I read this book as research for a writing project of my own. Once finished, I had no idea how I ought to rate it.

There is some brilliant writing here, and I highlighted a lot of eminently quotable passages. Certainly I can understand why the French adore some of Rousseau's ideas about education.

But even if one can get past the irony of Rousseau the child-abandoner writing (in very smug tones!) how the young ought to be raised and educated, there's the little fact that he was sexist above and beyond the call of duty. The thoughts on education that the French praise to the skies are all thoughts on the education of boys. When he does bother to mention girls, he stresses that their education ought to lie in teaching them how to be utterly submissive and obedient. Because if you're nice enough to that wife-beater your parents married you off to, he'll stop hitting you. And if he doesn't stop hitting you, well, I guess you weren't nice enough.

The fact that I'm paraphrasing shouldn't lead you to conclude that I'm exaggerating.

Yes, I know Rousseau lived and died in the eighteenth century. So did Mary Wollstonecraft.

So: Read this if you're interested in French history, the history of education, or Rousseau's bizarre life. And don't be fooled by the many people who refer to this book as a novel. It isn't. It's a work in which Rousseau presents his ideas about education, and at a certain point, says, \\"Let's pretend I was hired to be the tutor of a young man -- say his name is Emile. Here's what that might be like, and here are some conversations I can imagine having with this boy.\\" Rousseau never claimed to be writing a novel. He simply alternates between the autobiographical and the hypothetical.

This book is a complex and thought-provoking read. On one hand, it contains some truly remarkable insights into the nature of education and the development of the human mind. On the other hand, it is marred by Rousseau's own personal biases and flaws.

Despite its shortcomings, I believe that this book still has something to offer. It can serve as a valuable reminder of the importance of critical thinking and the need to question the ideas and assumptions of those who came before us.

Overall, I would rate this book as a mixed bag. It is not without its merits, but it is also far from perfect. If you are willing to look beyond its flaws and engage with its ideas, you may find that it has something to teach you.

Emile, or On Education, is, in general, an educational manifesto.

It comprehensively covers the process of raising a child from infancy to adulthood.

This is a sprawling document that provides detailed advice on teaching a child various subjects in a specific order as he grows older.

For instance, it includes guidance on teaching navigation/astronomy, theology, and political philosophy.

There are profound analogies drawn. The simple act of weaning a baby is used as an analogy for the child's whole life.

Similarly, Emile's simple and modest life serves as an analogy for the whole nation's life.

At the very end of the book, it shows how to rear a perfect suitor for Emile and how to maintain and balance their marriage in life.

This is a very good book and I would highly recommend it.

Although it is long, it offers valuable snippets of Rousseau's thoughts on navigation, theology, and political philosophy.

Believe it or not, I gained a better understanding of how Rousseau thought about political systems from this book than I did from The Social Contract.

It truly provides unique insights into Rousseau's educational and philosophical ideas.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is a complex figure. Those who wrote his biography often point out the contradictions in his behavior. For example, he left the innkeeper he married after she gave birth to five children, sending them to an orphanage without taking responsibility. Then, he surprised people with an important book on education, as if trying to atone for his sins and mistakes. Some believed Rousseau abandoned his children because he wanted to follow Plato's method, which emphasized in "The Republic" that the child belongs to the state. However, Stefan Zweig, in the preface he wrote for the book "Emile or On Education," denied this accusation, stating that Rousseau had no children at all due to his impotence. Zweig believed that Rousseau imposed this accusation on himself because he suffered from a venereal disease that affected his masculinity, preventing him from having children. And with this story, he wanted to prove to the world that if he could have had children so abundantly, then this behavior of his in dealing with them was an excuse among the excuses of philosophers and sages.

