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Existentialism is a Humanism

by Jean-Paul Sartre, Arlette Elkaim-Sartre (Preface), Annie Cohen-Solal (Introduction), Carol Macomber (Translation)

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 5,602 ratings · 161 reviews

It was to correct common misconceptions about his thought that Sartre accepted an invitation to speak on October 29, 1945, at the Club Maintenant in Paris. The unstated objective of his lecture ("Existentialism Is a Humanism") was to expound his philosophy as a form of "existentialism", a term much bandied about at the time. Sartre asserted that existentialism was essentia...more

Paperback, 108 pages

Published July 24th 2007 by Yale University Press (first published 1946)

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Dec 25, 2012 Iori Yagami rated it 3 of 5 stars

Alors l'existence précède l'essence, parce que l'être humain est finalement un projet, et ce projet n'est achevé que - et seulement - par une séquence de choix libres qu'il fera durant sa vie.

Et par conséquent, l'homme est totalement responsable de ses actes. Et là je me demande si j'ai bien choisi de lire ce livre, ou c'est la curiosité que j'ai dans les gènes qui - excitée par un cours de philo dont je n'ai absolument pas choisi le contenu - m'a amené à télécharger le livre (que je ne lirai ja...more

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Apr 22, 2011 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have been interested in reading something by Sartre for some time, but was unwilling to waste my time with a meandering, depressing novel like Nausea (which I still might read one day); or a dry, 700-page tome (tomb!) like Being And Nothingness. To be honest, Nothingness seems hardly worth my time. It hardly seems worth anyone’s time.

THAT’S why I started this little jewel. This book was a lecture that Sartre gave in defense of existentialism to his non-philosopher auditors. He was attempting t...more I have been interested in reading something by Sartre for some time, but was unwilling to waste my time with a meandering, depressing novel like Nausea (which I still might read one day); or a dry, 700-page tome (tomb!) like Being And Nothingness. To be honest, Nothingness seems hardly worth my time. It hardly seems worth anyone’s time.

THAT’S why I started this little jewel. This book was a lecture that Sartre gave in defense of existentialism to his non-philosopher auditors. He was attempting to market his views as humanistic’ in nature, or, benefiting humanity in some way. Sartre broke the logic down to bite-sized pieces for the laity, which I think is commendable because there’s a certain amount of risk involved with diluting your ideas so that they can be understood. Sartre made clear this struggle: “Many of the people that interview me are not qualified to do so. This leaves me with two alternatives: refuse to answer their questions, or agree to allow discussion to take place on a simplified level… [but] We must agree to popularize it on the condition that we don’t deform it.” In spite of its simplicity, there are some meatier parts for the initiated, and Sartre’s method and value for disseminating his ideas among the working class is intriguing in itself.

Sartre boiled down his ideas in the following propositions:
1. Existence precedes essence. Humans are ‘abandoned’, are ‘thrown’ into their situation by forces that are beyond their scope of understanding or control, and can only define themselves moment by moment. “Life is nothing until it is lived.”
2. Man is a situation. He cannot defined by his so-called destiny or pre-determined role.
3. Man is responsible. In every act (‘project’), humans are creating a new situation for themselves as individuals, which means a new situation for society with each act. I commit all of mankind with every new act.
4. Our situation breeds anguish: knowing I am responsible to determine my meaning, and to determine the meaning of mankind, that produces the ‘anguish’ of the burden that responsibility is, and the ‘despair’ of knowing we are abandoned to our own resources.
5. Absolute truth is available, but is subjectively seized by realizing that truth is not ‘out there’, but is here—the “absolute truth of consciousness confronting itself.”
6. Intersubjectivity: Subjectivity is not attained in a vacuum. A sense of individuality is developed, refined and reflected by community. “We each attain ourself in the presence of the other…The other is essential to my existence, as well as to the knowledge I have of myself.”

