How to Read Wittgenstein

I am interested in philosophy but not a graduate student or academic, so my time and background are limited. This book was very useful in helping me understand a writer who is considered Important but who I have not been able to get any sort of handle on. I remember taking an undergraduate course and having the part on Wittgenstein go right over my head. This book allowed me to go back and read the texts and actually understand them ... a bit; he's still a difficult read.

I purchased both "How to Read Wittgenstein" and Wittgensteins Tractatus Logico Filosoficus. Monk has a great way of simplifying Wittgensteins thought. This is a "must have" book before reading the Tractatus, especially for those who lack philosophical backgroung.

Both to Wittgenstein's opaque style and thought. I haven't read much philosophy since college (many, many years ago). And while this book will remind you why philosophy is best left to undergraduates and their professors - it's still an interesting read.

A great analysis of complex (for me) issues. The book caused my brain -- (which is almost all subjective right brain) -- to do intellectual push-ups. I now feel I'm ready to tackle reading books actually written by Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Pretty good.

Though not the last word on Wittgenstein, it pairs up nicely with Ray Monk's biography. Heavy on the later Wittgenstein.

If you have trouble understanding Wittgenstein, as you should, you are likely to better understand why.

A reviewer of my book, `Concepts: A ProtoTheist Quest for Science-Minded Skeptics,' was critical of my not having cited authors "... such as Hegel, Wittgenstein and Rorty ..." and for not making "... aspect[s] central to postmodern narrative construction ... part of [my] approach." In order to understand what he's taking about, I've since read several books about Wittgenstein and postmodernism. Admittedly, based on my previous readings of scientists who dismiss postmodernism as unscientific, I had not open-mindedly explored purported postmodern authors. Assuming the texts Monk selected are representative, I can see why Wittgenstein is so difficult to understand -- this English translation of the original German comes across as exceedingly terse and impenetrable. One of my primary interests was in understanding what is meant by `language games' so I was especially attentive to Chapter 8. Again assuming Monk's is an accurate explanation of what Wittgenstein meant by `language games', it seems trivial. It seems like something only a philosopher would appreciate (and reportedly, not all philosophers do). I read the book over a few times and gave it time to gestate but so far I'm not impressed with Wittgenstein's profundity. So I'm sorry to say that I didn't get from the book what I'd hoped for; whether that's Monk's fault, Wittgenstein's or mine, I can't say (unlike the February 23rd reviewer, I've not read Monk's `Duty of Genius'). Monk's final Chapter 11 is on Wittgenstein's later work on `imponderable evidence' and the importance of non-scientific forms of understanding characteristic of the arts. Yet in the half-century since Wittgenstein's death, science has made, and continues to make, inroads into understanding our brain/mind thus illuminating some of the `imponderables' and the powers of our unconscious mind (see my chapters 9 & 10).

A measure of my ignorance of Wittgenstein is that whilst I had puzzled over the Tractatus I had no idea that logical propositions concerning the colour of flowers unravelled its main purpose. Despite this it's clear he believed most of that he said in it and developed his language ideas (there were no theories) beyond philosophical concerns and into the every day. His approach seems wider and more pragmatic than the ruins of philosophical assumptions he left in his wake. I've read Hacker, which is more philosophical in its approach but Monk's short guide hints at much more, highlighting an intriguing man, who was never truly happy with philosophical tradition and its closed shop approach. A book that makes you want to find out more - Monk has also written a biography of Wittgenstein.

I've already read a Wittgenstein's biography written by the same author. I like his writing style very much. He writes clearly and concisely. If you grow fond of this author, I strongly recommend that you read the other book of his about Wittgenstein, Wittgenstein Duty of Genius! Very very very long as it is, but it's worthwhile to read through it. P.S if I mention a point which I don't like about this book, it is the cover picture. I guess it is a portrait of Wittgenstein. But it seems to me that the picture is not very similar to Wittgenstein himself which we can see on photos. He must be a more handsome guy!!!

"How to Read: Wittgenstein" provides a concise overall picture (a word Wittgenstein was fond of) of his thinking. You are less inclined to get bogged down in the Tractatus if you know in advance, as Ray Monk informs us, that he later distanced himself from the line of thinking he adopted in it. He is not "teaching" you anything, least of all Philosophy, but merely helping you to clarify your own thinking to yourself. Monk leads us through the stages that led Wittgenstein to reject the pervasive idol of Scientism that still dominates our thinking to this day. Monk's biography of Wittgenstein is also excellent.

Ray Monk is always worth reading. This is a book that, while it does not demystify Wittgenstein, certainly helps explain what is going on by showing what underlies the famous enigmatic statements or propositions.

The book arrived promptly, and was as was as described. I would use this seller again. Not any easy read in itself, but useful as background reading to W's main works.