Gravity and Grace (Routledge Classics) 1st Edition

by Simone Weil (Author)

17 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0415290005

ISBN-10: 9780415290005

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Gravity and Grace was the first ever publication by the remarkable thinker and activist, Simone Weil. In it Gustave Thibon, the farmer to whom she had entrusted her notebooks before her untimely death, compiled in one remarkable volume a compendium of her writings that have become a source of spiritual guidance and wisdom for countless individuals. On the fiftieth anniversary of the first English edition - by Routledge & Kegan Paul in 1952 - this Routledge Classics edition offers English readers the complete text of this landmark work for the first time ever, by incorporating a specially commissioned translation of the controversial chapter on Israel. Also previously untranslated is Gustave Thibon's postscript of 1990, which reminds us how privileged we are to be able to read a work which offers each reader such 'light for the spirit and nourishment for the soul'. This is a book that no one with a serious interest in the spiritual life can afford to be without.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Time and again she pierces the veil of complacency and brings the reader face to face with the deepest levels of existence.' - Church Times

'At the twilight of a century whose accelerated history has led to the rise and fall of so many idols, this book increasingly appears like a message from eternity.' - Gustave Thibon

'One of the most profound religious thinkers of modern times.' - The Twentieth Century, 1961

'We must simply expose ourselves to the personality of a woman of genius, of a kind of genius akin to that of the saints.' - T. S. Eliot

'The light Simone shines makes everything seem, at once, reasurringly recognizable and so luminous as to be heavenly.' - Malcom Muggeridge

'In France she is ranked with Pascal by some, condemned as a dangerous heretic by others, and recognized as a genius by all.' - New York Times Book Review

'The best spiritual writer of this century ... she said it was her vocation to stand at the intersection of Christians and non-Christians. She thus becomes the patron saint of all outsiders.' - André Gide

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

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Product details

Series: Routledge Classics
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (November 15, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780415290005
ISBN-13: 978-0415290005
ASIN: 0415290007
Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.8 x 7.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 17 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,455,071 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6775 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Religious
- #7882 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Philosophy > History & Surveys
- #9023 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Modern

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Chad Lott

The Red Virgin Speaks

November 13, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I went through a philosophy heavy rhetoric program at UC Berkeley and never once heard Simone Weil's name. I discovered her through Stanford's Entitled Opinions podcast (which is excellent). I'm glad I did.

This seems to be the book most people recommend to start with. It's pretty quick and shouldn't be too hard a read for most folks. I'd probably describe the style as aphoristic. You can pick different chapters to skip about in without losing much of an argument's thread. That said, you should totally read the whole thing.

Weil's thought is complex, mystical, and challenging. This is a book that should probably be read a couple of times before any strong opinions are formed, so I'll just say this: I found her ideas to be very compelling, but I bristled a bit at her veneration of suffering.

I can't wait to read more of her work.

15 people found this helpful

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Aaron

Heretical Theologian; Brilliant, Insightful, Unique

April 30, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I bought this book many months ago and read portions of it without actually thinking critically of her views. It was only when I embarked on a water fast that I used this book as a daily meditation. I admire Simone Weil's unique intelligence, insight, and sensitivity to many of the fundamental topics of affliction, love, politics, etc. With acquired knowledge of physics, politics, history, philosophy and literature, Weil delivers poetic descriptions of topical subjects, although elusive at times there are sections that glow with profundity. I agree with Albert Camus that Simone Weil was one of the most luminous intelligence of the 20th century.

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Sophfronia Scott

Nuggets of Hopefulness

June 10, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Simone Weil is mentioned several times in the correspondence of Thomas Merton and Czeslaw Milosz (compiled in the book "Striving Towards Being"). The favorable words of these admired authors made me curious to explore Weil's work. I started with "Gravity and Grace." For those also new to Weil's work I should point out this book is not a continuous narrative: it is a compilation of writings from the notebooks she entrusted to her friend Gustave Thibon before her death in 1943. For this reason the book reads like a series of thoughts--in some cases it seems Weil is trying to reason out a complex concept for herself in much the same way an artist might doodle or a scientist might scribble down formulas. I will admit there were parts of this book that were maddeningly confusing. However these were balanced with nuggets that I found to be entirely fresh and hopeful: "God's love for us is not the reason for which we should love him. God's love for us is the reason for us to love ourselves. How could we love ourselves without this motive?"

I read "Gravity and Grace" from beginning to end, but it doesn't have to be consumed this way. In fact I will probably come back to this material repeatedly because there are many deep thoughts here that just need to be chewed over in that way. Since it is organized by topic you can pretty much dive into it wherever you like. I say go into this book with an open mind and a sufficient appetite for spiritual discovery.

24 people found this helpful

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Melanie Shull

A Necessary Addition to the Bookshelf

June 11, 2017

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Weil is one of the most challenging Christian voices of the modern period. It is impossible to return from the sharp blade of any of her aphorisms without shedding a little blood.

2 people found this helpful

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stu

A young philosopher's view of Idealism during a time of war.

September 20, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Simone Weil was an Idealist philosopher who experienced both WW1 and WW2. I bought this book to see how her philosophy might have affected her view of war, and vice a versa.
It is definitely an interesting read. Simone Weil seems to compare Gravity with materialism, and Grace with spirituality, and her interpretation of the effect they have on each other.

4 people found this helpful

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Michael Kennedy

Simone Weil, a person for our times.

December 23, 2013

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Simone Weil is an Apostle for our time.
We are submerged in a sea of individualism, narcissism, materialism and self obsession.
We are even taking selfies.
Simone identifies with the outsider and finds her happiness in obligation to others,
A great message for Christmas.

6 people found this helpful

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Miriam hennig

Five Stars

March 11, 2018

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The book is excellent!

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Roger A. Eddleman

Weil was a complicated and wonderful person. She was from a Jewish background and

January 25, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Simone Weil was an intellectual and mystic. Gravity and Grace, I gave three stars, in large part, because much of what she says is beyond my capacity, intellectual (and/or spiritual). The introduction explains Weil's "philosophy" and helps in understanding the book. Weil was a complicated and wonderful person. She was from a Jewish background and, according to her, was visited by Jesus in an experiential and profound way. She prayed the "Our Father," and often experienced mystical experiences --the presence of God. She was both a lover and critic of the Catholic Church. The little I do understand shows that she was a profound thinker. Waiting for God, another book with collections of writings by her is more understandable. For those with a mystical, theological bent the book is probably worth reading. I will keep it and revisit it from time to time, using it to try and glean some of her insights in the future. Hopefully, as I grow I will be able to appreciate some of her more piercing insights.

11 people found this helpful

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