Included at the end of this handy volume of philosophical pabulum is an essay on Camus’ “The Stranger.” This was very illuminating. Besides fleshing out more of Sartre’s ideas, it provided a great explanation to Camus’ work, and—something I was delighted to discover—evidenced Sartre’s own bewilderment upon first reading the book. He traces the line of existentialism throughout the story, but also exposes Camus’ literary talent. I feel like I understand the book better than before, and I have a new appreciation for what Camus was trying to impress upon his audience.
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Apr 08, 2011 Zahra Ali rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

يرد جان بول سارتر في كتابه على اتهامات موجهة للوجودية ليثبت أنها ليست فلسفة تأمل وسكون لأنها تدفع الإنسان لما يريد أن يفعله بوعيه هو كإنسان فرد يدخل ضمنه عدّة ذوات , يثبت أيضًا إنها ليست متشائمة وبائسة كما يصفها أعداءهم بل على العكس فهم يغلبون جانب العمل على الأمل لكي يتّقو شرّ الأمل و الأحلام إن رأو النتائج , فعندما تعوّل على الأمل تقل إنتاجيّة
العمل و في الأخير لن ترى سوى أضغاث أحلامك أيها البائس الفقير , في أحد الجوانب يتهم الآخرون الوجودية بأنها تتحيز للذات
و الأنا الأنانية و يفسّر سارتر معن...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Joshua Wilson rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have found Sarte to be exceedingly rewarding to read. His explanations of existentialism expand the notion of freedom of the will, an invaluable addition to humanism (though certainly not to that of Gide). Our existence truly is the sum of our action and our reality may only be defined once we become self aware. Man is alone in the sea of humanity yet it is humanity to which we contribute all things through our actions. Sarte's philosophy is perhaps the only singularity of, and should be held...more

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Jun 10, 2013 Hortense added it

A young guy, comes of age in social media times and hand-held devices. Everything he thinks is within the context of near constant communication with others, hundreds of them. He texts his ass off. But he's bright. He manages to float through school, indifferently, while texting friends and playing various games. He has a flair for data structures. He lands a dream job with a secretive Govt. agency. As I said, everything he deals with is dealt with through "dialogue" -- he is, as it were, thorou...more A young guy, comes of age in social media times and hand-held devices. Everything he thinks is within the context of near constant communication with others, hundreds of them. He texts his ass off. But he's bright. He manages to float through school, indifferently, while texting friends and playing various games. He has a flair for data structures. He lands a dream job with a secretive Govt. agency. As I said, everything he deals with is dealt with through "dialogue" -- he is, as it were, thoroughly socialized, if that's the right word. His rise in the Agency while not stunning is steady. He grows into his 30's like a lazy snake, taking time shedding his skin. His face starts looking bony. His eyes becoming disproportionate pools. But he is neat and detailed.

One day, he receives a special letter, intergovernmental. It is a letter he cannot discuss with anyone, not only the contents, but the meta-data aspects of his having received it. Is he confused? How can there be anything you are forbidden to discuss? His whole life is discussed, in fact nothing but discussion. Did I mention that the young man's parents are sunset existentialists, obsessive navel gazers, given to endless brooding introspection in the detained silence of their shabby suburban last stand home, where they have gone to ground in ruts of guilt and necessary administrative posts.

They were older and colder when they had him. He had been reasonably well planned for.

So then how does the youngish man deal with the intergovernmental communiqué? One answer is that since he is so socialized, he can't imagine there is any problem about something you can't discuss. Problems are always stuff a person discusses, all over the place. So he just complies neutrally.

Or is this the birth of introspection? A tiny black spot appearing on our hero's consciousness. A new type of male menses. Like a bad trip? like his parents always warned him about-- these bad trips they knew about always seemed to elicit volubility. A person could suspect that all the warnings were excuses for the faltering rehearsals of memory. for a kind of final radiance, a photosynthetic pride.

Reasoning further, the young man consults a book from the past. the sunset book by the great writer of existentialism. There he casually opens a page and reads about bad faith. Is his mind turned inside out? Does he communicate with his inner organs, the inner chambers under his skin, by being outside. Is he outside of himself? In the silent world of the agency communiqué.

Perhaps he convinces himself that the communiqué cannot be "authenticated" and simply tosses it aside.

