This is one of the books I am reading at the moment. Tr. Ryan Bloom. First appeared in French in 1989 by Editions Gallimard, Paris, English translation 2008, first paperback edition 2010 (Ivan R. Dee, Chicago).<\/span><\/p>\n Some good stuff here, but some nonsense as well, for example:<\/span><\/p>\n A priest who regrets having to leave his books when dying? Which proves that the intense pleasure of eternal life does not infinitely exceed the gentle company of books. (94)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n It proves no such thing, obviously. Our literary man is confusing the thought of eternal life with the experience of eternal life.<\/span><\/p>\n The trouble with too many French philosophers is they cannot decide whether they want to be clever literary scribblers or actual philosophers. It is often difficult to dress up the plain truth in fine phrases.<\/span> <\/p>\n One of the temptations we philosophers face is that of allowing style to dictate substance. A temptation to be resisted.<\/span><\/p>\n\n