wondering mind as our minds do. In the wanderings, questions and notions pop up from every where, and instead of doing what the avaredge Jo does and dismisses without much thought, JJ searches and explores for notions and possible view points that would realy shock some people, but bring great moments of clarification and agreament with others like my self. I can not say how much this book has in fact shaped and changed view on my own socail views, of relationships, and spirituality

I love him with all my heart. This small book being him. Ed.

Rating:
Summary: Not His Best
Review: The title is lovely, and completely inappropriate. "Paranoid Ramblings of a Once-Great Philosopher" would be more accurate. Some of the chapters are nice (particularly the one on nature) but overall, this is quite certainly not Rousseau's best book. Try the "Confessions" first.