A review by uhambe_nami
The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell by Bertrand Russell

3.0

On the surface, one would think that Bertrand Russell had everything a man could ever wish for. He was one of the most influential men of the 20th century. He had a brilliant mind and wrote books on a wide range of topics including mathematics, philosophy, education, politics, physics, China, bolshevism, theory of knowledge, religion, and atheism. He lectured in a number of universities and was awarded the Nobel Prize of Literature in 1950. Among his acquaintances were Joseph Conrad, Albert Einstein, H.G. Wells, Kurt Gödel and Aldous Huxley. His financial means were enough for him to live comfortably, travel, and pursue his intellectual interests. And yet, in this autobiography one gets the impression that Russell was deeply unhappy throughout his life. He writes about himself as a lonely child and adolescent, and how he went through a number of failed marriages as an adult. His attempt to set up an experimental school for his children ended in deep disappointment.
His autobiography is full of sad memories from his youth that, I think, would not interest anybody except himself. I enjoyed reading his political observations as well as the letters he exchanged with Joseph Conrad and his other acquaintances. But apart from these highlights, this is, alas, not a very pleasant read.