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May 10, 2013 Hanan Dora rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

تحليلات الكاتب و ردوده ع الانتقادات فى معظم الأحيان غير مقنعة
الفكرة الأساسية تمحورت عندى انه لغى وجود الإله وهذا انطلاقا من وجهة نظر الوجوديين الملحديين
حقيقة نفسى اعرف وجهة نظر الوجوديين المسيحيين !!
ازاى هيكونوا متفقين ؟!!!
طبعا فكرة الوجودية تلغى فكرة الماهية المسبقة ,, أى لا وجود لطبيعة بشرية
طيب و الفطرة دى ايه ؟! واذا كان كل انسان بيخلق وجوده الخاص بدون وجود طبيعة مشتركة ازاى البشر بيتفقوا ع الخير و الشر !
أوافقك أن الانسان هو من يقرر وجوده ولكن لابد أن يكون له ماهية مسبقة !
حيث ان الكاتب يذك...more

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May 04, 2013 Farhan Khalid rated it 4 of 5 stars

Existentialism is a doctrine that makes human life possible and also affirms that every truth and every action imply an environment and a human subjectivity

Cristian existentialism: essence exceeds existence

Sartre's Existentialism: existence proceeds essence

Man is nothing other than what he makes of himself. This is first principle of existentialism

Subjectivism: the freedom of the individual subject to choose what he will be

My action commits all mankind

In choosing myself, I choose man

A man who...more

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May 30, 2012 Harry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

It has been a long time coming but I really wanted to sink my teeth into some good honest existentialism.
I read this little book on the fly and am now heavily annotating it, as there is so much to be gained.

In a lot of ways I'd want people to see my reading this book, it's highly intellectual, fascinating and breaks the mould in terms of literary thought.
I have always been a devoted follower of existentialism but never had a chance to investigate Sartre. Certainly he is a central figure in Exist...more

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May 06, 2012 Ahmed rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-the-first-time, from-air-to-paper

استمتعت بهذا الكتاب الصغير الرائق!، فالوجودية ضد الآمال وأحلام اليقظة!، فأنت تخدع نفسك إن قلت أنك كاتب موهوب، ولكنك لم تجد الوقت الكافي والمناسب للكتابة!، أو إنك محبٌ عظيمٌ ولكنك لم تلتق بالمرأة الجديرة بك!، فالمذهب إذن يدعو إلى العمل لأن الأحلام والآمال دائمًا في الجانب السلبي، فالإنسان ليس إلا ما يعمله!، أو مثلما قال (إن الإنسان ليس إلا مجموع أفعاله، ومجموع أفعاله هي حياته، فالإنسان إذن هو حياته)، كما أن عبقرية راسين ليس إلا مجموع مسرحياته المؤلفة، ولا شيء من عبقريته غير ما كتبه، وأن الحديث عن...more

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Oct 14, 2011 Trevor Denton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This might be the non-fiction book that has resonated the most with me. Sartre reads easily and makes strong philosophical points. But there is also a lot of heart in it. It has influenced me a lot in my perspective of the world and of other people. He basically summarizes the collective arguments of existentialist thinkers before him, siting Kierkegaard, Heidegger and Ponge.

First, he maps out the origins of existentialism. He points out that things in nature have existed for billions of years,...more

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Oct 04, 2011 Aurochz rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: philosophy, existentialism-phenomenology

A pretty standard text by Sartre. The book EXISTENTIALISM AND HUMAN EMOTIONS, contains all the same information, but structured better and with slighlty more information. Given this particular books origins as a seminar, it also seems scatterbrained and pandering. It seems like hes trying to redeem himself towards certain people and groups in the audience, which is laughable considering the philosophy he is attempting to represent here.

Judging the book merely on its content, he does give out th...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Jonathan Dickerson rated it 3 of 5 stars

As Sartre's philosophical view was gaining worldwide popularity, he began to face sharp criticism from Communists, Christians and the general public. Communists argued that Sartre’s focus on the individual undermined their emphasis on group solidarity. Christians, including the Catholic Church, criticized Sartre for his atheist stance, claiming that his amoral, godless philosophy was a danger. The public often misunderstood the true meaning of existentialism as viewed it as a generously hopeless...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Rafal Szymanski rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A short and concise introduction to the existentialist philosophy as that presented by Sartre and Camus among others. The gist is that "existence precedes essence"; there is no transcendent source of morality from which we source our decisions and actions, and us, as humans, only define ourselves in terms of actions we take - "there is no reality except in action".

