The practices of the self /

Larmore (Brown Univ.) offers a book about the social nature of the self. Though viewing the self as largely socially constructed is nothing new, the author's insight into the sense in which people are fundamentally social beings is new. Larmore blends the thought of ancient and modern writers with his own into a sophisticated collection of arguments about just how convention shapes people. Stendhal, Valery, Girard, Aristotle, Descartes, Bergson, Bourdieu, Pascal, Freud, and Proust all receive consideration in the development of Larmore's thinking. For work so steeped in the Continental and literary traditions, this book is tightly organized and clearly presented. It ranges widely, dealing with authenticity, self-reflection, what it is to be "natural," self-knowledge, and the limits of commitment and desire. Larmore's distinctions are often nuanced and subtle, so the writing may be tricky for early undergraduates. However, this is crucial reading for researchers of any tradition on the nature of the self. Summing Up: Essential. Lower-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. P. Jenkins Marywood University