This comprehensive biography explores the life of André Gorz, a prominent twentieth-century leftist philosopher and critic of contemporary capitalism. Gorz, born Gerhart Hirsch in Vienna, lived in France after studying in Switzerland, becoming a self-taught existentialist thinker who continually evolved his worldview. His work reflects a blend of literature, philosophy, and journalism, engaging with influential figures such as Marx, Husserl, Sartre, and Illich, while resonating with the progressive ideas emerging from Italy in the 1960s and 70s. He was a pioneer in political ecology and advocated for de-growth. Gorz contributed to Sartre's journal Les Temps Modernes and wrote for L'Express under the pseudonym Michel Bosquet before co-founding Le Nouvel Observateur. His life intersected with notable personalities including Sartre, de Beauvoir, Herbert Marcuse, Fidel Castro, and Antonio Negri. Gorz's poignant autobiographical works, The Traitor and Letter to D, reveal his deep humanity and commitment to social change, making him an enduring inspiration for those who envision a different world.