This particular philosophy I believe is one that can actually be applied daily by noticing that irregardless of what you think, it is...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Casey rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a stimulating and provoking piece on existentialism. Firstly, this is a great starting point for anyone interested in learning more about existentialism. The language used is that of a cigar room filled with university professors, so it takes some patience to read, but the patience pays off if you are interested in all things philosophical.

I was very interested to hear, for the first time arguments made by Sarte. Some of the quotes below illustrate his main premise:

"Man is nothing else...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Juan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: philosophy, non-fiction, french-writers

Rápido, piensen en cómo describirían a alguien que se define a sí mismo como existencialista. ¿Listo? Probablemente hayan pensado los adjetivos "pesimista", "egoísta" y/o "pasivo". Sarte intenta demostrar que asociar el existencialismo a estos adjetivos es una concepción equivocada que se ha originado debido al desconocimiento de lo que en verdad esta corriente de pensamiento.

Aunque se abordam lo que podríamos llamar como grandes preguntas filosóficas (¿podemos hablar de esencia del hombre? ¿exi...more Rápido, piensen en cómo describirían a alguien que se define a sí mismo como existencialista. ¿Listo? Probablemente hayan pensado los adjetivos "pesimista", "egoísta" y/o "pasivo". Sarte intenta demostrar que asociar el existencialismo a estos adjetivos es una concepción equivocada que se ha originado debido al desconocimiento de lo que en verdad esta corriente de pensamiento.

Aunque se abordam lo que podríamos llamar como grandes preguntas filosóficas (¿podemos hablar de esencia del hombre? ¿existe tal cosa como una esencia del hombre? si hay una esencia del hombre ¿cómo tiene origen?), Sartre habla de ellas con tanta soltura y claridad que se sienten como temas accesibles para cualquier persona que tenga curiosidad sobre ellos, no como un conocimiento reservado para pensadores e intelectuales; sus argumentos son persuasivos y los expone con una convicción contagiosa.

Pero ¿Por qué se podría pensar que el existencialismo es pesimista, egoísta y pasivo? Porque rechaza que la esencia del hombre sea algo immanente al ser, que nos haya sido otorgado por el simple hecho de existir, es más bien algo que se construye. No hay una forma fácil de conocer la esencia del hombre y es este vacío lo que desespera y angustia al hombre, pues no hay algo que asuste tanto como no ser nada. Por supuesto, la actitud de Sartre es de actividad, no de pasividad, pero se puede apreciar el porqué de las concepciones equivocadas acerca del existencialismo, que resulta ser un pensamiento muy humano.

El texto concluye con una crítica muy de la época en que las ideas de Sartre se dieron a conocer, una crítica desde el Marxismo y su materialismo histórico, que en lo personal sólo me dejo claro lo alienante que llegó a ser esta manera de pensar, lo cual encierra cantidades de ironía tan grandes que no encuentro como describirlas.

"El existencialismo es un humanismo" es pues un libro fácil de leer con un contenido muy rico en ideas y que recomendaría a cualquier persona, no sólo a las que están interesadas en la filosofía y en el ser.(less)

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Oct 15, 2011 Fernanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow. La verdad es que me he sentido como toda una pequeña estúpida leyendo los ensayos sobre las emociones y el Ego, pero más la del Ego. Pude entender puntos claves pero necesitará definitivamente una releída para poder cimentar puntos importantes y obtener una mejor comprensión de mi lectura. Toma tiempo entrenar la mente para la filosofía, es pesada y poco digerible pero en cuanto decides tomarle el hilo se va convirtiendo en una parte fundamental de tus lecturas haciendo que llegues más allá...more

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Jun 29, 2011 Steve rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: philosophy

There are passages in here which show me why Sartre is so appealing to us, but Sartre commits a cardinal sin -- that of not taking your opponents seriously. He doesn't deal with the objections; rather he says, "these are not serious," (literally). He at no point comes to terms in this essay or in any other with the basic contradictions at the bottom of moral relativism, which are the same problems for existentialism. The very first law of logic is that of non-contradiction; Sartre didn't even ob...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Andrew added it

Shelves: philosophy

I've been revisiting a lot of the writers I worshiped as an adolescent, Sartre among them... Sartre presents his case in Existentialism Is a Humanism with absolute clarity and purpose-- a major departure from Being and Nothingness. His main goal is to prove that existentialism is a humanism. On this front I suppose he succeeds.