Rousseau is considered one of the most prominent figures of the Enlightenment who contributed to formulating a political theory that led to the French Revolution. However, the world never forgave him for the crime of sending his children to an orphanage. François Noudelmann writes: "The treatise on education that Rousseau wrote contains many doubts, and even more than that. This author himself is the wound that the writer tries to touch through it." - The alchemy of lies, translation by Iyad Isa -

The reader may be surprised when told that the first book he read by Jean-Jacques Rousseau was "The Confessions." I got a copy published by the Book Publishers. I remember that day when I was engrossed in reading the confessions of this strange philosopher, I noticed the bookstore owner standing above me, scolding me because I was reading a book that didn't suit my age at that time. I didn't understand why he was angry and upset even though I hadn't finished the first chapter. After that, I decided to be brave and search for this prohibited author. So, I went to the Hisham 'Azzafah mobile cart, which is next to the Al-Muthaana bookstore on Al-Sa'dun Street. I found another edition of "The Confessions" there, and a large volume titled "Emile or On Education," and a book titled "Jean-Jacques Rousseau" by Najib al-Mustakawi. I enjoyed reading it more than I enjoyed reading Rousseau's books. Later, I learned that the author is one of the prominent sports journalists in Riyadh. I asked myself what the connection between football and Rousseau was. I didn't want to be the backward child who was afraid to experience reading everything that was interesting. And al-Mustakawi was the key for me to understand the personality of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and his book was what I needed at that time. Therefore, I believe that if the reader loves reading as much as I do, he may find pleasure in discovering books and their secrets. Has reading Rousseau become easy because of Najib al-Mustakawi's book? Certainly yes. Because through it, I understood why the bookstore owner forbade me from continuing to read the book "The Confessions."

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on June 28, 1713, in Geneva, to poor parents. His mother died after giving birth to him. He writes in his confessions: "I was born sickly and weak. I cost my mother her life, and my birth was the beginning of my misfortunes and sorrows." - The Confessions, translation by Khalil Ramsis Sarkis - His father worked during the day as a watchmaker and at night as a dance teacher. He abandoned his son Rousseau when he was eight years old and left him in his uncle's house. His uncle tried to send him to a seminary to become a priest, but his days in the seminary were not peaceful. He was accused of stealing by one of the ladies and was expelled from the seminary. He then returned to his uncle, who this time sent him to work with one of the public notaries. He was fired after two days. His uncle then took him to a cruel and hard-hearted master, which led Rousseau to learn deceit, lying, and stealing. To the extent that he began to rebel and go out with his friends outside the city in search of freedom, only returning late at night, and being beaten by the master. The exile, deprivation, and beating became a pattern of Rousseau's life, deepening his feelings and making him feel injustice: "The memory of the change that befell me in my life taught me the difference between the dependence of a son on his family and the humiliating submission to others." However, there were moments of happiness that he felt when he indulged in reading the books that his mother had kept. At the age of seven, his father tried to introduce him to reading. He would ask him to read loudly the stories that his mother had read to him. He writes in "The Confessions": "My father would say to me shyly, and I heard the sounds of the swallows greeting the morning: Let's go to sleep now, I'm more of a child than you." And when he finished reading all the stories in the house, he began to read what was in his grandfather's library, where he found a copy of Ovid's "Metamorphoses" and some of Molière's plays. However, the books that fascinated him were the works of the historian Plutarch: "When I was six years old, Plutarch fell into my hands, and I held him in the back of my heart. I had read every story in it, and that torrent of tears filled my heart before I reached the age when the heart accepts such books. And a taste for the spectacles of combat and the outbursts of passion was born in me and grew stronger from that time until it finally led me to abhor everything that did not suit my imagination." The child Rousseau, who lost his mother and was abandoned by his father, found a haven in life in books: "I found myself able to deal with the imaginary beings that surrounded me in books better than with those I saw in the world."

Jean-Jacques Rousseau lived for 65 years, and Romain Rolland described his life in his book "The Living Rousseau" as feeling strange in the world: "He saw himself as a stranger among people, and he didn't feel that he belonged to the heart of the human family. He didn't see his peers as beings like him. Therefore, he was able to understand the meaning of the feeling of strangeness and loss that another stranger feels in society, which is the child." - Translation by Badr al-Din Khalil - And the strange thing is that life favored him after years of enmity and estrangement. Fortune smiled on him during the last months of his life when he settled in 1778 in the French countryside. The rebellious man who thought that life would overcome him didn't know that he had conquered the present and the future. In the last years of his life, six editions of his collected works and ten editions of his novel "Julie, or the New Heloise" were published. In 1771, the first part of "The Confessions" was published - the complete books were published four years after Rousseau's death in 1782 - However, this happiness didn't last long. On the morning of Thursday, July 2, 1778, he went out as usual to collect plants, but he felt a tightness in his chest and fell to the ground. He suffered a head injury and died a few hours later. The doctors diagnosed his condition as a rupture in the blood vessels of the brain. After his death, millions of French people, including the queen and all the nobles, visited his grave. And the leaders of the French Revolution found in his books a guide for governance. In one of the revolutionary speeches, Robespierre announced: "This revolution had one leader, his name is Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and the city will remain his for as long as life lasts."

