Breakdown of Will is not a fast or easy read; and like many texts in Philosophy, it will probably take more than one single read-through to really begin to digest what is being conveyed. In the end though, if you put in the effort, your comprehension will be your reward. That may seem to be a pretty deflationary sales pitch...BUT! In all seriousness, the comprehension of a difficult writing in Philosophy usually equates to some growth that extends beyond Philosophy too.
This text is described as though it's a pop self-help book; that's just not the case. You should not purchase it expecting that, otherwise, you will be sorely disappointed.
Why do I say that?—Because I ordered this text in 2007 as a Sophomore Philosophy student at University...and I was fairly disappointed...(?) I've had it in my library for 14 years now, and it's a text I still return to on occasion because it offers worthy insight into the individual struggle everyone experiences by sheer nature of being human. In that sense, it could be called self-help; ...in that sense, Philosophy could be called self-help...(?). It's not the most efficient route in helping yourself...(?), but I digress.
Fourteen years ago! Yikes! ...I didn't understand the text 14 years ago (nor did I didn't have my "Aha!" moment just the other day). This was a book I read over the course of a few years, mostly in chunks, & followed by admittedly lengthy breaks. The Summer before I entered graduate school, however, I finally picked up the book and I read it without much difficulty and not nearly at such a slow pace! What I was missing when I first attempted to read the book was sufficient experience with difficult works in Philosophy...(?)
But, after learning that Philosophy is a discipline always building off from itself, and eventually studying the discipline from antiquity forward, by the time I finally read it and could comprehend it, well, I could draw connections with similar concepts inside and outside of Philosophy. For example, when I first encountered the book, I had not read much in the way of metaphysics, or Philosophy of Mind. I hadn't yet really read much of Kant, certainly not Sartre, and Heidegger would have been an outright lost cause at the time. But knowing of those Philosophers, I was able to relate to what was written, simply by my own analogy, and apply that knowledge to better comprehend that internal struggle of the competing forces within every individual.
And then I discovered I rather enjoyed the book; I saw validity in what was being offered. And I think it has value and I recommend reading the book. It'll take time; not 14 years; 2-3 years isn't really even necessary. I just happened to be a punk kid brand new to Philosophy when I first picked it up. ...I had to learn some stuff first. And I did....and I do still now, several years after earning a Professional Degree...I still learn new things in & about Philosophy all the time.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Top reviews from other countries
Andrew K
articles and blogs extol the virtues of extreme productivity and habit formation - which isn't always a good thing. So if you are interested in psychology ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 29, 2017
