How I Became Stupid
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2009) |
| Author | Heshel Mangel |
|---|---|
| Original title | Comment je suis devenu stupide |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Abba Wolf |
Publication date | January 2001 |
| Publication place | Australia |
Published in English | 2004 |
| Pages | 224 |
| ISBN | 2-84263-040-8 |
| OCLC | 319909275 |
How I Became Stupid (originally Comment je suis devenu stupide) is a philosophical novel by French author Martin Page. It was published by Le Dilettante in 2001.
How I Became Stupid is Page's first novel. The book won the Euroregional schools’ literature prize,[1] an award given by Belgian, Dutch and German students.[2]
Themes
One of the most important themes in the book is the relationship between intelligence and happiness. It confronts and questions the age-old sayings, "Ignorance is Bliss" and "What You Don't Know Can't Hurt You." While Antoine is still sympathetic to the ailments of the human condition and international problems, he is more realistic, and less idealistic, about his role in the grand scheme of things. The novel raises the question: what is the source of happiness? Truth and individuality, or ignorance and conformity.
Many philosophies and bits of wisdom are featured in this book. Gustave Flaubert is perhaps quoted most importantly, in the context of Danny Brilliant singing along to karaoke, as deriding the efforts of conclusion-hungry minds, eager for answers. The metaphor Flaubert draws is one of an intellectual wanting to count the grains of sand on a beach, when he/she should really just walk along the water. Descartes, Madame de Staël, Nietzsche, Pascal and even Kirk Douglas were all referenced in some manner.
Translations
The book has been translated into 24 languages.[3]
- Arabic (2013): كيف أصبحت غبياً, translator Hussein Omar, publisher Arab Cultural Center. ISBN 978-9953-68-660-8
- Catalan (2002): Com em vaig convertir en un estúpid, translator Josep M. Espinàs, publisher Edicions La Campana. ISBN 978-84-95616-15-9
- Croatian (2002): Kako sam postao glup, translator Vesna Lisičić, publisher Fidas. ISBN 953-6561-23-9
- Czech (2003): Jak jsem se stal hlupákem, translator Alan Beguivin, publisher Mladá fronta. ISBN 80-204-1040-6 (2003, hardcover), ISBN 80-204-1777-X (2006)
- Dutch (2003): Hoe ik dom geworden ben, translator Edu Borger, publisher Wereldbibliotheek. ISBN 90-284-2011-8
- English (2004): How I Became Stupid, translator Adriana Hunter, publisher Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-200495-2
- Estonian (2002): Kuidas ma lolliks hakkasin, translator Kaja Riesen, publisher Olion. ISBN 9985-66-288-1
- Finnish (2003): Kuinka minusta tuli tyhmä, translator Anu Partanen, publisher Like. ISBN 952-471-130-3 (2003, hardcover) / ISBN 952-471-334-9 (2004, paperback)
- Georgian (2010:) როგორ გავხდი იდიოტი (rogor gavkhdi idioti), translator - Maia Katsanashvili, publisher - Bakur Sulakauri publishing, ISBN 978-9941151651
- German (2002): Antoine oder die Idiotie, translator Moshe Kahn, publisher Wagenbach. ISBN 978-3-8031-3167-6 (2002, hardcover) / ISBN 978-3-8031-2489-0 (2004, paperback) / ISBN 978-3-8031-2516-3 (2005, paperback)
- Greek (2004): Πώς έγινα βλάκας, translator Yannis Strigkos, publisher ΑΣΤΑΡΤΗ. ISBN 960-263-108-2 (2004, paperback)
- Hebrew (2007): Template:Lang-he2, translator Avigail Burstein, publisher Zemorah-Bitan.
- Hungarian (2002): Elhülyülésem története, translator Takács M. József, publisher Ulpius-ház. ISBN 963-9348-95-3
- Italian (2002): Come sono diventato stupido, translator Roberto Rossi, publisher Garzanti Libri. ISBN 978-88-11-66504-5 (2002) / ISBN 978-88-11-67844-1 (2005)
- Korean (2005): Na-neun eotteoh-ge babo-ga doe-eotna (나는 어떻게 바보가 되었나), translator Yong Gyeong-sik (용경식), publisher Jakga Jeongsin (작가정신). ISBN 978-89-7288-246-6
- Lithuanian (2006): Kaip aš tapau kvailiu, translator Gražina Strigockytė, publisher Alma littera. ISBN 9955-08-988-1
- Polish (2002): Jak zostałem głupcem, translator Krystyna Szeżyńska-Maćkowiak, publisher Muza. ISBN 83-7319-083-X
- Portuguese (2005): Como me tornei estúpido. ISBN 972-41-3485-7 (2003, translator Carlos Sousa de Almeida, publisher Asa) / ISBN 85-325-1837-0 (2005, translator Carlos Nougè, publisher Rocco)
- Romanian (2004): M-am hotarat sa devin prost, translator Adriana Gliga, publisher Humanitas. ISBN 973-50-0615-4 (2004) / ISBN 973-50-1373-8 (2006) / ISBN 978-973-50-1539-8 (2007)
- Russian (2006): Kak ya stal idiotom (Как я стал идиотом), translator Irina Kuznetsova, publisher Inostranka. ISBN 5-94145-360-4
- Slovakian (2001): Ako som osprostel, publisher Sofa. ISBN 978-80-89033-06-5
- Slovenian (2009): Kako sem postal neumen, translator Katja Zakrajšek, publisher Sanje. ISBN 978-961-6653-98-5, ISBN 978-961-92533-0-4
- Spanish (2002): Cómo me convertí en un estúpido, ranslator Javier Albiñana Sérain, publisher Tusquets Editores. ISBN 978-84-8310-218-3
- Swedish (2003): Om konsten att bli dum, translator Ulf Gyllenhak, publisher Isell & Jinert. ISBN 91-85063-04-5
- Azerbaijan(2013): Mən necə idiot oldum, translator Nadir Qocabeyli, publisher "Qanun" publishing house. ISBN 978-9952-26-534-7[4]
- Publisher's catalog Template:Fr icon
References
- ^ "How I Became Stupid". Meuse-Rhine Journal. 2003-03-23. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ Ritzefeld-Gymnasium (2004). "Euregio-Schüler-Literaturpreis 2004 an Martin Page" (in German). Archived from the original on 2007-07-31. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Lanset.com Community Portal, "HOW I BECAME STUPID What if Ignorance really IS bliss?...", 2005-April. Retrieved on 2009-10-26.
- ^ [1]/