Amador: In Which a Father Addresses His Son on Questions of Ethics ...

I have read hundreds of books. When people ask me which one is my favorite, I always say Amador by Fernando Savater. I do not have children, but when my nieces and nephews turn 14, I will surely give them each a copy. The most important tidbit of wisdom is clearly and compellingly explained in this concise book. Very few writers can make you a better person just by reading their book. If you can only read one more book in your life, this should be it.

Although somewhat of a contradiction in terms, this book is a touching discourse from a father to a son on how to live life on his own terms. He gives his perspective on everything lofty that he ahs ever come in contact with but underneath it all is the suggwestion that this is merely his take, and the most important interpretation is a persons' own.

I'm still looking for my own copy, unfotunately I couldn't read it all, but what I read was very close to my own ideas and, I think, many of my friends. I liked very much examples from literature and History Mr Savater uses all along the book; congratulations.

I'm on page 70 now, not quite halfway through this quick-reading little gem.If a book doesn't grab me in the first three pages, I don't read it. I broke off reading Rebecca West's Black Lamb and Grey Falcon at page 680 to read this wonderful little book, which I bought and it is beautifully printed and bound. What a find! This man gently addresses his son as I would mine, but so much more clearly. He explains concepts like freedom and self-discipline, bringing in superbly appropriate quotations of the great thinkers, ancient and modern. This reminds me of the better philosophy courses I had in college. It was written so recently that he also refers to things we have in daily life such as computer games. This book is as accessible and lucid an introduction to ethics as I could hope to find. I am going to buy two more copies: one for each of my children.Why on earth did they take it out of print so soon?

En un mundo donde tienden a expanderse los espejismos que nos conducen a buscar nuestra realizacion personal o felicidad en falsos valores, es muy alentador redescubrir que la riqueza, el poder, el conocimiento o la fama, solo adquieren sentido y tienen plena justificacion si nos sirven para mejorar nuestras relaciones personales con quienes nos rodean. Es lastimoso pero frecuente ver que en demasiadas ocasiones nos arrastran a deteriorlas. Se trata de la obra cumbre de un docto filosofo español que solo alcanzo mundial reconocimiento cuando decidio darle un regalo trascendente a su hijo adolescente, que le sirviera de guia para escoger los valores que dan real sentido a la vida, y con amor simplifico y concentro lo mejor de sus conocimientos e ideas en este breve texto de sabia y sencilla filosofia practica.