The Book of Disquiet

By: Fernando Pessoa

Narrated by: Adam Sims

Length: 17 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Assembled from notes and jottings left unpublished at the time of the author’s death, The Book of Disquiet is a collection of aphoristic prose-poetry musings on dreams, solitude, time and memory. Credited to Pessoa’s alter ego, Bernardo Soares, who chronicles his contemplations in this so-called "factless" autobiography, the work is a journey of one man’s soul and, by extension, of all human souls that allow their minds and hearts to roam far and free.

Though his outward life as an assistant bookkeeper in downtown Lisbon is a humdrum affair, Soares lives a rich and varied existence within the contours of his own mind, where he can be and do anything. Soares has no ambition, nor has he any friends; he is plagued with disquiet, and only imagination and dreams can conquer it.

Compiled by the translator Richard Zenith, Fernando Pessoa’s The Book of Disquiet is a fulgent tribute to the imagination of man. Translation by Richard Zenith.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2017 Assírio & Alvim / Grupo Porto Editora (P)2018 Naxos AudioBooks

Poetry

I love this work! Contemplative, soul searching. For anyone who loves literary prose and who looks for the strange.

a vitally important, and beautiful work

if you stick with it, you will get something out of this work, and just maybe be moved by it. It is beautifully introspective and must be taken both lightly and seriously. but, if you can’t keep an open mind then I seriously wouldn’t bother.

An essential read

There's something that I absolutely adore about this beautiful book, but it's hard to put a name to. Eventually, Pessoas depressing and devistating prose about tedium and insignificance became tiring- and perhaps even a little annoying. So often it was clear that, had he been a little less self-concerned, he could've rescued himself from his indeterminate existential crisis-he was obviously completely aware of what was wrong, but..I dunno. He made of his suffering something of an artistic endevor, and as such, never really intended to better himself. It's hard to even say if he discovered any significant wisdom from essentially sacrificing his own life to spiritually rot- he set himself up to eternally fail, and still he complained as though he was some unfortunate victim of personhood. But he is undeniably brilliant- his ability to articulate human anguish is almost difficult to believe, It's amazing that someone would even devote themselves to something so fundamental, and in my opinion, the world is better for it. It's glaringly 'real' if that makes sense.

Excellent

Excellent. Meditative and thoughtful writing full of food for thought. Definitely worth a read, one of my favorites now.

I didn’t want the book to ever end.

The definition of brilliance. I’ve never related so much to a piece of literature. I simply did not want the book to end.

The book that saved my life

I understand that this is not for everyone. Most people will find Pesoa unbearably morose, elementary intellectual at best, petty. and at times even excruciating to listen to. But for the rest of us.... more so for me. Pesoa expressed every one of my inner most feelings; fears, lusts, addictions, and everything in between. So reading Pesoa for me the first time was like a baby taking its first breath of air without even knowing the importance of the moment, the importance of air.....the lifelong necessity of it. This is Pesoa to me

A complex masterpiece

Pessoa is like no one else. The closest thing to a poetic philosopher I can think of, he uses language in ways that blew my mind. If you learn a bit about his biography before reading, it will help you get a lot more out of the book because Pessoa was a fascinating person.

Modern, epic...A pouring out of the soul(s)

Excellent narration. Excellent sound quality.
About the book....Notes from The Underground and Thus Spoke Zarathustra came to mind when I first began listening, but this is entirely something else and much more. Is it Philosophy? Is it a very detailed diary? Autobiography? Aphorisms? Fiction? This is the only book by Pessoa that I have read. He wrote under other names(souls), as well. Pessoa is certainly an important writer.
If you are a pessimist, this is for you. If you are a thinker(contemplative), this is for you. If you understand that the best "toy" you can have is your own imagination, this is for you. If you are an optimist you should consider reading (hearing) this.

Mixed feelings overall

At the outset, I must concede that book was possibly written for an intellect superior to mine, or, someone who sees the world in a more nuanced way than I do. To be sure, I found parts of this insightful and thought provoking. I found the book one in which to fully appreciate one must stay engaged and contemplative. It provokes you to think, a quality I appreciate. But I found large portions to be poetic for poetry’s sake. The author is an obvious deep thinker, but I found so many metaphors and deep imagery to be cosmically meandering at times. There were whole 30-40 minute sections where I found myself rewinding the chapter to find the oblique lesson. Often, I could not. The author is articulate and imaginative and invokes deep imagery. I’d like to think I’m above average in intelligence and a contemplative thinker, hence the purchase. If the book was presented as a book of poetry, I’d come to the table with a certain expectation. As a book of philosophy, for lack of a better term, I come with a different expectation. In that instance, I’d hoped with a changed world view. I just spent too much time chasing the meaning.

did not like

no story of any kind. Dubious quality sets of unrelated thoughts. This is a book of aphorisms. not good to listen to.