Description
In this landmark 1943 work, Simone Weil argues that human beings have a deep, spiritual need for “roots”—not merely in land or tradition, but in meaningful work, shared obligations, and a moral life that gives form to the soul. Tracing how modern societies produce uprootedness in both urban and rural life, she examines the forces that leave people anxious, alienated, and vulnerable to resentment, while also warning against the ways institutions can drain purpose from education, labor, and community. Weil’s high-stakes diagnosis connects the personal to the political, exploring how a nation’s health depends on cultivating attention, dignity, and belonging rather than treating people as replaceable units. Written in Weil’s distinctive, lucid, and spiritually charged style, this book unites ethical reflection with a searching critique of her era—offering insights that resonate powerfully with today’s crises of work, identity, and social trust.
Available Editions
paperback
Penguin Books, Limited
Published Jan 1, 2022
ISBN: 9780241467978
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Details
First Published
1949
Language
fra
Translation
From: fra
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for Need for Roots by Simone Weil.