In this groundbreaking work of autobiography, the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau recounts his early life and his struggles to find meaning and purpose in a turbulent and rapidly changing world. From his childhood in Geneva to his arrival in Paris as a young man, Rousseau offers a vivid and often searing portrait of his own experiences, as well as a window onto the social and cultural history of Europe during the 18th century. With its combination of political philosophy, personal revelation, and literary artistry, this book remains an enduring masterpiece of world literature. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.