The book "Emile or On Education" was published in May 1762, one month before the book "The Social Contract." It was published in Paris after the owner of one of the printing houses obtained permission from the censorship. The novel "Julie, or the New Heloise" had already brought Rousseau fame and wealth, and the printing houses began to search for his books. The owner of the printing house paid six thousand francs for the manuscript of "Emile." The book initially was a discussion that Rousseau had with one of the ladies of the aristocratic society named "Madame d'Épinay" about the best ways to educate her son. Rousseau initially intended for it to be a continuation of his novel "Julie, or the New Heloise." He had been influenced by Montaigne's essays and had read John Locke's "Some Thoughts Concerning Education." Rousseau was thinking of writing a study on education when he was in his thirties and had started the project but stopped due to life circumstances. He would return to it more than fifteen years later and spend almost three years on it. During that time, he worked as a tutor for the children of one of the families. At that time, he wanted to have his own philosophy in the field of education. The seeds of the book "Emile" had already appeared in his novel "Julie, or the New Heloise," where he writes: "Parents are wrong to consider their children as thinking beings from birth and also to consider them as men and talk to them with logic and correct thinking. Even before these children are able to speak clearly, nature wants children to be children before they become men. And the body should grow and strengthen before the mind matures for correct thinking."

This statement, which came from the mouth of Julie in "Julie, or the New Heloise," forms a large part of his concept of the educational system that should prevail in society.

Rousseau divided the book "Emile or On Education" into five parts, each part dealing with a stage of a person's life, following the life of the child "Emile" from birth until marriage. In the book, Rousseau warns us that Emile learns the first principles of religion by himself, so no religion or creed is imposed on him. Instead, he is left with the choice to become a conscious human being, happy with the life he has chosen: "Direct your gaze to every nation on earth and read every page of its history. In all these strange and harsh forms of worship, and in this amazing diversity of customs and traditions, you will find in every place the essence of the basic ideas, the ideas of good and evil... In the depths of our hearts, there is an innate principle of justice and virtue that governs our actions or the actions of others according to it. In the end, it is either good or evil, and this principle that we call conscience." - "Emile or On Education," translation by Adel Zaiter -

Rousseau structured this book in the form of a novel, with the child "Emile" as the hero. Through the events of the novel, Rousseau presents his educational vision, which is based on the idea of the goodness of the individual and the corruption of society. The individual is born with a good, pure, and clean nature, but with the hand of society, it is either corrupted or protected. The evil that a person does is not inherent in him. And he said in a famous statement that his book became known for: "Everything that comes out of the hands of the Creator is good, but everything that is touched by the hand of man is corrupted." - "Emile," translation by Adel Zaiter - And the book belongs to the stage when Rousseau became a thinker who preaches a philosophy whose salvation is that man is born good by nature, but the circumstances of society are what have a bad influence on him, gradually making him lose his goodness. Rousseau wanted to leave his legacy in education, just as he left his legacy in governance and the relationship between the ruler and the people in his famous book "The Social Contract," which historians consider the main driving force behind the French Revolution in 1789. It is said that the revolutionaries carried this book of his eleven years after his death, and they would brandish it as they besieged the Palace of Versailles before storming it.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau seems revolutionary in his book "Emile." The human being who is nothing at birth will one day become everything. This formation of the mind is what Rousseau studies, and he wants to emphasize that there is no meaning to the history of human corruption if it is not the history of the human being himself. The development of the individual reflects the history of his kind. With this difference, we find in front of every child an independent possibility. For Rousseau, the child is first and foremost feelings, then a sensitive mind, and then one day a "rational mind" and finally a moral conscience. So how can we help the child not to waste his opportunity in developing his mental faculties? Therefore, he advises: "To conduct a thorough and careful study of the nature of the child before starting his education." And the problem then lies in: "Making the child follow the path of truth as much as he seems capable of recognizing it, and then following the path of good as much as he becomes capable of it, understanding the true meaning of good." And for this reason, education is a joy, and the path of nature, which must lead to a culture that is in harmony with the essence of the child who wants to be happy.

