Being and NothingnessBeing and Nothingness
Score Classic
What it's about
Jean-Paul Sartre's major work of philosophy, on consciousness, freedom and "nothingness," and on bad faith: the ways we deceive ourselves to dodge the responsibility that freedom brings.
Why it's worth reading
It's on Le Monde's list of the 100 books of the century. It's the fullest statement of Sartre's existentialism.
You'll love it if you liked
The Stranger
The Myth of Sisyphus
The TrialGood to know
It's long and dense: academic philosophy, not a novel.
By the numbers
- Readers28 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller35 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
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Is Being and Nothingness worth reading?
Yes. It's on Le Monde's list of the 100 books of the century. It ranks #2,644 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 58.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Being and Nothingness about?
Jean-Paul Sartre's major work of philosophy, on consciousness, freedom and "nothingness," and on bad faith: the ways we deceive ourselves to dodge the responsibility that freedom brings.
How long does it take to read Being and Nothingness?
About 16 hours (659 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Being and Nothingness?
If you liked it, try The Stranger by Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus or The Trial by Franz Kafka.