Other People S Trades B (Abacus Books) [Paperback]

Levi Primo (Author)

Book Description

Series: Abacus Books | Publication Date: November 1, 1990

The essays in this book include some of the subjects that fascinated Primo Levi - the house he lived in all his life, butterflies and spiders, imaginary creatures dreamed up by children, Rabelais, writing a novel, returning to school at 60 and the need for fear. Throughout the book there are glimpses of long lost childhood summers, his grandparents, adolescence and, most importantly, his writing. The book, which is near to autobiographical of Levi's post-Auschwitz years, conveys his conviction that though "we are living in an epoch rife with problems and perils, it is not boring".

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It is almost two years since Italian writer Primo Levi ( The Periodic Table ; Survival in Auschwitz ) committed suicide by throwing himself down the stairwell of the house in Turin where he had lived his entire life. Here, to the delight of his devotees, are 43 brief, elegant essays on subjects that aroused and amused him: birds, insects, frogs, parasites, pain, sidewalks, Rabelais, imaginary animals, the fear of snakes, qualities common to chess and poetry, children's games, using a word processor for the first time, going back to school at 60, uncertainty about the future, psychological exams, the language of chemists, obscure writing (German poets Trakl and Celan, both of whom committed suicide). These witty, charming pieces confirm Levi's position as one of the most gifted writers of our time. Reader's Subscription Book Club alternate.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Trained as a chemist in Italy, Levi was deported to Auschwitz in 1944. His experiences in the death camps and his subsequent careers as a chemist, author, and classicist are reflected in this volume of essays, selected before his death in 1987. They form a fitting tribute to Levi's spirit and love of life. Writing from his house in Turin, he artfully explores the realms of nature in "Butterflies," "Beetles," "Inventing an Animal," "The Leap of a Flea," and "Frogs on the Moon." His reflections on civilization are featured in the varied pieces on unrequited love, using a word processor for the first time, Rabelais, psychological testing, playing games, returning to school at 60, and the need for fear. This is clear, precise writing filled with wonder and curiosity.
- Molly Abramowitz, Silver Spring, Md.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Abacus Little, Brown (November 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034910185X
• ISBN-13: 978-0349101859
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,356,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A humane, wise book, August 10, 2001

By 

Lawrence W. Prichard "lj-and-me" (Kent, OH, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Other People's Trades (Hardcover)

It is really unfortunate that this book is out of print now, it deserves to be reissued and widely read. Those who know of Primo Levi only know, for the most part, that he was a partisan, was a survivior of Auschwitz, a chemist, and died, a likely suicide. All of these are true. However, there is more to Primo Levi than those stark facts, and this book makes them abundantly clear. Levi had many interests, a lively curiosity, and was an excellent writer. Think Stephen Jay Gould or Lewis Thomas as a passionate Italian, and you're close.He does not mention his time at Auschwitz in this book. He writes about his youth, the apartment building in Turin he always lived in, about his experiences with primitive personal computers/word preocessors, his trip upon a submarine, and so much more.