I couldn't read this book for more than a few hours.

It demands a very serious attitude and deep thinking.

An excerpt for teaching in school is perfect, but a whole thick book to be read in one week is simply excessive.

This book requires several years, or at least a month, just to grasp the jist.

It seems that the author has put a great deal of effort and knowledge into this work.

The content is profound and complex, making it a challenging read.

However, for those who are truly interested in the subject matter and are willing to invest the time and energy, it can be a highly rewarding experience.

Perhaps with careful study and multiple readings, one can begin to understand the full scope and significance of the ideas presented in this book.

But for now, I'll have to take it one step at a time and hope to make some progress in my understanding.

A deceptively simple text.

Rousseau has distanced himself from the Social Contract and the concept of the noble savage here. Instead, he has decided to illustrate the principles of an education that will bring about `natural man.'

Emile is his guinea pig, whom he allows to grow on his own accord. His governor and nurse impose nothing on him. He is free to build and explore without any external authority. Eventually, he chooses a vocation and place in society.

For Rousseau, the most important property of modern society that is inimical to man is the exertion of authority and power over the subject. Emile is permitted to grow and flourish without the arbitrary directives of parent/authority figures.

And as always, Rousseau's prose is light and wonderful. However, he falls short in the section on Emile's counter-part Sophie. She embodies practically all of the sexist facets of enlightenment prejudice.

But this work remains a very great work of political theory in spite of its shortcomings and frequent meanderings. It offers valuable insights into the nature of education and the relationship between the individual and society.

Overall, it is a thought-provoking and influential piece of writing that continues to be studied and debated today.

This is a rather loose collection of thoughts that涵盖了方方面面。

However, all of it is considered in the context of the upbringing of an imaginary young man.

The content is a bit uneven. At times, it is downright traditional, especially when it comes to male-female relationships.

It can also seem prudish, particularly in the area of sexual education.

Yet, on the other hand, it is progressive in that it is very child focused, emphasizing education towards liberty, naturalness, and especially individuality.

Sometimes, it can be very boring.

Overall, it is more of an historical document than a truly interesting read.

It provides insights into the values and ideas of a particular time and place, but may not engage the modern reader in the same way.

Nonetheless, it is still an important piece of work that can contribute to our understanding of the past.