The Labyrinth: An Existential Odyssey with Jean-Paul Sartre

by Ben Argon

Overview

“Designed for the studious and dabblers alike” this unique graphic novel offers “an accessible primer on one of the 20th century’s weightiest thinkers” (Publishers Weekly).

Life can often feel like a rat race. To make sense of it all, generations of truth seekers have turned to the works of philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre. Now a fellow seeker shares a charming and accessible introduction to Sartre’s profound and complex ideas—told in cartoons.

Ben Argon’s graphic novel about a pair of rats trapped in the labyrinth of existence humorously conveys the key ideas of Sartre’s existential philosophy. In addition, two Sartre scholars have contributed an introduction and afterword providing context and deeper insight.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683357438
Publisher:	ABRAMS, Inc. (Ignition)
Publication date:	04/14/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	889,070
File size:	30 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Ben Argon grew up in France surrounded by artists, authors, and philosophers of all kinds. It was then that he started making comics. At the age of reason, his attraction to science led him to embark on a corporate career, where he now leads teams of scientists and knowledge workers. He lives in Amsterdam.

Editorial Reviews

02/17/2020

Argon translates the often intimidating theories of Jean-Paul Sartre into simplistic, bouncy comics art in this breezy introduction to Sartre’s existential philosophy. A goofy, cartoony rat in a maze stops running long enough to ponder the meaning of life: is it enough to “chase the cheese,” or could there be more to existence? As he traverses the maze, new possibilities and questions arise. In concise, well-organized chapters, the comic finds bite-size approaches to expansive concepts like the nature of reality, the experience of time, ways of understanding the self and others, and whether freedom and choice are illusions. The metaphor of humans as lab rats is sometimes taken to amusing extremes, with the rodent protagonist holding debates with fellow rats and solemnly mulling over deep thoughts like “this piece lacks cheese because it’s me who lacks cheese” and the inevitable mixed-in Shakespearean “cheese or not cheese, that is the question.” The clip art–reminiscent drawings aren’t particularly distinctive, and feature much animal-gesticulating and occasional pie (cheese) charts, but they’re effective in illustrating even complex, abstract ideas with clarity. Designed for the studious and dabblers alike, this guide works as an accessible primer on one of the 20th century’s weightiest thinkers. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

04/01/2020

Debut Argon's first full-length graphic work condenses the key concepts of existential philosophy covered in Jean-Paul Sartre's Being and Nothingness in this charming, accessible allegory about a rat trapped in a maze. As the rat obsessively searches for cheese, he wonders whether death ultimately makes life meaningful or absurd, ponders whether the role his expectations and desires have in shaping his reality, and realizes he'll never find satisfaction as long as he's focused on satisfying himself. Some of the more complex or contradictory ideas here are illustrated through dialog with another rat—in one memorable exchange, our protagonist declares that "To be free is to have no limits," only for his counterpart to reply, "But without limits, everything would be possible and you would have no choices to make." This heady, heavy concept quickly becomes understandable as it's pointed out that a wall standing between the rat and his cheese isn't a problem…his problem is that he continues to want what he can't have, thus choosing to remain dissatisfied. Argon's illustrations are pleasantly dynamic; an introduction and afterword by two philosophy professors offer further insight into Sartre's ideas. VERDICT A great primer for anyone, but especially YA readers interested in existentialism

Library Journal