Robert Wicks is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Schopenhauer's The World as Will and Representation is widely considered to be one of the most important and influential texts in nineteenth-century German philosophy. The text provides an avenue through which to introduce and explore a rich assortment of philosophical themes and questions, and represents Schopenhauer's widely discussed attempt to find personal meaning amidst a violent, frustrating and seemingly godless world. Since it was published in 1818, the text has influenced generations of musicians, artists, writers and historians, as well as philosophers.

This Reader's Guide presents a concise and accessible introduction to the text, offering invaluable guidance on:

- Philosophical context

- Key themes

- Reading the text

- Reception and influence

- Further reading

Acknowledgements \ 1. Context \ 2.  Overview of Themes \ 3.  Reading the Text:  Schopenhauer's Prefaces to WWR, his Critique of the Kantian Philosophy, and The Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason \ 4.  Reading the Text:  Book I, Perceptual vs. Abstract Representations, 1-16 \ 5.  Reading the Text:  Book II, Will as Thing-in-Itself, 17-29 \ 6.  Reading the Text:  Book III, Platonic Ideas, Beauty and Art, 30-52 \ 7.  Reading the Text:  Book IV, Ethics and Asceticism, 53-71 \ 8.  Reception and Influence \ Notes for Further Reading \ Index.