Byung-Chul Han's 'The Tonality of Thought' Reveals the Philosopher's Intimate Passions
In 'The Tonality of Thought', philosopher Byung-Chul Han offers personal reflections through three lectures he presented in German in 2023, which have been translated into English by Daniel Steuer. Released by Polity at a price of £12.99, the book showcases Han's passion for music, particularly the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, which he plays every day on his Steinway piano. He fondly remembers first encountering Bach's 'Chaconne' as a teenager and his early efforts to master it on a modest violin. Han has a penchant for flowers, often taking magnolia blooms in Berlin, and favors German over English. The lectures, held in Portugal, mention his time at the Hotel Flores and cite influences from Peter Handke, Rosa Luxemburg, and Walter Benjamin. The book includes illustrations and QR codes for extra content.
Key facts
- Byung-Chul Han's 'The Tonality of Thought' is a collection of three lectures given in German in 2023.
- The book is translated by Daniel Steuer and published by Polity, priced at £12.99.
- Han reveals his love for music, especially Bach's 'Chaconne' and 'Goldberg Variations', which he plays on a Steinway piano.
- He admits to stealing magnolia flowers at night in Berlin.
- Han prefers German over English, calling English an 'economic language'.
- His intellectual influences include Peter Handke, Rosa Luxemburg, Jenny Holzer, Charlie Kaufman, Lars von Trier, Ingeborg Bachmann, Paul Celan, Walter Benjamin, and Gabriel Marcel.
- His favorite books are the Bible and dictionaries.
- The book includes images of Han's lectures and QR codes.
- This is Han's most personal book, offering insight into his daily rituals and preferences.
- It complements his earlier works 'The Burnout Society' and 'The Spirit of Hope'.
Entities
Artists
- Byung-Chul Han
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Peter Handke
- Rosa Luxemburg
- Jenny Holzer
- Charlie Kaufman
- Lars von Trier
- Ingeborg Bachmann
- Paul Celan
- Walter Benjamin
- Gabriel Marcel
- Robert Schumann
- Roland Barthes
Institutions
- Polity
- Hotel Flores
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Portugal