The Outsider
Colin Wilson
Readers rate it 3.8 (9 on Hardcover)
409 pages · Released Sep 1, 2018 · Diversion Publishing Corp.
Content report card
What's inside
Violence
Fighting, weapons, death
Language
Swearing, crude humor
Sexual content
Romance intensity, nudity
LGBTQ+ themes
Presence of characters or themes
Scary or mature
Horror, trauma, heavy themes
Substance use
Alcohol, drugs, smoking
What it offers
Positive messages
Kindness, courage, honesty, resilience
Positive role models
Characters who model good judgment and growth
Dense philosophical exploration of existentialism, literary analysis of canonical authors (Sartre, Kafka, Dostoyevsky, Hemingway), and discussion of artistic figures (Van Gogh, Nijinsky); builds understanding of how major thinkers have portrayed alienation and the human condition.
A note for parents
This is a philosophical and literary analysis, not a narrative novel—a foundational text on existentialism and character psychology that examines works by major authors and artists. It requires substantial critical reading ability and familiarity with philosophical concepts. The content rating cannot be assessed because this is academic nonfiction rather than a story with characters, plot, violence, or language in a traditional sense.
Analyzed by AI · 16 hours ago
From the publisher
The classic study of alienation, existentialism, and how great artists have portrayed characters who exist on the margins of society. Published to immense acclaim in the mid-1950s, The Outsider helped make popular the literary concept of existentialism. Authors like Sartre, Kafka, Hemingway, and Dostoyevsky, as well as... The classic study of alienation, existentialism, and how great artists have portrayed characters who exist on the margins of society. Published to immense acclaim in the mid-1950s, The Outsider helped make popular the literary concept of existentialism. Authors like Sartre, Kafka, Hemingway, and Dostoyevsky, as well as artists like Van Gogh and Nijinsky, delved for a deeper understanding of the human condition in their work, and Colin Wilson's landmark book encapsulated a character found time and time again: the outsider. How does the outsider influence society? And how does society influence him? It's a question as relevant to today's iconic characters, from Don Draper to Voldemort, as it was when The Outsider was initially published. A fascinating study blending philosophy, psychology, and literature, Wilson's seminal work is a must-have for those who are fascinated by the character of the outsider. "Luminously intelligent . . . A real contribution to our understanding of our deepest predicament." —Philip Toynbee "Leaves the reader with a heightened insight into a crucial drama of the human spirit." — Atlantic Monthly
Shelved under
- Psychology
- Classics
- Philosophy
- History
- Literature
- Fiction
- Fiction, general
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ISBN 9781626813823 · Diversion Publishing Corp.