Plot Summary

The Words

Jean-Paul Sartre
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The Words

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1964

Book Brief

Jean-Paul Sartre

The Words

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1964
Book Details
Pages

255

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

France • Early 20th Century

Publication Year

1964

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In The Words, Jean-Paul Sartre recounts his first ten years, exploring his childhood fascination with books and how it shaped his identity. The book is divided into "Reading" and "Writing," reflecting his early love for literature and his attempts to find himself through his writing. Sartre examines his family dynamics, particularly his mother's lost sense of self and his grandfather's influence, contemplating the impact on his identity.

Contemplative

Mysterious

Melancholic

Emotional

Informative

Reviews & Readership

4.2

9,780 ratings

63%

Loved it

28%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Jean-Paul Sartre’s The Words is a compelling autobiography that skillfully combines literary introspection and philosophical musings. Critics praise its raw honesty and sharp narrative, though some find Sartre's extensive self-analysis tedious. The work resonates as reflective and intellectually rich, albeit occasionally overindulgent in self-critique.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Words?

A reader who would enjoy The Words by Jean-Paul Sartre is typically interested in autobiographical narratives and existential philosophy. Comparable to readers of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye and Hermann Hesse's Steppenwolf, they appreciate introspective and profound explorations of the self.

4.2

9,780 ratings

63%

Loved it

28%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

255

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

France • Early 20th Century

Publication Year

1964

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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