But as far as building a case for why his existential perspective is a necessity, he starts to falter. I would most certainly agree that existence precedes essence. But fr...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Cosmo rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite philosophy books, firstly because i am a fan of the philosophy and secondly because it is a great read. The reason it reads so well for a philosophy book is because the book originated from a lecture that Sartre did, and after reading philosophy book after another it is refreshing to find a book that is so well structured. Another reason it reads so well is also probably due to the fact that Sartre's philosophy originated in his novels, so he is a natural writer before...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Jesse rated it 3 of 5 stars

I would like to know more about philosophy and existentialism. In the meantime, don't take my review too seriously.

This book is actually a record of a lecture given by Sartre on existentialism. In it, he describes what existentialism is, answers what he considers are common accusations towards existentialism as a philosophy, and gives examples of what it means to think with an existentialist perspective.

The core of this philosophy, as he presents it, is existence before essence---that is, "human...more I would like to know more about philosophy and existentialism. In the meantime, don't take my review too seriously.

This book is actually a record of a lecture given by Sartre on existentialism. In it, he describes what existentialism is, answers what he considers are common accusations towards existentialism as a philosophy, and gives examples of what it means to think with an existentialist perspective.

The core of this philosophy, as he presents it, is existence before essence---that is, "human nature" does not have any a priori meaning until we define so by our actions. The idea that our actions shape human nature, give life value, and are the only measure by which to evaluate a person are all prevalent themes:

To choose between this or that is at the same time to affirm the value of that which is chosen; for we are unable ever to choose the worse. What we choose is always the better; and nothing can be better for us unless it is better for all.

For if indeed existence precedes essence, one will never be able to explain one's actions by reference to a given and specific human nature; in other words, there is no determinism---man is free, man is freedom.

When addressing how to participate in society, particularly with respect to social/political issues, the same ideas hold. If all you control is your own actions, he suggests, then you should use them as you see fit and not expect anyone else to follow suit:

If I ask myself "Will the social ideal as such, ever become a reality?" I cannot tell, I only know that whatever may be in my power to make it so, I shall do; beyond that, I can count upon nothing.

This straightforward philosophy is presented as fairly self-consistent, though Sartre doesn't address more difficult topics: what happens when two persons' actions conflict? Is rightness held by the person whose action succeeds? (And can someone recommend me further reading on existentialism that addresses this?)

Strangely, he brings up the point that not everyone is born equally---but then reaffirms that everyone is equally responsible for themselves and judged by the products of their own actions. This might seem to do a poor job accounting for social position, disability status, or worse, beginning life without legal freedom.
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Aug 27, 2012 Anoud Al-Ofaysan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

كتاب سلس و خفيف و جميل حقا .. تحدث به سارتر عن فلسفته الوجودية و عرف الفرق بين الوجودية المسيحية التي ترى أن الماهية تسبق الوجود و من أبرز اتباعها جابريل مارسيل و الوجودية الملحده التي ترى ان الوجود يسبق الماهية و من اتباعها الكاتب سارتر نفسه و هيدجر و اسماء أخرى

و قال سارتر بالكتاب : " بالفلسفة الوجودية يصبح الإنسان حراً .. بل يصبح هو الحرية نفسها "

تحدث سارتر عن مسؤولية الوجودي حول خياراته و القلق الملازم له ، و أن الوجودي عندما يتخذ قرارا او يقوم بفعل ما فهو يتحمل مسؤولية نفسه و جميع البشرية ت...more

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Aug 20, 2009 Lewis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: philosophy

Sartre's lecture on Existentialism clarifies most of the common misconceptions people seem to end up with.
Here's one of them:
Essence comes before existence. This is true of most things. A table for example can only be a finite amount of things, the carpenter knows what these are before he makes it and it has very little ability to change. The same is true for most living things as well. A bird just exists, it lives, feeds and eventually expires. Human beings however are different. Existentialism...more

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Jul 03, 2010 Slávek Rydval rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-english-authors, philosophy, read-2010, books-i-love

Zásadní přednáška ateistického existencialismu v novém překladu Petra Horáka. Slova J.P. Sartreho jsou stále aktuální bez ohledu na to, zda s nimi souhlasíte nebo ne.

Text je nutné dávkovat po odstavcích a pak o něm přemýšlet.

