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How to Be an Existentialist

10th Anniversary Edition
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( 778 ratings, 104 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
How to Be an Existentialist by Gary Cox offers a guide to understanding and embracing existentialist philosophy. It breaks down complex ideas about freedom, choice, and authenticity into accessible reflections and practical advice. The book encourages readers to live fully and genuinely by making conscious, independent decisions in their everyday lives.
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you're intrigued by the idea of living authentically and freely in a confusing world. It offers a practical guide to adopting an existentialist mindset, showing how to embrace personal responsibility and find meaning amidst life's inherent uncertainties. The author provides a fresh perspective on philosophy with wit and insight that resonates with both philosophy enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

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How to Be an Existentialist

"First published in Great Britain in 2009 by the Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd"--Title page

The second edition of Bloomsbury's best-selling guide to being an Existentialist in the 21st century

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

The 10th anniversary edition of a witty classic about the philosophy of existentialism, How to Be an Existentialist is also a genuine self-help book offering clear advice on how to live according to the principles of existentialism formulated by Nietzsche, Sartre, Camus, and the other great existentialist philosophers.

An attack on contemporary excuse culture, the book urges us to face the hard existential truths of the human condition. By revealing that we are all inescapably free and responsibleβ€”'condemned to be free,' as Sartre saysβ€”the book aims to empower the reader with a sharp sense that we are each the master of our own destiny. Cox makes fun of the reputation existentialism has for being gloomy and pessimistic, exposing it for what it really is: an honest, uplifting, and potentially life-changing philosophy!

This striking 10th anniversary edition with a substantial new preface includes more pointers on how to be a true existentialist, including how to be an existentialist at a time when environmental issues are becoming ever more pressing and our 'post-truth' world increasingly subjects us to the politically polarising power of simplistic social media.

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?

How to Be an Existentialist by Gary Cox is praised for its eloquent introduction to Sartrean existentialism, effectively clarifying complex concepts such as "authenticity" and "bad faith." It is considered both instructive and entertaining, offering a serious self-help angle that encourages readers to reconsider their life choices. Through accessible language, it serves as a valuable resource for those new to existentialism, emphasising freedom, responsibility, and authenticity.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781350068988

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 September 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 160g

Pages: 144

About the Author

Gary Cox has a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Birmingham, UK, where he is also an Honorary Research Fellow. He is author of How to Be a Philosopher (2010), The God Confusion (2014), Deep Thought (2015), a biography of Sartre, Existentialism and Excess (2016) and Cricket Ball: The Heart of the Game (2018)– all published by Bloomsbury.

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