Rousseau attached great importance to his book "Emile" because it contains the cornerstone of his theory. After revealing the vices of modern society in his essays and letters, it was necessary for him to define in his subsequent works the areas of reform that should be introduced into society. He knew very well that one cannot embark on reforming the world without striving for reform in education. And Rousseau was careful to explain to his readers how the ideas in "Emile" are complementary to his principles and in line with his philosophy.

Nearly 250 years after the departure of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, are his books still read with the same passion as they were read in the days when this philosopher was a fugitive? Emile Brahy writes that Rousseau's books have not aged, and they are more present now than ever before.

Every time I search for a book on the shelves of my library, Jean-Jacques Rousseau appears to me, asking: What is the fate of humanity, and is our faith in life still strong? And I remember his shout at the end of his book "Reveries of the Solitary Walker": "O you madmen who shy away from life. Know that all your misfortunes come from you."

Firstly, it is firmly my belief that in order to truly appreciate works of philosophy, one doesn't necessarily have to wholeheartedly agree with them. Emile serves as a remarkable model of what education could potentially be in a world where each child is fortunate enough to receive a lifelong tutor, almost from the moment of birth. However, when we consider its direct applicability in today's context, for the most part, the answer is no. But does that mean it loses its value? By no means! Instead, it presents an extremely interesting hypothetical study. It makes us think and wonder about different possibilities in the realm of education. Moreover, I also firmly believe that it holds great importance as a work of the Enlightenment period. Just having a good understanding of the philosophical background of that time can provide us with valuable insights and a deeper appreciation of this remarkable work.

Reading Rousseau can be adequately described with a single word - frustrating. The reasons for this experience are, however, more intricate. While there is a basic assertion of centering the child within his theories and arguments, which are passionate and often a relief and validation for those who feel disillusioned with the way the world raises its future generations, and perhaps has throughout history; Rousseau makes absolute and sweeping claims that are based on a drama-like narrative that can only unfold in one possible set of events - those he describes. His extremely patriarchal views on women and their role in society and towards future generations have been frequently and justifiably critiqued. What I find equally, if not more contentious, is his understanding and assertion of what constitutes 'nature' and/or the 'natural'. The rationalizations he imposes are problematic and make a large part of his arguments hard to accept.

Nevertheless, it is fair to admit that Rousseau is truly a man of his time, especially in the conflict and rebellion that he theorizes and stands for in response to his era. Perhaps the most extreme and outrageous of his arguments can be justified, if not defended, based on the influence of the period in which he lives and writes.

Overall, Rousseau merits a reading. If not for agreement or adherence (and definitely not for bedtime ease), then for being an unprecedented voice of resistance, for representing a significant rupture in schools of thought, and for presenting at least a few fundamental ideas that could be usefully unpacked and reviewed in contemporary times.

Well worth the read.

It offers a very interesting perspective on human nature.

The most captivating section for me was indeed the part that delved into women, as well as the relationship between men and women.

However, there are two things that I would like to complain about.

The first is the priest's several-page monologue, which at times felt a bit long-winded and perhaps could have been more concise.

The second is Rousseau's incredible egotism that emerges when he describes certain aspects of his relationship to Emile.

It seems that at times, his own self-importance overshadows the more profound insights he is trying to convey.

Nevertheless, despite these minor flaws, the overall work is still a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of human nature and relationships.

It makes one stop and think about the complex dynamics that exist between the sexes and within ourselves.

It is definitely a book that I would recommend to others who are interested in understanding more about the human psyche.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is a precursor of naturalism and humanism in education. He presents the vision of the child as a pure being who only needs to be educated based on reflection and experience in contact with nature, without the possibility of being corrupted by society.
I agree with some of his precepts. For example, the emphasis on the importance of nature in a child's development is quite reasonable. However, I have a conflict with the way he contradicted some of his ideas with his actions in his personal life. He seemed to have difficulty practicing what he preached. Moreover, the image of the ideal woman he presented is also a point of contention. Sadly, although this book was written in the 18th century, many of these ideas still prevail in a patriarchal society. We need to carefully analyze and evaluate these ideas to see what is valuable and what needs to be corrected.

A Hated Book!

