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M San Pedro
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El Discreto: The Complete Man (1646) Hardcover – July 13, 2023

by Baltasar Gracián (Author), M San Pedro (Translator)
5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 4 ratings
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Almost four hundred years ago, in Zaragoza, Spain, Baltasar Gracián began to write what many modern-day scholars consider to be the most prolific and mysterious of his seven works, El Discreto: The Complete Man (1646). It is a treatise that describes the qualities that are needed for a man to become the center of perfection, as he experiences life and its spacious fields of time. Through his mystifying, divinized, and sacred style, he explores the themes of moral and political philosophy, literature, criticism, human nature, morality, and the complexity of social relationships. It is a discourse full of fables, metaphors, allegories, and wordplay that requires the reader to measure himself against the greatness of its matter in order to understand and benefit from its wisdom.


Chained to a linguistic barrier for centuries, with its complexity making it nearly impossible to translate into English, this Spanish masterpiece has remained largely unavailable to modern readers until now. This fascinating book, which Friedrich Nietzsche referred to as "the finest and most complicated work to ever come out of Europe," contains all that is needed to become a Master of Matters and a Master of Men.


Praise

"In the experience of life, Gracián shows incomparable wisdom." -Friedrich Nietzsche


"My favorite author is the philosophical Gracián, all of whose books I have read." -Arthur Schopenhauer


"This jewel of a man is very gifted; I assure you that he contains great things." -King Philip IV of Spain


"No one who precedes him, nor those who follow him, will be able to surpass him in genius and ingenuity; he is the ne plus ultra." -Don Vincencio Juan de Lastanosa, Spanish Noble and Knight


About the translator

Moises San Pedro, professionally known as Mike San Pedro, is a writer and philosopher. He is a student and historian of Baltasar Gracián and a friend of his singular spirit.


Previous page
  1. Print length
    188 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    St. Vitus Dance
  4. Publication date
    July 13, 2023
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.63 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1945028521
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1945028526
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Vitus Dance (July 13, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 188 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1945028521
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1945028526
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.63 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 4 ratings

About the author

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M San Pedro

M San Pedro

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M. San Pedro writes for the beginner and non-specialized reader who has just started on his journey of stoicism, wisdom, and GOD. For the reader who, has not yet developed the discipline of reading but wants something easy to study, understand, and that will quickly give him a more stable footing in life.

For the more advanced reader, he also translates the works of Baltasar Gracián, the famous 17th-century writer, philosopher, and Catholic Jesuit. His first translated work, the Spanish masterpiece El Discreto: The Complete Man (1646), teaches a man how to be the center of perfection through faith, philosophy, and moral instruction.

These compact jewels of wisdom also make excellent travel partners. Take them everywhere you go and consult them often.

Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5
4 global ratings
A remarkable translation!
5 Stars
A remarkable translation!
An exceptional work! I really appreciate the ease and interpretation of Gracian’s writings. An absolute must read for all who thirsts for wisdom and desires to become ‘a complete man.’
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Top reviews from the United States

Ervin Joshua
5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable translation!
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2023
An exceptional work! I really appreciate the ease and interpretation of Gracian’s writings. An absolute must read for all who thirsts for wisdom and desires to become ‘a complete man.’
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Ervin Joshua
5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable translation!
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2023
An exceptional work! I really appreciate the ease and interpretation of Gracian’s writings. An absolute must read for all who thirsts for wisdom and desires to become ‘a complete man.’
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Mike Wittig
5.0 out of 5 stars Wisdom of the ages
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2023
Such a great booked packed with timeless insights, and the translator did a fabulous job making Gracian accessible to all.
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Mike Wittig
5.0 out of 5 stars Wisdom of the ages
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2023
Such a great booked packed with timeless insights, and the translator did a fabulous job making Gracian accessible to all.
Images in this review
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One person found this helpful
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Brent M
5.0 out of 5 stars Gracian’s best work, a true masterpiece.
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2023
If you want to become a better man and a master of life, this book is a must read.

The translation is really well done which is surprising because there’s a reason no one has translated this book, in it’s entirety, in almost 400 years, IT’S HIS MOST DIFFICULT WORK. The translator also includes interesting footnotes to keep the reader engaged and at times explains the meaning of difficult texts. The book is very didactic.

If you want to learn about philosophy, a tad of faith, all while learning to be a better man, Gracian does that masterfully. Premium feel to the book, and the cover is beautiful. Worth the $30.95 (at least to me). The book flows, it is easy to understand, you learn a lot from it, and it’s probably the best of any of his books that have been translated.
Customer image
Brent M
5.0 out of 5 stars Gracian’s best work, a true masterpiece.
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2023
If you want to become a better man and a master of life, this book is a must read.

The translation is really well done which is surprising because there’s a reason no one has translated this book, in it’s entirety, in almost 400 years, IT’S HIS MOST DIFFICULT WORK. The translator also includes interesting footnotes to keep the reader engaged and at times explains the meaning of difficult texts. The book is very didactic.

If you want to learn about philosophy, a tad of faith, all while learning to be a better man, Gracian does that masterfully. Premium feel to the book, and the cover is beautiful. Worth the $30.95 (at least to me). The book flows, it is easy to understand, you learn a lot from it, and it’s probably the best of any of his books that have been translated.
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Top reviews from other countries

Mirinda
5.0 out of 5 stars An elegant translation
Reviewed in Australia on April 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
An elegant translation of a rare hard-to-find book that changes you from within. Full of timeless wisdom and the translation feels historically appropriate while being modernised for the contemporary reader. An awesome feat.
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