World as I Found It

Whether this work perfectly parallels the expoits of the character's real lives, should not be of concern. This book is beautifully written, with a literary gem on almost every page. It is one, if not the best book I have read in 10 years. What a shame it has not gotten more attention.

I certainly wasn't hampered in my enjoyment of this book by a lack of familiarity with (or, until now, interest in) twentieth-century philosophy. "The World as I Found It" taught me what makes a great fictional characters: such compassion and detail that I feel I know them as I know myself. Duffy's Wittgenstein, Russell, and Moore are forged from such different materials and live such different lives. But their struggles and motivations are painted in such rich detail that I intimately recognized the humanity in each of them. Great writing.

Outstanding. Given the premise-opaque Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein's life adventures, I feared this would be dry as dust. Happily this is first and foremost splendid story telling. Wittgentein's career at Cambridge, his relationships with Bertrand Russell and G.E. Moore, his wartime experiences in WW1 and after are rendered beautifully. Indeed his Vienna boyhood, growing up privileged yet emotionally bereft, is chillingly described. The characters are so perfectly drawn one can't help but be pulled into a wonderfully imagined world.Also interesting is the ongoing description of the conflict of "philosophy" versus everyday living. Philosophers are human beings first and foremost and life events, circumstances and other people conspire together to thwart the life of the mind. It is interesting to read the compromises, adaptations and concessions the characters must make in order to bring their philosophies into actual daily existence. Occasionally successful, often not, the struggles depicted are so genuine and believable that one can't help but moved by their efforts, painful though they often are.

It's hard to believe that a book about a small group of philosophers could be so funny and beautiful. I'm thrilled it's back in print; I read it years ago and it's almost ruined me for other books. Read it!

Similar to A.S. Byatt's "Possession" in feel, this book is beautifully written, with passages that resonate and demand re-reading. I read it years ago, but it is one of those books which floats back into my mind with great regularity.