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Helena De Bres
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Artful Truths: The Philosophy of Memoir Paperback – September 10, 2021

by Helena de Bres (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 9 ratings
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Offers a philosophical perspective on the nature and value of writing a memoir.

Artful Truths offers a concise guide to the fundamental philosophical questions that arise when writing a literary work about your own life. Bringing a philosopher’s perspective to a general audience, Helena de Bres addresses what a memoir is, how the genre relates to fiction, memoirists’ responsibilities to their readers and subjects, and the question of why to write a memoir at all. Along the way, she delves into a wide range of philosophical issues, including the nature of the self, the limits of knowledge, the idea of truth, the obligations of friendship, the relationship between morality and art, and the question of what makes a life meaningful.

Written in a clear and conversational style, it offers a resource for those who write, teach, and study memoirs, as well as those who love to read them. With a combination of literary and philosophical knowledge, de Bres takes the many challenges directed at memoirists seriously, while ultimately standing in defense of a genre that, for all its perplexities—and maybe partly because of them—continually proves to be both beloved and valuable.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    241 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of Chicago Press
  4. Publication date
    September 10, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    022679380X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0226793801
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"As a guide, de Bres has a lightness of touch that gives the reader plenty of space to reflect . . ." ― Times Literary Supplement

"Anyone in the process of reading, writing, criticizing, or teaching a memoir should stop immediately, read this book, and then get back to work. De Bres asks all the right questions regarding this genre, and if she does not produce all the answers, she comes close. . . . Full of new insights into both the production and consumption of this popular form of personal expression, Artful Truths is must reading for those interested in memoirs of the past, present, and future. . . . Summing Up: Essential." ― CHOICE

"De Bres, who teaches at Wellesley College, in Massachusetts, offers not a how‑to manual but rather a densely packed list of considerations — moral, ethical, aesthetic — that the would‑be memoirist ought to ponder when ­setting out on a life-writing voyage. A memoir, after all, is no simple thing. It demands an experiential truth, but unless you are recounting your life as a hermit or the sole occupant of a desert island (interestingly, the first memoir boom followed the success of Daniel Defoe’s fictional Robinson Crusoe), you rather quickly realize that your version necessarily involves other people. Therein complications can arise. . . . De Bres elegantly manoeuvres through different takes on the form. . . . At the core of Artful Truths is an insistence on responsibility — in the sense that the power for good or ill resides in the memoirist’s hands." ― Literary Review of Canada

“Artful Truths is wonderful, beautifully written, consistently amusing, and very useful. De Bres unpacks all the philosophical and ethical questions imaginable surrounding the genre of memoir and charges fearlessly into accusations against the form, examining and dissecting each doubt before celebrating the genre with panache. How she is able to discuss the viewpoints of Kant or Nietzsche in such conversational language is a wonder, and the examples she invents to bring these sometimes abstruse matters to life are wryly amusing.” -- Phillip Lopate, author of The Art of The Personal Essay

"In Artful Truths, Helena de Bres brings a perceptive philosopher’s eye to the various questions and contentious arguments vexing the memoir form. Her essential guide is witty, readable, and filled with brilliant insight. Artful Truths is an informative, much needed addition to any memoirist’s bookshelf."
  -- Dinty W. Moore, author of Crafting the Personal Essay

“Artful Truths introduces and explores metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical puzzles raised by the wonderfully perplexing genre of memoir. A delight to read and rewarding to ponder, this book offers sophisticated and deeply insightful philosophical analysis while remaining remarkably and broadly accessible. It is a model of serious philosophical engagement with a topic of widespread interest, which will be of immense value not only to memoirists and philosophers, but to anyone interested in the self and its multiple, complex truths. “ -- Marya Schechtman, author of Staying Alive: Personal Identity, Practical Concerns, and the Unity of a Life

About the Author

Helena de Bres is an associate professor of philosophy at Wellesley College. Her personal essays, public philosophy, and humor writing have appeared in The Point, New York Times, Rumpus, Aeon Magazine, and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and she’s currently writing a memoir about the nature and value of philosophy.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Chicago Press; First Edition (September 10, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 241 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 022679380X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0226793801
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

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Helena De Bres

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
9 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

gabrielle baker
5.0 out of 5 stars Truly engaging philosophy
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2021
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Essential reading for anyone who reads, writes or thinks about memoir.

While memoir is my favourite genre, I usually find philosophical arguments tiresome. But this book miraculously makes philosophy seem interesting and memoir seem even more worthy and literary. Both the way it is written and the examples used (examples of memoir and ways to think about philosophy) are excellent.

Highly recommend!
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BONNIE L. WOOLFOLK
3.0 out of 5 stars Unhappy.
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2023
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It had no cover!
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Camilla Sanderson
5.0 out of 5 stars Thougthful and engaging examination of the art of Writing Memoir
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2021
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Lots of gratitude for discovering this book from the author's post in a Facebook group! It needs to be more widely reviewed! If you have any interest in writing memoir, Helena de Bres offers a unique and wonderful examination of the genre. A great addition to the memoir canon.
4 people found this helpful
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