Synopses & Reviews
Frederic Gros is a professor of philosophy at the University of Paris XII and the Institute of Political Studies, Paris. He was the editor of the last lectures of Michel Foucault at the College de France. He has written books on psychiatry, law and war. He lives in Paris.
Synopsis
It is only ideas gained from walking thathave any worth. Nietzsche In
A Philosophy of Walking, a bestsellerin France, leading thinker FredericGros charts the many different wayswe get from A to B the pilgrimage, the promenade, the protest march, thenature ramble and reveals what theysay about us.
Gros draws attention to otherthinkers who also saw walking assomething central to their practice.On his travels he ponders Thoreau s eagerseclusion in Walden Woods; the reasonRimbaud walked in a fury, while Nervalrambled to cure his melancholy. Heshows us how Rousseau walked in orderto think, while Nietzsche wanderedthe mountainside to write. In contrast, Kant marched through his hometownevery day, exactly at the same hour, toescape the compulsion of thought.Brilliant and erudite,
A Philosophyof Walking is an entertaining andinsightful manifesto for putting onefoot in front of the other.
From the Hardcover edition."
Synopsis
This "passionate affirmation of the simple life" explores how walking has influenced history's greatest thinkers--from Henry David Thoreau and John Muir to Ghandi and Nietzsche (Observer) "It is only ideas gained from walking that have any worth." --Nietzsche
In A Philosophy of Walking, a bestseller in France, leading thinker Fr d ric Gros charts the many different ways we get from A to B--the pilgrimage, the promenade, the protest march, the nature ramble--and reveals what they say about us.
Gros draws attention to other thinkers who also saw walking as something central to their practice. On his travels he ponders Thoreau's eager seclusion in Walden Woods; the reason Rimbaud walked in a fury, while Nerval rambled to cure his melancholy. He shows us how Rousseau walked in order to think, while Nietzsche wandered the mountainside to write. In contrast, Kant marched through his hometown every day, exactly at the same hour, to escape the compulsion of thought. Brilliant and erudite, A Philosophy of Walking is an entertaining and insightful manifesto for putting one foot in front of the other.