The Outsider
A Classic Study of Genius and Alienation
When The Outsider first appeared (1956), it was to a fanfare of ecstatic applause. Phrases like 'luminously intelligent' and 'the most remarkable book upon which this reviewer has ever had to pass judgment' were commonly applied to it. An intensely intellectual book, it broke new ground in that it appraised the lives of various great men from the point of view of their inability to connect with the world, from the standpoint of their rage, misery and spiritual isolation. It also dealt frankly with sexuality and frustration and did not separate these concerns from religion or psychology. A host of unfamiliar names were thrown upon the reading public and the effect of the book was so great it inaugurated a revolution in the taste and reading habits of a generation. Writers like Herman Hesse were reprinted and Barbusse and Nijinksy; it was as if the English-speaking nations had suddenly become aware of a swarm of intensely exciting but hitherto ignored creative artists and thinkers. The Outsider still reads well today and is presently being reprinted yet again in English - this time with an index - and shortly will have proved its classic status as defined by Cyril Connolly by remaining in print and being actively discussed fifty years after the original date of publicaton.
Sampler of Opinions
Michael McFarland, an Army Reservist Staff Sergeant - "This work of popular philosophy, heavily influenced by existentialism, which established Wilson's reputation when it appeared in 1956, is a fascinating look at how an 'Outsider' has functioned throughout literature. If you read Nietzsche, Sartre, Schopenhauer, or any one of the 'infamous' existentialists, this book is a must. Mr. Wilson wrote this at 24 years of age without any college background and he astounded critics. If you feel there is a missing link in your personality, here it is. His argument does not concern nihlism and he focuses on the positive aspect of an artist. His writing is a little more advanced than most writers but I feel that it is something I can go back over and over and enjoy. It is a Bible for the 20th century thinker. The Hippies, in my opinion, probably personified the Outsider, but drugs kinda ruined their credibility."
A Reader from the USA -
"If you are
to read just one book by Colin Wilson, this is the one. However, don't be
suprised if you end up reading more of Wilson's work. His writing and ideas are
incomparable and it really is disappointing that most people will never get to
learn his life-changing words. The Outsider should be read along with all
comparative religious literature and is a must have for all free thinkers and
"existentialists" or anyone that is interested in expanding their
minds and understanding themselves better."
Maneish Mehrotra from Purdue University, U.S.A -
"I was very surprised to stumble here and find no reader review. This
is a very fine book and richly deserves the five stars I have given
it. Until some time back it was the best book I had read, but recently it
got superceded by the writings of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky (incidentally, Wilson is an admirer of
Gurdjieff/Ouspensky and has written a good
introduction to Gurdjieff's work entitled The War against Sleep). OK,
what is this book about? Wilson was in his earlier twenties when he wrote it.
From that perspective, the creation of such a finely crafted book is
all the more remarkable. In order to make a study of the
Outsider, he draws on numerous authors like Kafka, Strindberg, Camus, Sartre,
Hemingway, Shaw, Hesse and important historical figures like Lawrence of
Arabia, Ramakrishna, Ouspensky and Vaslav Nijinksky. So
who
is the 'Outsider'? He is Phaedrus the WOLF in Zen and the Art of
Motorcycle Maintenance, the person who feels deeply out of synch. with the
world he is in and feels the need to learn something for himself on his own.
Does he like solitude?
Yes. Is he a thinker? Yes. Is he common? No! He appears to be "A stranger
in a strange land"! This
is a man who has a sense of tremendous disquiet and takes steps to "see
things as they are" - whatever that means! This book is not a dry
tome. Colin Wilson is an original thinker offering a tribute to all those thinkers who
have influenced him by quoting large pieces from their works. Thus,
this book is more of a collage, leaving you with a breathtaking perspective on a
whole variety of 'Outsiders' who have figured in life and been created
in literature.
Craig Chalquist from San Diego, CA - For all Steppenwolves. No, you aren't insane. No, you aren't stupid. No, you aren't a million other despicable things just because your innermost being can't "adjust" or "conform" or "accept." You are an Outsider, and where normal people see order, the Outsider sees chaos, absurdity, childishness...and hopes for a clearer vision of what living in an absurd world is all about. Join the non-club!