I read it at school and I hated it immediately. It's so stupid to educate like this. Apart from this, it's of infinite dullness. I have never wanted to read anything of Rousseau again.

This book left such a negative impression on me. The way it was presented and taught in school made it seem completely unappealing. The content itself was just a never-ending stream of boredom. I couldn't find any value or interest in it.

Since then, I have had a strong aversion to anything written by Rousseau. I'm sure there are other works out there that are much more engaging and worthwhile, and I would rather spend my time exploring those instead of giving Rousseau another chance.

Maybe I'm being too harsh, but this is just my honest opinion based on my experience with this particular book.

The reading of the email originated from my interest in the issue of education. The writing of the book is scattered and jumbled, and in a way, it confuses the human mind. It doesn't lead us to a conclusion step by step and logically. It seems as if Rousseau is sitting in a hurry and writing down his educational experiences and points so that he won't forget them. However, we must admit that he has managed to gain a deep understanding of human beings and human nature, and has based education on human nature. Many times I felt that the concept of the book gives my mind a lot of freedom to understand the phenomena related to human growth. The email is about a boy who grows up based on the laws of Rousseau and nature. In the end, he becomes not a businessman like me, not a wealthy and powerful person, not a scholar, but an honorable human being. This is the reason why reading it in a world full of competition, envy, and consumerism gives people a sense of security.

I have an abundance of thoughts regarding this book, and it is likely that I will need to process the majority of them at a later time.

On the surface, this might very well be the worst education manifesto I have ever perused. While I believe Rousseau has a profound understanding of many aspects of how to rear children, his refusal to accept the sinful nature of man nullifies a substantial portion of what he expounds.

Moreover, the conclusion, where Emile attributes all the praise of his life to the tutor, actually seems to suggest that Rousseau is presented as being God-like and the ultimate good in this narrative. I must also state that both Emile and Sophie are rather insufferable individuals.

That being said, I do appreciate certain aspects of what he has to say, particularly regarding infancy and the nature of love and the mutual dependence of man on woman.

Overall, this book presents a complex and somewhat contradictory set of ideas that will continue to engage my thoughts and analysis.

Review of the Book: "Émile, or On Education" from Infancy to Maturity

By Jean-Jacques Rousseau

This book is one of Rousseau's legacies in education, alongside his other major works. We can mention "The Social Contract," which forms the core of modern social and political laws, "Confessions," a richly detailed work, and the romantic novel "Julie."

In this book, Rousseau addresses the upbringing of a child named *Émile*, from the moment of his birth until he becomes a father. He accompanies Émile on his travels and migrations, teaching him the wisdom he has gained from nature, understanding everything. The book is interspersed with the story of Émile's encounter with *Sophie* - the girl who represents the role of a girl who has received an exemplary education. Rousseau shows through her the method of educating girls after showing the method of educating boys with Émile.

The moments of love and connection between Émile and Sophie, which ultimately end in marriage and are filled with success, after Émile has learned about different cities with his teacher and has observed the differences among people.

This review is abbreviated with the aim of encouraging the reading of the book.

A five-star book, and the advice to read it is more than necessary.

Αωαςhι
19 July/July 2016

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Émile, or On Education" is a profound exploration of the educational process. It not only delves into the development of a child but also offers valuable insights into the nature of society and human relationships. The book's structure, with its detailed account of Émile's growth and his interactions with Sophie, makes it an engaging read. Rousseau's ideas about education based on nature and experience are still relevant today. His emphasis on the importance of observing and learning from the world around us is a powerful reminder. By reading this book, one can gain a deeper understanding of the educational journey and the role it plays in shaping our lives. It is a must-read for anyone interested in education, philosophy, or human nature.

Rousseau is such an interesting person! There are such profound ideas in this book that one can't help but be amazed. How could he have said these things in the 1750s? He even defined the new concepts of modern pedagogy back then.

However, when it comes to the issue of women, his progressive views seem to come to an end. That's why I skipped through part 5 a bit as I just couldn't bear it.

Also, he is a writer with a rather low tone. It's like a conversation at a rakı table, where the topic jumps around, anecdotes are thrown in, gossip is made, and personal life is exposed. It took me months to finish because of this, and I got a bit fed up. I wish patience to those who will read it. If you can be patient, it's a wonderful book.