Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

Oct 2, 2024 10:32 PM

Author:Ludwig Wittgenstein,Alexander Booth,Jan Zwicky

One of the greatest philosophical works of all time, in a new translation for the twenty-first century

‘We could capture the whole sense of the book as follows: what can be said at all can be said clearly; and whatever cannot be said must be left to silence.’

Widely regarded as one of the most influential philosophical works of the twentieth century, Ludwig Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus is a succinct yet wide-ranging exploration of language and logic; of science and mysticism; of what can be said, and what can only be shown. Its austere beauty – along with its famous ‘picture theory’ of meaning – has inspired generations of thinkers, artists, novelists and musicians. In a series of short, bold statements, Wittgenstein seeks to define the limits of meaningful expression. Originally published in the early 1920s, it is the only book-length work the renowned philosopher published in his lifetime.

In this thrilling new translation, accompanied by a lively introduction by Jan Zwicky, Alexander Booth displays an extraordinary sensitivity to the subtle influence on Wittgenstein's gem-like prose – at once specialist and, often, remarkably plain-spoken – of his background in mechanical engineering, while at the same time highlighting the underlying poetry of this seminal text.

Reviews

Fascinating

—— Financial Times

Witty and wide-ranging...adventurous... as if academic research were as revved-up as a Formula One race

—— Peter Conrad , Observer

Masterful

—— Prospect

Hilarious

—— Sam Leith , UnHerd

Exceptionally good ... I learned a huge amount from this wry, clever, diverting book

—— Scotsman

Brilliant, fascinating...a binge-worthy book

—— Greg Jenner

I loved this book - the story of the index turns out to be a true adventure

—— Susie Dent (on Twitter)

Charming ... Indexes are to books as menus are to meals: often the best bit

—— Economist

Illuminating ... A seemingly niche and esoteric subject, the index becomes, in Duncan's hands, a minor miracle. Index, A History of the is not only about books, printing, and the necessity of consistent page-numbering ... but about the nature of reading and about how we understand, categorise, and engage with the world

—— Kate Wiles , History Today

What a surprise to discover that the plain and humble index has such an intricate and rollicking history! Dennis Duncan gives us a learned grand tour from ancient times to the almost present in the design and uses - and cunning abuses - of what is still the most sophisticated search tool ever devised. Instruction, passim! Entertainment, idem!

—— David Bellos , author of Is That a Fish in Your Ear?

Dennis Duncan has done a great service to all bibliophiles by writing this scholarly, witty and affectionate history. By rights "Books, love of" ought to have a page-long entry in the index.

—— Lynne Truss , author of Eats, Shoots and Leaves

Entrancing ... Seldom is a short book so wide-ranging or so original in its subject. Every page has things I didn't know, or hardly realised I knew from a lifetime of looking things up. I want to stop people at random and tell them new facts I've found out. Master the use of the index and you have access to all knowledge.

—— Christopher de Hamel , author of Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts

Packed with easy wit and erudition ... Dennis Duncan gives us not only a history of the index, but an essay on human folly ... Some indexes, says Duncan, are miniature narratives, while others are literary performances, and he provides glorious examples of both. Indexes can also be a form of mockery or satire, and they make excellent objects of disdain ... A terrifically rewarding and timely book

—— The Oldie

Index, A History of the focuses on the ultimate paratext - the index, an ancient information organiser and search tool that is still invaluable in the age of social media ... Its possibilities fascinated writers including Lewis Carrol, JG Ballard and Vladamir Nabokov ... Duncan's brilliant work makes us realise that the back of the book can be as important as the front

—— The Lady

To me, a truly great history book is one that changes something in the way in which I see the world Dennis Duncan's Index, A History of the certainly achieved that. Who realised there was such a fascinating, funny and delightful history behind the humble index?

—— Katja Hoyer , History Today – Books of the Year

Index, A History of the manages to be both a work of immense erudition and perfect Sunday afternoon reading

—— Joseph Hone , History Today – Books of the Year

Smart, playful....Duncan has written such a generous book, attentive to the varieties of the reading experience

—— Jennifer Szalai , New York Times

Gracefully learned, often witty and enlightening

—— Ben Yagoda , Wall Street Journal

Dennis Duncan's history - from Socrates to software - along with Paula Clarke Bain's peerless index, is witty and personable throughout, and also serves as a sneak attack on the search engine. It's safe to say that you will never take an index for granted again

—— Mary Norris, author of Between You & Me and Greek to Me

Sparkles with geeky wit and shines with an infectious enthusiasm...Always erudite, frequently funny, and often surprising - a treat for lovers of the book qua book

—— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Backmatter has never enjoyed such a spotlight; sure to amuse bibliophiles and casual readers alike

—— Library Journal (starred review)

Duncan proves an amiable companion on what his subtitle aptly refers to as a 'bookish adventure'...[U]seful as an introduction to book history in general as well as indexes in particular

—— James Waddell , Times Literary Supplement

An adventure, and 'bookish' in the most appealing sense.... From ancient Egypt to Silicon Valley, Duncan is an ideal tour guide: witty, engaging, knowledgeable and a fount of diverting anecdotes

—— Steven Moore , Washington Post

A learned and playful study, by British academic Dennis Duncan, of a textual machinery so successful it's become almost invisible

—— Brian Dillon , 4Columns

A decidedly fun history.... Dennis Duncan's enthusiasm for the subject matter shines through the many witticisms and illustrations as he shows how something so seemingly small has been so vital to western literature

—— Erica Ezeifedi , BookRiot

After reading Dennis Duncan's delightful history of the tool, you'll never forget to check the index again ... indexes have shaped the way we communicate and engage with power. They might even have saved lives along the way

—— TIME Magazine *Book of the Year*

Clever, sprightly ... Duncan is a brilliantly illuminating and wide-ranging guide

—— Fara Dabhoiwala , New York Review of Books

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