Protiváhu tomu pak dává přepis diskuse, ke které po přednášce došlo. V ní autorovi oponuje především P. Naville.

Kniha kromě jiného čtivým a snadno pochopitelným způsobem předkládá čtenáři základní myšlenky existencialismu a popisuje je natolik jasně, že je lze chápat i bez...more

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May 21, 2008 Massoud added it · review of another edition

یک مجموعه از سخنرانی های آقای سارتر در این کتاب جمع آوری شده، در ضمن چند تا مناظره با مخالفین اگزیستانسیالیسم هم در این کتاب هست.

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May 27, 2011 Lucian McMahon rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading this book. Though, on a philosophical level, I wonder if reality isn't a sort of complex interplay between materialism and existentialism in order to explain and categorize man's actions. For, as modern psychology at least partly proves, exogenous forces do, in fact, affect human action, though man, in possession of his free will, can in fact choose and in choosing defines himself.

"'existentialism' is a doctrine that makes human life possible and also affirms that every...more

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Jan 22, 2008 Michael added it

One of the more amusing failures in twentieth century philosophy. By completely blowing the arguments about morality, he actually fails to prove the four-word title of his lecture.

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Mar 10, 2013 Salvatore rated it 3 of 5 stars

This ain't your mother's humanism. Sartre's lecture on why existentialism is actually for humanity, a positive outlook and affirmation of existence. I particularly enjoyed the 'existence before essence' question, which makes a whole lot of sense but appears to be difficult to explain. During the Q&A, if I were Sartre, I wouldn't have been able to put up with Pierre Naville's 11-page (interesting, but way too long) question. There would have been a French existentialist fight. Also, what a pa...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Jon Malley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-philosophy

This book is based on a lecture that Sartre gave in defense of existentialism in the faces of Marxists, Christians and a growing number of the general public in France. It sets out to define clearly the premises of Sartre's philosophy in a manner that can only be ascribed through critical interpretation in other works.

In addition to Sartre's debate against the misconceptions surrounding existentialism, he provides a brief commentary on Camus's The Stranger. I'd recommend this to anyone who is br...more

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Sep 12, 2012 M7md 7sien rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

جان بول سارتر بيشرح الوجودية في صفحات قليلة و بأسلوب مبسط .. وبيركز أكتر عن علاقتها بالقيم الأخلاقية و أسلوب الحياة أكثر من رؤيتها للعالم .. بل هو هنا يدفع عنها شبهة أن تكون فلسفة تأملية .. بل يؤكد على كونها فلسفة تدعو للإلتزام -بمفهوم يختلف عن الإلتزام كما نعرفه بالطبع- إنطلاقاً من إيمان مطلق بالحرية الفردية .. حرية متحدية العلية و الجبرية .. فإختيار الفرد في موقف ما .. هو إختيار للإنسانية بأكملها ومن هنا ينبع القلق الوجودي المصاحب للإختيار

الكتاب في الأساس ترجمة لمحاضرة لسارتر .. متبوع بمناقشة...more

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May 03, 2011 Chris Schaeffer rated it 4 of 5 stars

My girlfriend bought this for me and I'm not sure why. We were at a Barnes & Noble with some other people, I remember a few of them giggling over a book on astrology and I thought it was kind of tedious, next thing you know I own this book. Baffling. Anyway, a pretty accessible little lecture with some nice soundbites for the front half, and for the back half a much more interesting (to me) piece on Camus, which I'd never read before. If you don't know much about existentialism, buy it for p...more

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About Jean-Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre, normally known simply as Jean-Paul Sartre, was a French existentialist philosopher and pioneer, dramatist and screenwriter, novelist and critic. He was a leading figure in 20th century French philosophy.

He declined the award of the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his work which, rich in ideas and filled with the spirit of freedom and the quest for truth, has ex...more

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“Il n'y a de réalité que dans l'action.

(There is no reality except in action.)” — 94 people liked it

“In life man commits himself and draws his own portrait, outside of which there is nothing. No doubt this thought may seem harsh to someone who has not made a success of his life. But on the other hand, it helps people to understand that reality alone counts, and that dreams, expectations and hopes only serve to define a man as a broken dream, aborted hopes, and futile expectations.” — 53 people liked it

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