Lesebuch. Der Wille zum Glück

by Simone de Beauvoir, Sonia Mikich (Editor)

Simone de Beauvoir, Schriftstellerin und Theoretikerin, ist eine der bedeutensten Intellektuellen des 20. Jahrhunderts. In Wort und Tat engagierte sie sich gegen jede Form der Unterdrückung und Begrenztheit. Für viele Menschen waren und sind ihr Werk und ihr Leben Ermutigung und Anstoß. Ihre Essays, Erzählungen und Romane zeugen von einer Radikalität und Klarheit des Denkens, das stets eins zum Ziel hat: dem Menschen seine schönsten Möglichkeiten bewusstzumachen, nämlich eine Humanität in Verantwortung und Freiheit.
Das Beauvoir-Lesebuch bietet einen Einblick in ihr literarisches, politisches und philosophisches Werk; gleichzeitig macht es die Etappen ihrer persönlichen Entwicklung kenntlich.

Genres: Philosophy

250 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1986

About the author

Simone de Beauvoir was a French existentialist philosopher, novelist, essayist, memoirist, and feminist whose writings profoundly shaped twentieth-century philosophy, literature, and modern feminist thought. Born in Paris into a bourgeois Catholic family, she displayed exceptional intellectual ability from an early age. After studying philosophy at the Sorbonne, she passed the prestigious agrégation examination in 1929, becoming one of its youngest successful candidates. During her studies she met Jean-Paul Sartre, with whom she formed a lifelong intellectual and personal partnership that became central to the development of French existentialism. Although Beauvoir often rejected the title of philosopher during her lifetime, her work established her as one of the discipline's most influential modern thinkers. She explored themes of freedom, responsibility, ethics, oppression, and human existence through both philosophical and literary writing. Her groundbreaking book The Second Sex (1949) transformed feminist theory by arguing that femininity is shaped primarily by social and historical conditions rather than biology, introducing the celebrated idea that "one is not born, but rather becomes, woman." The work challenged traditional assumptions about gender and became one of the foundational texts of contemporary feminism. Beauvoir also authored influential philosophical studies, including The Ethics of Ambiguity, alongside acclaimed novels such as She Came to Stay, The Blood of Others, The Mandarins, which received the Prix Goncourt in 1954, and The Woman Destroyed. Her four-volume autobiography, beginning with Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, remains an important account of twentieth-century intellectual and cultural life. Throughout her career she served as co-founder and editor of the influential journal Les Temps Modernes, contributing essays on politics, literature, philosophy, and contemporary social issues. Beyond her writing, Beauvoir was deeply engaged in public life. She campaigned for women's rights, reproductive freedom, and social equality, signing the Manifesto of the 343 that called for the legalization of abortion in France. She also opposed colonialism, criticized social injustice, and supported progressive political causes throughout her life. Her travels inspired widely read travel books and essays examining cultures in the United States and China. Beauvoir's legacy extends far beyond feminism, influencing existential philosophy, literary criticism, political theory, ethics, sociology, and gender studies. Despite continuing debate over aspects of her personal life and controversial relationships, her intellectual contributions remain central to modern scholarship. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and continue to be studied worldwide for their philosophical depth and literary achievement. Honored with distinctions including the Prix Goncourt, the Jerusalem Prize, and the Austrian State Prize for European Literature, Simone de Beauvoir is widely regarded as one of the defining intellectual figures of the twentieth century, whose writings permanently transformed discussions of gender, freedom, morality, and the human condition while continuing to inspire scholars, writers, and activists across generations.

Reviews

[Lindenblatt]

Das Lesebuch stellt in chronologischer Reihenfolge die Werke Simone de Beauvoirs vor. Zu jedem Werk gibt es eine kurze biografische Einleitung, dann einen oder mehrere Auszüge aus dem jeweiligen Buch. Eine gelungener Einblick in das Leben, Wesen und Schaffen dieser Schriftstellerin, die viel über die Emanzipation der Frau und, später, über das Altern geschrieben hat.

Ich hatte gehofft, Simone de Beauvoirs Werk für mich zu entdecken, aber leider hat das nicht geklappt. Das liegt in keinster Weise (nur) an ihren Büchern, sondern vor allem daran, dass ich mich mit philosophischen Schriften grundsätzlich schwertue. Im Moment bin ich nicht daran interessiert, eines ihrer Bücher im Ganzen zu lesen. Allerdings schließe ich nicht aus, dass ich auf ihre späteren Schriften zum Thema Altern in ein paar Jahren zurückkomme.

[Yousseif Abdellatif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet: Lesebuch. Der Wille zum Glück is a quiet little gem with a few rough edges. What worked: gorgeous, simple writing and a main character who feels like somebody you know. What didn't: a lot of the middle is just people thinking about stuff. Recommend for anyone who likes slow, thoughtful reads, skip for readers who need to see something happen.

[Yousseif Abdellatif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick verdict on Lesebuch. Der Wille zum Glück: sharp, funny, and a little too long. What worked: Simone de Beauvoir's voice, which could sell me a used car. What didn't: the last quarter, which loops back on itself. Recommend for fans of voice-driven books, skip for people who hate rambling.