The Outsider: A Novel Audiobook

" this is part of a series of books i collected in order to better understand my more perplexing male friends. wilson is an autodidact, so i relish what he proclaims. for the life of me, however, I can't remember any of it... and the outsider is yet another book i have not finished. besides, i am presently past wishing to understand the motives of the more aggravating male friends, who fit the mold. i did find it interesting that wilson follows his theories to its most extreme logical conclusion, the personality profiles of serial killers... which don't interest me at all; i prefer all the grey areas of human conditionings, in light of the extremes... "

" The most important philosophical book in my life bar none. Not sure how I can endorse this more fully. "

" A pretty good analysis/overview of historical people suffering from existential issues. Wilson takes issues from several different people's lives and writing and puts it all together to classify those type of people who crop up in history every once in awhile who just don't fit in. It got a little dry in places, but I particularly liked the sections on Dostoevsky. If you're not already familiar with existentialist thought or writers/thinkers like Dostoevsky, Sartre, Hemmingway, Blake, Camus, etc., then this (text)book probably isn't for you. "

" This book is great if you have read most of the books that the author discusses. However, if you have not, it is still a good study of the outsider in literature and why such a character has come to exist. "

" A book that the artist, poet or visionary should not be without. "

" Book that led me on to many other authors, fitted with my world view at that time. "

" This book meant so much to me as a teenager growing up in the 1960's. I actually used it almost as a bibliography - reading many of and about many of the people mentioned in the book. Doug "

" A fantastic review/history of existentialism up to the 1950s or so. "

" I loved this book. It gave me my identity: I am an Outsider! "

" This book was written for me. Only Mr. Wilson wasn't aware of that. "

" A fascinating and insightful account of various artists who stood outside society and convention. Probably of value to anyone, artist or not, who feels like an outsider in the contemporary world. "

" A riveting deconstruction of the search for truth, the madness inherent in it, and a proposed solution. "

" This title, an interesting look at people who live outside the mainstream of life, focuses on Vincent Van Gogh, T.E. Lawrence, and others. "

" This is one of those books that makes you want to read a bunch of other books. Mostly Dostoevsky. It was a romp in the waters of the outsider in literature as seen through the works of DH Lawrence, aforementioned Dostoevsky, Hemingway, Sartre, and others. "

" A good read, but heavy going. "

" Was my introduction to philosophy, I can't believe he was only 22. Colin Wilson is a force to behold. "

" Good introduction. However, forcing all of his subjects into the category "outsider" can be a bit inane. "

" A wonderful love story in the most unusual place, a place where love between a man and a woman is not allowed. A very good inside look into the life of a Shaker village where work and brotherly / sisterly love are the rule. "

" I bought this book at the $1 store. It was worth what I spent but I would have been disappointed had I spent full price. "

" I didn't know much about the Shakers - so in that respect, I enjoyed the book. The story line was "ok" but the writing was a bit "weak". "

" It was more interesting for the historical perspective than the protagonists. "

" This one wasn't the typical type of book I normally read, but it was okay. I don't think I would really recommend it to anyone either. Very mediocre, too light I guess. I suppose it was too soft-hearted for me. "

" I found the Shaker lifestyle interesting. Gabrielle Hope finds her devotion to her Shaker community tested by a doctor from the outside who pulls Gabrielle into a forbidden affair that will change her life forever. "

" This was an excellent piece of historical fiction. The author obviously did her research on the Shakers and makes them very real to the reader. I was fascinated by this insider view of their community. I must find other books by this author. "

" This was a fascinating read, as the main doctor of the story helps two young Quaker people leave the community they've joined to live a more normal life during the Civil War era. "

" Plodding and predictable. I did learn more about Shakers than I ever wanted to know. "

" Interesting simply for the view into the Shaker sect. Learned some interesting things about the Shaker's. Overall a good story. "