moreilly1917's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
azure_dawn's review against another edition
I think I got the idea of what this is. Don't see a reason to read further.
One hellish book I must say. I think this book would have been four times as bearable if the author removed that billion and a half anecdotes and quotes from ancient literature.
One hellish book I must say. I think this book would have been four times as bearable if the author removed that billion and a half anecdotes and quotes from ancient literature.
princessleia4life's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't like his style. He kept jumping from subject to subject.
5teverin0's review against another edition
I didn't so much give up on this book, as I came to the realization that it's just not the kind of book I can read cover to cover. I will continue to dip in and out of it, whenever the mood strikes, as I very much enjoy it. I just enjoy it more in small doses.
lizbusby's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting thoughts. Takes a while to get used to all the Greek and Roman references if you aren't up on classics.
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.