Karol Wojtyla: The Thought of the Man Who Became Pope John Paul II [Hardcover]

Rocco Buttiglione (Author), Paolo Guietti (Translator), Francesca Murphy (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1997

Written by Rocco Buttiglione, one of the Popes closest friends and counselors, this volume is the standard work for all who want to understand the philosophical mind of Karol Wojtyla, the man who became Pope John Paul II. Based on an accurate reading of all of Wojtylas works and of all relevant secondary literature, this English edition of Buttigliones book provides a complete introduction to the Popes philosophy and his original contribution to the philosophy of freedom. New to this English edition of Buttigliones work are a foreword by Michael Novak, an appendix published for the third edition of The Acting Person, and an afterword that updates the book with a survey of secondary literature on the Popes thought published between 1982 and 1996.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802838480
• ISBN-13: 978-0802838483
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #387,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great intro to the Wojtyla's thought, November 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Karol Wojtyla: The Thought of the Man Who Became Pope John Paul II (Hardcover)

Buttiglione, like Wojtyla, is not an easy read. His book, however, is very valuable in that through it one can start the process of understanding the pope's previous thought. Buttiglione does not deal with Wojtyla as Pope John Paul II; as he explains this requires an interpretation in the light of the church's whole history. Along with a high recommendation of this text, a warning is in order: it does require philosophical training to understand. However, one must begin somewhere and Buttiglione is a worthy starting place.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A guide to an insight of a great philosopher's mind, December 15, 2003

By 

Juan Olvera (Orlando, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Karol Wojtyla: The Thought of the Man Who Became Pope John Paul II (Hardcover)

This book will guide you through Wojtyla's thought. Be aware that this is not a substitute to Wojtyla's own writings. However, this book gives you a philosophical perspective into his writings thus, if you don't have the basic philosophical knowledge, it will be hard to read.For example, it takes me a couple of times to read the same chapter before it clicks. If you are strong in your philosophical background you will have no problem reading Buttiglione's book. Regardless, if you are not familiar with thinkers such as Wittgenstein or Sartre, please still get this book. You'll get to know-the latter mentioned philosophers thinking and actually appreciate even more why Wojtyla is a great contemporary philosopher. I highly recommend this book if you want to know more about one of philosophy's greatest contributions since Descartes' cogito ergo sum.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A major philosopher, December 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Karol Wojtyla: The Thought of the Man Who Became Pope John Paul II (Hardcover)

The reader seeking to understand the thinking of Pope John Paul II will find no better introduction than this remarkable book. Buttiglione is a major philosopher in his own right--as if evident from his careful discussions of Adorno, Sartre, Marx, and other thinkers he brings into dialogue with Wojtyla. Highly recommended.