Emile

A dense read, this one took me a while to finish. There are bits of wisdom scattered throughout, some interesting points and surprisingly modern opinions here and there. But on the whole, this isn't something I would recommend to anyone who doesn't have a solid interest in French history, philosophy, or pedagogy.

Additionally, Rousseau's opinions on women are bizarrely contradictory. In some moments he sounds progressive for his time, at other points sexist. He frequently uses the term “savages”, and at one point equates women with crippled men.

The bottom line is, this is not a novel. It is a long-winded essay that frequently goes on tangents and is impossible not to skim in some sections.