|
Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . .: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes | 
 enlarge | Authors: Thomas Cathcart, Daniel Klein
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Category: Book
List Price: $12.00
Buy New: $6.79
You Save: $5.21 (43%)
New (31) Used (20) from $5.95
Rating:  129 reviews
Sales Rank: 1954
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Pages: 224
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7 x 4.8 x 0.7
ISBN: 0143113879
Dewey Decimal Number: 102.07
EAN: 9780143113874
ASIN: 0143113879
Publication Date: June 24, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: 100% Brand New! - Ships Today! Identical to Amazon's book in every way. Flawless! Not a cheap Remainder or Book Club Copy! *We recommend Expedited Shipping option for much faster mail delivery
| |
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
BThis New York Times bestseller is the hilarious philosophy course everyone wishes they d had in school/BBRBR Outrageously funny, IPlato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar/I . . . has been a breakout bestseller ever since authors and born vaudevillians Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein did their schtick on NPR s IWeekend Edition/I. Lively, original, and powerfully informative, IPlato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar/I . . . is a not-so-reverent crash course through the great philosophical thinkers and traditions, from Existentialism (IWhat do Hegel and Bette Midler have in common?/I) to Logic (ISherlock Holmes never deduced anything/I). Philosophy 101 for those who like to take the heavy stuff lightly, this is a joy to read and finally, it all makes sense!
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 124 more reviews...
 low in humor January 5, 2009
F. Cook (PA, USA)
One might think that a book mixing philosophy and humor would be a little more intelligent. Instead I found the humor weak and the philosophy juvenile.
 Jokes usually not that funny, and provides no real understanding of philosophy January 3, 2009
K
I like the idea of a book like this, and the authors should be given credit for having made an attempt of presenting this material in an original way, and the typography and graphic design of the book are beautiful, but .... After having actually read this book, it seems very insubstantial. I'm genuinely surprised by the large number of rave reviews, the characterization of the jokes as "outrageously hilarious", and the claims that this book is full of profound insights and is something to be treasured. ... One the one hand, some of the jokes are funny. On the other hand, and more importantly, the book does not live up to its subtitle: "Understanding Philosophy through Jokes" because the points made by (or implied through) the jokes in this book are almost always only tangentially related to - or are misleading about - the philosophical concept(s) supposedly being illuminated. To actually get an understanding of the various philosophies/philosophical concepts referred to in this book, one would have to read something else. The best thing that can be said about this book, I think, is that at times it provides a mildly entertaining, interesting read and it might make someone of a particular mindset want to read more.
 The BEST introduction to philosophy for those who know nothing about it... period! January 2, 2009
T Z Me
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
You want to learn some philosophy but know nothing? Right here, boys and girls! br / br /What other intro to philosophy gives you a basic, humourous, outline of: br /- Metaphysics br /- Logic br /- Epistemology br /- Ethics br /- Religion br /- Existentialism (Oh yeah!) br /- Language br /- Social and political br /- Realitivity br / br /Yeah, they are all in here. And so is: br /- Meta-philsophy (the philosophy of philosophy!) br /- A summa (!) of all you have learned through a stand up routine! br /- A hilarious final exam br /- Laugh out loud timeline of philosophy br /- A great glossary that is very humorous br /- An amazing list of the best philosophical books avalible. This is worth the price alone br / br /Now, the jokes are great sometime, good sometimes, and sometimes a little corney. So don't be fooled... this is not a joke book. It's straight up philosophy! br / br /[...]Bravo Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein! And thank you for this precious gift!
A Very Funny Book December 3, 2008
Stephen Williams (Hawthorne, California)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a very funny book. Cathcart and Klein manage to teach a little philosophy along with the humor. They seem to understand their subject and they make it fun for the reader. br / br /I enjoyed this book even more than their other, similar, book: br / br /Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington br / br /I enjoyed this book and wholeheartedly recommend it to others. br / br /
wonderful gift book November 16, 2008
Meredith Narissi (New York)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a wonderful book to enjoy and to give as a gift. It includes insights, wisdom, and great jokes!
|
|
|
| |
