Bertrand Russell was born in 1872 and died in 1970. One of the most influential figures of the twentieth century, he transformed philosophy and can...
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Dec 17, 2009
Kenghis
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One may hypothesize that all works of philosophy are in essence works of self-reflection. From blatant examples such as Augustine's "Confessions" to more subtle parts of Descartes' "Meditations," philosophers have often used their own experiences to help us understand the world we live in. In this sense, we can contrast to the former works the works of philosophers such as Aristotle or Heidegger who shy away from using the first person and deal with subject matters not only s
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Jan 21, 2012
Erik
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I became interested in Russell as a peace activist while still in high school. Later my best friend spent a college year abroad at the University of Kent in Canterbury, dating Lucy, one of Russell's grand-daughters while there. Returned, he read The History of Western Philosophy, highly recommending it. By then I'd become exposed to the philosopher/mathematician's reputation and intended to study him. Years later, having read a bit, espying the autobiography on sale at a used bookstore, I pu
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Jan 11, 2009
Manny
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The most memorable sentence is definitely "I went out bicycling one afternoon and, suddenly, as I was riding along a country road, I realized that I no longer loved Alys". He immediately went home and told her about his unexpected discovery.
I can't imagine anyone writing this who wasn't a mathematician. (I know a lot of mathematicians). As Tom Stoppard comments in The Real Thing: "He's cycling along, and what happens? He falls off the bike? No, he realizes he no longer More...
I can't imagine anyone writing this who wasn't a mathematician. (I know a lot of mathematicians). As Tom Stoppard comments in The Real Thing: "He's cycling along, and what happens? He falls off the bike? No, he realizes he no longer More...
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Dec 16, 2009
TK
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Great thinker and it really captures a very different time in society.
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Oct 29, 2009
Eric_W
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The Founding Fathers obviously placed a high value on happiness or they wouldn't have insisted on pursuit of it as a basic right in a major American document. Bertrand Russell, who already as an adolescent was trying to reconcile the meaning of life and the role of reason, adopted a Millian (if that's a word) premise to "act in a manner. . . to be most likely to produce the greatest happiness, considering both the intensity of the happiness and the number of people made happy." In The
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Oct 08, 2010
Julie
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"Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man."
— Bertrand Russell
"Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin -- more even than death.... Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, th More...
— Bertrand Russell
"Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin -- more even than death.... Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, th More...
Apr 03, 2011
P.J.
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This is one of the great autobiographies of all time, for its clarity and candor, for its amazing scope, for its cast of interesting characters. Russell was driven by logic. He could see the illogic, the absurdities, in the way the world operated. His refusal to compromise with those absurdities made him conspicuous, made him a great man. He believed that human suffering could best be relieved by putting the world on a logical, a rational, basis. But the world did not understand, still does not
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Apr 04, 2011
Mary
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Following each section in this book are some of the correspondence from the time period. I found the letters to be the most challenging part of the book. On one hand, I understand that they are an important component. And some of the letters truly illuminated what had been described by Russell earlier in the text. I especially enjoyed the letters to Russell from his grandmother and aunt. Masters of the guilt trip they are! On the other hand, some of them weren't interesting to me at all. Midway
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Nov 25, 2009
Thomas
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he makes the startling case that British & US hostility to the Russian revolution made WWII inevitable.
he accuses both nations of greed & malice & naivte; & of causing incalculable suffering & waste for the
next 50 years & more.
he accuses both nations of greed & malice & naivte; & of causing incalculable suffering & waste for the
next 50 years & more.
Mar 31, 2010
doctormatt
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The first two volumes are the best, very good reading.
The third volume is quite a bit dryer, and doesn't have the personal details that make the other volumes so interesting. Still, I recommend the whole thing very highly.
The third volume is quite a bit dryer, and doesn't have the personal details that make the other volumes so interesting. Still, I recommend the whole thing very highly.
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May 21, 2009
Aaron
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There were parts that I didn't like so much, and I skipped some pieces of the text and many of the letters written, but overall I liked this book very much. Russell is a clear and a delightful writer; I wish there were more like him.
Jul 11, 2011
Ed
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A touch long, a touch impersonal, but a good read, though probably only if you are interested in the man and his work.
Dec 26, 2010
Erik
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Remember many a train ride as a student completely absorbed in this book...
Sep 06, 2008
Franklin
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Since I liked math, my mother thought to check this out of the library for me to read when I was 14 and home sick from school for a week. It was very well written and it fascinated me, kindling my interest in philosophy. In both philosophy and politics, today I would violently disagree with Russell, but then I knew little about either. Anyway, I still remember some of the more entertaining vignettes.
Jan 20, 2008
jeremy
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russell's prologue is exquisite, near perfect. a remarkable man.
"three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind...."
"three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind...."
Jun 17, 2008
If I ever finish this book it will be a sad day. The hope of reading it again is one of the things that helps me get out of bed in the morning.
Oct 19, 2007
Andrew
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I read Russell's autobiography while living in a house on Thirleby St. in London where he once lived.
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