Colin Wilson wrote his bestseller, The Outsider, when he was 24, and was immediately famous. Here he describes his catapult to fame, his associations with leading intellectuals of his day and his lifelong interest in consciousness and the paranormal.
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About the Author
Colin Wilson was born in Leicester in 1931. His book The Outsider first appeared in 1956 and was almost unanimously hailed by reviewers as a masterpiece. He has gone on to write hundreds of books, and now lives in Cornwall with his wife, Joy.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A look at genius born from destitution,
By RR "El Maestro" (Westchester, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dreaming to Some Purpose (Paperback)
If you felt awed by Wilson's "The Outsider," then this candid and insightful autobiography will certainly please you in revealing the real life struggles which led up to one of the most indispensable philosophical companions of the 20th century. The many profound connections he made in his debut novel which offered a hopeful and remedial perspective on art, life, and love are discussed in detail here. From conversations with fellow factory workers to dinners with famed writers like Albert Camus, the reader is provided with a tangible look at the altruistic search for meaning in the world.
Wilson's "Dreaming to Some Purpose" begins by exploring his adolescent years, the pendulum swing of optimism and pessimism, and the yearning for spritual and intellectual clarity that seemed at odds with his poor, working class surroundings. It's great to see the nomadic "down and out" early adult years he spent backpacking through Europe and later his drafting of "The Outsider" in between trips from the Museum of British History and the tent he lived in outside of London. What's also admirable is his candor in unveiling his early sexual experiences which are somewhat linked to his philosophical epiphanies. His thoughts about love, sex, morality, and family gave me the sense that Wilson is much more in touch with the common man than most writers of his generation claimed to be. But the lens he uses to examine his own rise to fame and the setbacks which immediately followed it makes one think about how life is eternally subject to change and that the plateau or "peak experiences" we reach are never stationary or permanent. I realize now (in my early 30's living outside NYC) how the peaks are often confused with false summits. His words truly motivate me in all areas of my life to never stop, to never give up, even after success has been achieved. Ultimately, the perspectives and experiences that Wilson provides in this autobiography are bound to satisfy the readers out there who gravitate toward texts of philosophy, art, psychology, and spirtuality. It may seem trite to say that this is in some ways a world class self-help book. But living in a world where stress, fear, and ennui continue to threaten the human condition, I owe much to Mr. Wilson for keeping me on the path and helping me keep my chin up. The abyss between the real and the ideal is not as daunting.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent self-biography from Mr Wilson,
By
This review is from: Dreaming to Some Purpose (Paperback)
This self-biography by Colin Wilson is the best biography I have read so far. A brilliant read. What more can I say.
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