de Certeau's 'The Practice of Everyday Life'

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So, has anybody read this fucker?

I have not (so god knows why I'm starting a thread about it).

It's been sitting on my bookshelf for literally 10 years (it was assigned for a college course, and I bought the book but sadly and pathetically never read the thing).

It's been a while since I've picked up any philosophy/criticism. I've lately been eager to start this, because a year ago I sold my car and I've never been happier. I'm just sort of enjoying moving about the city on foot, observing things, encountering people; sort of generally realizing that, although I love the country, I love big cities so much more. I gather that this apparently significant book addresses some of these things. Has anyone read it? Um, does anyone maybe want to talk about it or start a little readng group? (man, i totally suck becuz I really wanted to read Structure of Scientific Revolutions and maybe contribute to that thread but I haven't yet, but I'm really feeling like this de Certeau is right for me right now...)

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Sunday, 6 July 2003 02:22 (twenty-two years ago)

you might take a look at the second volume, where they (certeau and the people who kept on after he died) start to develop some of the particulars related to the stuff from the first volume. somehow I have the sense that the 'everyday' comes off as a lot more romanticized in the first volume, so the more particular details in the second volume may have helped ease that worry some? I especially like the section on food, eating, and cooking. I can't really talk intelligently about either volume, though, sorry - I've only read little bits. the writing is sort of surprising - despite my having spent more time in the past on say deleuze, foucault, derrida, and barthes (not really that much time), looking at certeau somehow made me feel the importance of the writing itself as far as how fertile philosphers and theorists like these end up being as time goes by. their writing is so much thicker, denser (I know that word is overused in this sense, but), than the poor work that's derivative of it, the kind where you get little sense of depth or real complexity.

― Josh (Josh), Sunday, 6 July 2003 02:38 (twenty-two years ago)

See josh - it's funny, I'm totally ambivalent towards these French and their little games; but if pressed, of course I have to admit that Saussure, Levi-Strauss, and absolutely Foucault have had an immeasurable impact on the way I view the world.

haha, one time I picked up Habermas and I knew I wuz stupid. I dunno, sometimes I'm fearful of this shit, but I think I'm gonna try to plough ahead with this Certeau thing. Cuz I think it's where my (befuddled) head's at right now.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Sunday, 6 July 2003 02:50 (twenty-two years ago)

habermas is boring.

if I didn't have a million other things to read 'professionally' I would think sitting down and going real slow through certeau would be much better. time to wander around between readings for reflection, etc.

― Josh (Josh), Sunday, 6 July 2003 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

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