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Title: Outsider by Colin Wilson ISBN: 0-440-56769-6 Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Format: Paperback |
Average Customer Rating: 4.68 (19 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: All-Time Favorite Book
Comment: For over 15 years this has been my favorite book. Wilson explicates a thesis - that much of great Western Literature is written by and concerns men who see and feel more deeply than their contemporaries. Perhaps one might regard them as more sensitive. At any rate, such men are alienated-hence outsiders. Such figures include: Hermann Hesse, Van Gogh, Hemmingway, Lawrence of Arabia, H.G. Wells, Albert Camus, Vaslav Nijinsky, Sartre, Tolstoy, and others.
This book can be used in many ways: as a primer to existential philosophy, an introduction to religious mysticism, or as an introduction to the work and thoughts some of the greatest artists and writers of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Understanding of this book is helped by familiarity with the works and artists Wilson discusses - but it's not necessary. Wilson's discussion of each work/artists is complete enough even without prior exposure. And, indeed, it would be hard to have exposure to all he includes. In a way that, too, is a plus. I used this book as a core curriculum for nearly everything I've studied. I read what Wilson had to say, and if I was interested, I'd then explore those artists myself.
Rating: 5
Summary: Outsider is too disturbing to put down
Comment: I never considered myself being an Outsider.
But now I'm so confused that I don't know
why I'm even existing. 'Outsider' is a definite
life changer. It took me into my own mind and
I'm struggling to get out of it. Colin Wilson
is a underground genius. He has managed what few
authors has done to me. Self torture. I
will never read a Colin Wilson book again.
Isn't there a book available about How to forget 'The Outsider'?
Rating: 5
Summary: You are not alone
Comment: More people have read "Harry Potter" books than Colin Wilson books. So what you might say..True, and that would be qualifying you as an outsider. However, the fact that people seem to not be intereseted in themselves, what they are, and what's their "place" in this world or this reality(ies) is interesting. Isnt't it?
Wilson, in the "Outsider" lays out a study that asks many pivotal questions, questions that most people would label as existentialist. He defines the outsider as a person that "sees too deep but can't help it", a person that instinctively feels he doesnt fit in, becomes troubled by that, and sets out on a personal journey of discovering himself and his position in everything else.
To do this, Wilson studies the message many outsiders have "transmitted" throughout history, may they be philosophers, authors, dancers, painters, artists in general. He looks for parallels amongst them as he tries to interpret and define them, looks for common (but also for uncommon) points, but more importantly looks to detect what it is exactly that disatisfies them about the world they find themselves in.
And he does an extraordinary job at achieving his mission (defining the Outsider is a mission for those familiar with Wilson's works) while inducing provoking thoughts to the reader whether he's an outsider or not.
He also explores the methods of the outsiders he studies. In the end they all emerge as an official club and this is more startling than it might sound. It's the "commonness" among outsiders that's interesting in my opinion.
But, possibly the biggest issue is why does society keep producing Outsiders? Does that mean that as long as Outsiders keep being produced something is "wrong? It more than certainly does.
Any outsiders who will pick up this book to read will not be troubled by the fact that they might be unfamiliar with many artists Wilson studies. In fact, they'll wind up being inspired to study them also. On the other hand, any non-outsiders picking up this book might find themselves frustrated after the first 20-30 pages. And how will you know if you're an outsider or not to begin with? No worries. If you are you more than likely know it already. If you're not sure here's a tremendous and very inspirational book to help you find out. And if you aren't this book might help you understand those that are.
I've read several Colin Wilson books and what keeps amazing is that each and every one i've read is like "progress" for me, a personal progress, he functions like a keymaster handing out keys to those interested, and the fact that his writting style is never inaccessible is an added plus.
The "Outsider" is possibly the best book of its kind and it's no wonder that it brought Wilson some fame and success. It is a paradox though that even though Wilson has written very many illuminating books since then he still remains an "underground author"..Why`Well, i suppose that may have to do with the fact that he's an outsider himself, who, ultimately, will be read by (primarily) outsiders?
Discover that you are not alone.
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Title: The Books in My Life by Colin Wilson ISBN: 1571741119 Publisher: Hampton Roads Pub Co Pub. Date: August, 1998 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: The Occult: The Ultimate Book for Those Who Would Walk With the Gods by Colin Wilson ISBN: 184293080X Publisher: Watkins Publishing Ltd Pub. Date: July, 2003 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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Title: The Mind Parasites by Colin Wilson ISBN: 091472827X Publisher: Oneiric Press Pub. Date: September, 1990 List Price(USD): $7.95 |
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Title: Rogue Messiahs: Tales of Self-Proclaimed Saviors by Colin Wilson ISBN: 1571741755 Publisher: Hampton Roads Pub Co Pub. Date: August, 2000 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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Title: The Philosophers Stone by Colin Wilson ISBN: 0446330302 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: July, 1981 List Price(USD): $2.95 |
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