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A Philosophy of Walking

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( 7,221 ratings, 960 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Philosophy of Walking by Frédéric Gros explores the act of walking as a profound practice, delving into its philosophical and meditative aspects. The author reflects on how walking can provide clarity, influence thoughts, and offer a different perspective on life and existence. Gros intertwines personal musings with insights from thinkers who found inspiration in the simple act of walking.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate blending philosophy with the simple act of walking, exploring profound thoughts and insights from famous thinkers who found inspiration and solace in their strolls. Perfect for those who love contemplative walks and philosophical musings.

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New Edition: fully expanded. The international best selling popular philosophy of why we walk

New Edition: fully expanded. The international best selling popular philosophy of why we walk

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

By walking, you escape from the very idea of identity, the temptation to be someone, to have a name and a history ... The freedom in walking lies in not being anyone; for the walking body has no history, it is just an eddy in the stream of immemorial life.

In A Philosophy of Walking, a bestseller in France, leading thinker Frédéric Gros charts the many different ways we get from A to B—the pilgrimage, the promenade, the protest march, the nature ramble—and reveals what they say about us.

Gros draws attention to other thinkers who also saw walking as something central to their practice. On his travels he ponders Thoreau's eager seclusion in Walden Woods; the reason Rimbaud walked in a fury, while Nerval rambled to cure his melancholy. He shows us how Rousseau walked in order to think, while Nietzsche wandered the mountainside to write. In contrast, Kant marched through his hometown every day, exactly at the same hour, to escape the compulsion of thought.

Brilliant and erudite, A Philosophy of Walking is an entertaining and insightful manifesto for putting one foot in front of the other.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A Philosophy of Walking by Frédéric Gros has received praise for its clear and beautiful writing, and its passionate affirmation of the simple life. The book thoughtfully intersperses poignant life stories of famous walkers with Gros's own meditations, urging readers to embrace walking for its creative inspiration and mental freedom. It's an elegantly written work that inspires and delights, encouraging even the most sedentary to get up and walk.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781804290446

Publisher: Verso Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 July 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Verso Books

Edition: New edition

Contributors:

  • Translated by John Howe

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 480g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Frederic Gros is a professor of philosophy at the University of Paris XII and the Institute of Political Studies, Paris. He was the editor of the last lectures of Michel Foucault at the College de France. He has written books on psychiatry, law and war. He lives in Paris.

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