On Solitude

His writing is the most engaging I've read. His approach of interspersing his own thoughts with those acclaimed in history is wonderfully entertaining and educational. It reminds me of Indian commentarial literature (sastra). This is a rare mark of civilization, and bravery, to balance our own thoughts in writing with those of our history. It surely lends authenticity and durability to his ideas. Montaigne lived at the beginning of the great rational movement which has so clouded western thought, but his own thoughts move free and easily, apart from dogma on the one side, tunnel-vision on the other. It would be wonderful if modern writers could follow his lead in innovating on form, and shake the obsession with originality in content. show more After all, what don't we know? show less

Was Michel de Montaigne's obsession with the writers of antiquity more noble during his day or was it thought of as confounded as someone obsessing over writers of centuries past in a post-uber-modern cyborg simulated world, like I? Montaigne's passages on fear, happiness, anger, the shortness of life, the agony and ecstasy of life and more offer little a free-thinker has yet to thunk. His ideas on solitude offer the most insightful wisdom in this strange selection of essays that portray the thoughts of a man destined to live in solitude. anti-philosopher philosopher Montaigne is the prototype of of what Alain de Botton attempts to be. Although Botton is the Interpol of Montaigne's Joy Division (we should all recognize that all bands show more compared to Joy Division bare no semblance) this selection doesn't showcase the true OG Montaigne was but is rather an ode to his heroes and the trials and tribulations of those who inspired him. Not recommended. show less

This one is quite bad. It’s meandering and convoluted, not helped by an ornate translation by Charles Cotton. Montaigne moves from solitude to husbandry to death to meta-philosophy with no real bridges between his underdeveloped ideas. It’s a real slog.

There are other editions of Montaigne's complete essays and each has its virtues. This is just an introduction. If you're beginning a subject, 'Penguin's Great Ideas' series are really good to give you a short insight about the subject.

There are other editions of Montaigne's complete essays and each has its virtues. This is just an introduction. If you're beginning a subject, 'Penguin's Great Ideas' series are really good to give you a short insight about the subject.