Young Ludwig: Wittgenstein's Life, 1889-1921

by Brian McGuinness

Ludwig Wittgenstein is universally recognized as one of the most original and influential philosophers of his age and as a personality of great magnetism and power. Not all who recognize his importance admire him or approve of it; his life and work are both surrounded by controversy. In this welcome reissue of his classic biographical study, complete with a brand-new Preface, Brian McGuinness traces the early years of this fascinating figure and examines the formative influences which shaped his extraordinary life.

Genres: Philosophy, Biography, Nonfiction

322 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Paul Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic biography and I deeply regret that Brian McGuiness never got around to writing the second volume although he clearly had it pretty thoroughly planned. McGuiness devoted years to building up a detailed picture of Wittgenstein's early life, talking to large numbers of people who knew him and immersing himself in documents of the time. The result is a book that gives some deep insights into the views and experiences of the greatest philosopher of the twentieth century. The book's approach which is neither unduly reverential nor intrusive is very much in the spirit of its subject, while the cultural and historical understanding that McGuiness demonstrates is enviable. Some of the comments on Wittgenstein's inner turmoil did not seem very convincing to me, but McGuiness very modestly presents them simply as a greek chorus-like common sense assessment. All in all, a must for anyone interested in Wittgenstein.

[Mick Maurer · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Bibliography. Chpt 7 The War 1914-1918 & Chpt 8 Captivity and Return 1918-1920 for 91 pages was the best resource, other than Wittgensteins own Notebooks from that period, to learn of his WW I military experience. Monk in his biography at 61 pages is not as detailed.

[Samankobarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best biography of Young Ludwig Wittgenstein

[Ege]

https://youtu.be/Eg_C2Z2OLKA?t=2666

[lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a nice biography of wittgenstein (i've only read the first volume, though).

[Jamie Bolland]

An introduction to Wittgenstein's early life and work, and I am sorry to say it, a little dry at times. Had the eyelids drooping more often than most.