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_misanthropologist_'s review against another edition
3.0
The amount of information is rather scarce, but well packaged.
A few things I didn't understand:
1) Why not group the philosophers into schools/movements (more visibly)? It would make the information much easier to grasp, especially since this book is supposed to be an introduction to philosophy. 'Maps' with groups of opposing philosophies briefly explained for every time period would be great as quick summaries (eg stoicism/cynicism/epicureanism/skepticism or rationalism/empiricism). I feel like it makes more sense to understand a certain direction rather than an individual.
2) I completely fail to understand how you picked the content. How can you talk about Parmenides without explaining Zeno's paradoxes? Kant without his categorical imperatives? I know this book is supposed to be short and simple, but I think there are some crucial bits missing.
3) Similarly, I don't fully get your choice of philosophers. Especially when it comes to females. What about Hypatia of Alexandria, Ayn Rand or Mary Warnock (to mention just a few)?
I really wanted to like this book, but it just frustrated me.
A few things I didn't understand:
1) Why not group the philosophers into schools/movements (more visibly)? It would make the information much easier to grasp, especially since this book is supposed to be an introduction to philosophy. 'Maps' with groups of opposing philosophies briefly explained for every time period would be great as quick summaries (eg stoicism/cynicism/epicureanism/skepticism or rationalism/empiricism). I feel like it makes more sense to understand a certain direction rather than an individual.
2) I completely fail to understand how you picked the content. How can you talk about Parmenides without explaining Zeno's paradoxes? Kant without his categorical imperatives? I know this book is supposed to be short and simple, but I think there are some crucial bits missing.
3) Similarly, I don't fully get your choice of philosophers. Especially when it comes to females. What about Hypatia of Alexandria, Ayn Rand or Mary Warnock (to mention just a few)?
I really wanted to like this book, but it just frustrated me.
benrogerswpg's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly found this book just another okay book.
I was expecting more quite frankly.
I would sooner recommend reading one of my favorites, [b:The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy and Human Nature|56756745|The Daily Laws 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy and Human Nature|Robert Greene|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1635018776l/56756745._SY75_.jpg|88704158]
3.2/5
I was expecting more quite frankly.
I would sooner recommend reading one of my favorites, [b:The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy and Human Nature|56756745|The Daily Laws 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy and Human Nature|Robert Greene|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1635018776l/56756745._SY75_.jpg|88704158]
3.2/5
andakruetani's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
5.0
The perfect read for a quick introduction to philosophy or for a quick refreshment.
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Simply Philosophy is a concise survey course in philosophy and philosophical concepts collected and curated by the DK editorial group. Due out 23rd Feb 2021 from Penguin Random House on their DK imprint, it's 160 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
The book is arranged in categories with numerous short capsule essays covering diverse related points. The editors have grouped the material around broad categories: our interaction and exploration of our world and our place in it, on being and language, mind and matter, right and wrong, politics and power, and logic and argument.
The essays are clearly written in accessible language which will be easily read and understood by the average reader. Despite being very short (most are 1 page long), they provide some surprisingly subtle insights into philosophical concepts and schools of thought. The short subject pages are enhanced with graphics and illustrations to help the information be retained by the reader.
This volume won't obviate the need for a textbook for studying philosophy formally, but it will provide a good intro to basic concepts in everyday language which will be understood by most readers. This would be a good choice for students looking for a supplementary text, adult readers who want a condensed and concise broad survey of concepts and language used in philosophy, and readers who are curious about philosophy for whom a short introduction is sufficient.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Simply Philosophy is a concise survey course in philosophy and philosophical concepts collected and curated by the DK editorial group. Due out 23rd Feb 2021 from Penguin Random House on their DK imprint, it's 160 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
The book is arranged in categories with numerous short capsule essays covering diverse related points. The editors have grouped the material around broad categories: our interaction and exploration of our world and our place in it, on being and language, mind and matter, right and wrong, politics and power, and logic and argument.
The essays are clearly written in accessible language which will be easily read and understood by the average reader. Despite being very short (most are 1 page long), they provide some surprisingly subtle insights into philosophical concepts and schools of thought. The short subject pages are enhanced with graphics and illustrations to help the information be retained by the reader.
This volume won't obviate the need for a textbook for studying philosophy formally, but it will provide a good intro to basic concepts in everyday language which will be understood by most readers. This would be a good choice for students looking for a supplementary text, adult readers who want a condensed and concise broad survey of concepts and language used in philosophy, and readers who are curious about philosophy for whom a short introduction is sufficient.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
jada's review against another edition
4.0
very wide-reaching intro to philosophy. my top 10 philosophers are the following:
1. thomas aquinas
2. ludwig andreas feurbach
3. soren kierkegaard
4. henry david thoreau
5. william james
6. john dewey
7. bertrand russell
8. hannah arendt
9. jean-paul sartre
10. albert camus
1. thomas aquinas
2. ludwig andreas feurbach
3. soren kierkegaard
4. henry david thoreau
5. william james
6. john dewey
7. bertrand russell
8. hannah arendt
9. jean-paul sartre
10. albert camus
rami_anadani's review against another edition
4.0
By no means a comprehensive review of philosophical branches, but I don't think any book with succeed in making the reader acquainted with the most major ideas as good as this book does in 350 pages. A great introduction to philosophy. As expected, it focuses on western philosophy and falls severely short on other philosophies, but again, you can't ask for more in these few pages. Great writing, great illustrations. A fun read to those interested.
nerdy_scholar's review against another edition
5.0
This was a tour de force of the history of human thought. One of the best reads of my entire life. I came out of this reading experience more appreciative of the value of philosophical thought and debate.
tragedeke's review against another edition
3.75
overall pretty good as a basic introduction to philosophers and philosophical thoughts but it focuses too much on white men from western europe: there are a handful of women, people of colour or even people not from western europe versus the majority group in the book