I like when an author is able to turn complex philosophy into light reading. The author is quite good at this. Much of the book follows the lives and works of Sartre and de Beauvoir, there are also several chapters on Heidegger. Other philosophers of the time get some of the spotlight as well. The book is entertaining and well paced. I was a little bothered by the author's anti-communist asides, but did think it a good choice in general of her to make herself visible in her writing. Nice book, enjoyable and educational. Made me want to read a whole lot of other books.