52 review for Thoughts, Letters and Minor Works (Harvard Classics, Part 48)

1. 

   4 out of 5

   JP – May 18, 2013

   As far as I'm concerned, Pascal's "shorts" are far more clever, succinct, surprising, and woven together than those of Rouchefoucauld and others. There are many threaded thoughts woven amongst more than 900 maxims and mini-essays each of which stand on their own. The profundity and diversity of topics makes the Pensees something to read slowly and ponder -- it takes much more time than reading the same amount of text in typical prose. Here Pascal masterfully forces us to contemplate just about e As far as I'm concerned, Pascal's "shorts" are far more clever, succinct, surprising, and woven together than those of Rouchefoucauld and others. There are many threaded thoughts woven amongst more than 900 maxims and mini-essays each of which stand on their own. The profundity and diversity of topics makes the Pensees something to read slowly and ponder -- it takes much more time than reading the same amount of text in typical prose. Here Pascal masterfully forces us to contemplate just about every philosophical aspect of nature, religion, culture, and government, and the human condition in general. Starting with a discussion of the mathematical versus the intuitive mind (there are advantages in both but true genius lies in the mathematically trained also being able to see the big picture and beyond the concrete), he then portrays theology in nature, argues against atheism, supports Catholic doctrine, and finds the source of all unhappiness.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Joel – May 19, 2013

   Excellent book by a heroic thinker.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Averill – Jan 12, 2015

   It was a good book, unfortunately I read it too close to Francis Bacon's "essays". The similar writing styles made for boredom It was a good book, unfortunately I read it too close to Francis Bacon's "essays". The similar writing styles made for boredom

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Karine Mon coin lecture –

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Louis –

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Fred Kiesche –

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Charles Bell –

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Kaitlyn –

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Stefan –

10. 

    5 out of 5

    Nida Davis –

11. 

    4 out of 5

    Paul –

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Rob Carl –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Michael Jepson –

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Aurore –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Emily G –

16. 

    5 out of 5

    Stetsenko –

17. 

    4 out of 5

    Dessislava Pavlova –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Emilie –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Dave Walston –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Moochie –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Alea –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    Michael Lloyd-Billington –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Mihaela Blalock –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    Milija –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    John Ervin –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Nils Goldau –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Ashley Thomas –

28. 

    4 out of 5

    Victor –

29. 

    5 out of 5

    Kelley –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Brendan –

31. 

    4 out of 5

    Brian –

32. 

    5 out of 5

    Keith –

33. 

    4 out of 5

    Alex Szatmary –

34. 

    5 out of 5

    Kevin –

35. 

    4 out of 5

    Ami –

36. 

    4 out of 5

    Emma –

37. 

    5 out of 5

    Innerpattern –

38. 

    5 out of 5

    Ani –

39. 

    4 out of 5

    Petra Szandra –

40. 

    4 out of 5

    julia –

41. 

    5 out of 5

    nalasbang –

42. 

    5 out of 5

    Anne –

43. 

    4 out of 5

    Angela Randall –

44. 

    4 out of 5

    Molly –

45. 

    5 out of 5

    Spencer –

46. 

    4 out of 5

    Mwmosley –

47. 

    4 out of 5

    Christopher –

48. 

    4 out of 5

    Mrpretzel –

49. 

    5 out of 5

    Nadia Gortova –

50. 

    5 out of 5

    Nikki Dear –

51. 

    4 out of 5

    Thomas Schreiber –

52. 

    5 out of 5

    Smiley –