Otherwise than being, or, Beyond essence

by Emmanuel Levinas

This is Levinas' last book. I can't describe it in a paragraph or two -- sorry! If you're looking to start with Levinas, start with perhaps Existence and Existents, or some early essays. Otherwise than Being (OTB) tells a story of how I come to be constituted as a subject in the world. This story is going to involve the Other ("autrui") in a radical way. It's not an easy book. But it is worth the read. The discussion of "substitution" (chapter 4) is perhaps the most quoted part of the book. But it's all worth a very careful read, and several re-readings. To those philosophy people who aren't putting descriptions up - please help! Really good books get no love on this site!