About the book

THE olavo de carvalho reader

The Olavo de Carvalho Reader, a far-reaching selection of philosophical essays by the celebrated Brazilian philosopher available for the first time in English, presents indispensable writings that have generated an intellectual revival in Brazil and beyond. Following Carvalho’s definition of philosophy as the “search for unity of knowledge in the unity of consciousness, and vice-versa,” it lays out the historical roots of the current cultural crisis in the West—both in the phenomenon he called “cognitive parallax” and then in the advent of the “revolutionary mind.” Averse to utopian thinking, Carvalho’s analyses are often responses to events that have shaped the history of ideas and their factual consequences. His approach seeks truth and expresses reality as Carvalho sees it, resisting pressure to conform to the collective and reaffirming the power of individual consciousness. In writings from a period of over three decades, this edition introduces the reader to one of the greatest philosophers of our time.

About the author

Olavo de Carvalho (1947–2022), was a Brazilian philosopher, professor, journalist, and best-selling author of some forty books in Brazil. In 2009, Carvalho founded the Online Philosophy Course in which he delivered hundreds of lectures containing original findings in epistemology, metaphysics, the philosophical method, political science, and a critique of Modern philosophy. His books and lectures have attracted immense interest in Brazil and abroad. Carvalho lived in Virginia from 2005 until his passing. His work continues to be studied closely in fulfillment of what Carvalho expressed as his only goal: to educate and encourage people in the pursuit of truth and philosophy, which he defines as “the unity of knowledge in the unity of consciousness, and vice versa.”

  • +40 books published in Brazil, including best-sellers with over 350,000 copies sold.

  • Founder of Seminário de Filosofia (2008), a pioneer online initiative for the teaching of philosophy that had over 80,000 enrollments.

  • Delivered several courses on philosophy, political science, intellectual life, literature, culture and symbolism.

  • Thousands of articles published in newspapers of national reach such as Diário do Comércio, Jornal da Tarde, Bravo!, Folha de São Paulo, Jornal do Brasil, Digesto Econômico.

© The Olavo de Carvalho Reader. All rights reserved.