Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius by Ray Monk

About the Book

'Monk's energetic enterprise is remarkable for the interweaving of the philosophical and the emotional aspects of Wittgenstein's life' Sunday Times

'Ray Monk's reconnection of Wittgenstein's philosophy with his life triumphantly carries out the Wittgensteinian task of "changing the aspect" of Wittgenstein's work, getting us to see it in a new way' Sunday Telegraph

'This biography transforms Wittgenstein into a human being' Independent on Sunday

'It is much to be recommended' Observer

'Monk's biography is deeply intelligent, generous to the ordinary reader... It is a beautiful portrait of a beautiful life' Guardian

Review

Monk's energetic enterprise is remarkable for the interweaving of the philosophical and the emotional aspects of Wittgenstein's life ― Sunday Times

Ray Monk's reconnection of Wittengenstein's philosophy with his life triumphantly carries out the Wittengensteinian task of "changing the aspect" of Wittgenstein's work, getting us to see it in a new way ― Sunday Telegraph

This biography transforms Wittengenstein into a human being ―Independent on Sunday

It is much to be recommended ― Observer

Monk's biography is deeply intelligent, generous to the ordinary reader... It is a beautiful portrait of a beautiful life ― Guardian

About the Author

Ray Monk

Ray Monk is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southampton, where he has taught since 1992.

He won the Mail on Sunday/John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and the 1991 Duff Cooper Prize for Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius. His interests lie in the philosophy of mathematics, the history of analytic philosophy, and philosophical aspects of biographical writing. He is currently working on a biography of Robert Oppenheimer.