Thirty years after sharing classrooms, movie theaters and drinks around Austin, TX -- Charles Guignon again proves to be an incredibly engaging intellectual companion.
His easy style makes difficult material accessible as he refuses to pass off obfuscation as profundity. By presenting important ideas culled from philosophy, psychology and modern culture (in an admittedly simplified fashion), the author challenges his reader to think seriously about what authenticity might entail within a society and a world such as ours. As with most good books, we are left with the feeling that a realm of thought has been opened up rather than neatly encapsulated and summarized. Guignon clearly adopts a Socratic humility, which encourages the reader to search for the truth rather than to expect to be spoon fed.
The body of this work provides a framework within which the reader can more fully see what passes for authenticity today -- as well as what it has meant historically. These positions are not constructed merely to be straw men who will be easily vanquished by our author. In fact, I found myself wanting to take up Nietzsche's position (as elaborated in the book), and carry it forward in a continuing dialogue we initiated in the late 70's.
As the book closes there is a call to "open and free conversation." In this scenario, one does not defend to the death a pre-determined conclusion as a matter of pride. Instead each person engages in the "to-and-fro of the discussion." Rather than becoming an advocate for a single point of view, one suspends prejudices (or at least recognizes them as such) while allowing the dialogue to be animated by the subject matter. This "dialogical situation" becomes "an unfolding event" through which there is a merging of differing visions to arrive at agreement about what will count as truth. Here I could hardly avoid thinking of what all too often passes for "serious conversation" in the media; that is, a largely empty sound-bite kind of sniping that poses as meaningful debate. How different our society would look if this were replaced by what Guignon calls "open and free conversation."
Hey, maybe I'm not perfect in my interpretation, perhaps you should read it yourself -- as it is well worth the effort. As one of Charlie's past students, I just want to thank him once again for reminding me that philosophy is a process and not an end product to be bestowed.
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Pages fell out
The book looks fine but I have had it for a day and some of the pages fell out already. It has been sitting on a desk since it arrived. The pages were only the tables of contents and a couple of pages from the preface so it is still functional but kind of annoying. It says that the binding is good under the condition section but obviously it isn't if the pages are just falling out.
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2019Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
The book looks fine but I have had it for a day and some of the pages fell out already. It has been sitting on a desk since it arrived. The pages were only the tables of contents and a couple of pages from the preface so it is still functional but kind of annoying. It says that the binding is good under the condition section but obviously it isn't if the pages are just falling out.
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Top reviews from other countries
- docreadReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2018
A gripping voyage into the self
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase - Amazon CustomerReviewed in Canada on November 18, 2015
Five Stars
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase - neil moray urquhart phelpsReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2014
Five Stars
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase - EliReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2019
Terrible Printing Quality!
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I purchased this book for university, part of my assignment was to write a book review from a list of books of our choice. When I opened the package, I was shocked at the lack of printing quality of the book, in particular the cover! It also has a jagged edges and a bunch of empty pages right at the end! Had I known this would be the quality, I would have never of wasted my time and money ordering it. This is truly disgraceful quality for £17!EliTerrible Printing Quality!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2019
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