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Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar . . .: Understanding Philosophy Through
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Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar . . .: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes Paperback - 2008

by Thomas Cathcart; Daniel Klein

Here's a lively, hilarious, not-so-reverent crash course through the great philosophical traditions, schools, concepts, and thinkers. It's Philosophy 101 for those who know not to take all this heavy stuff too seriously. (Philosophy)

Summary


This New York Times bestseller is the hilarious philosophy course everyone wishes they’d had in school

Outrageously funny, Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . . has been a breakout bestseller ever since authors—and born vaudevillians—Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein did their schtick on NPR’s Weekend Edition. Lively, original, and powerfully informative, Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar . . . is a not-so-reverent crash course through the great philosophical thinkers and traditions, from Existentialism (What do Hegel and Bette Midler have in common?) to Logic (Sherlock Holmes never deduced anything). Philosophy 101 for those who like to take the heavy stuff lightly, this is a joy to read—and finally, it all makes sense!

Watch a QuickTime trailer for this book.

From the publisher

Originally published: New York : Abrams Image, 2006. Includes bibliographical references and index.

Details

  • Title Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar . . .: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes
  • Author Thomas Cathcart; Daniel Klein
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Reprint
  • Pages 224
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Penguin Books, New York
  • Date 2008-07-01
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Bibliography, Illustrated, Index
  • ISBN 9780143113874 / 0143113879
  • Weight 0.39 lbs (0.18 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.06 x 4.91 x 0.61 in (17.93 x 12.47 x 1.55 cm)
  • Ages 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Library of Congress subjects Philosophy, Philosophy - Humor
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2008008999
  • Dewey Decimal Code 102.07

Media reviews

“The zaniest bestseller of the year.”—The Boston Globe

“I laughed, I learned, I loved it.”—Roy Blount, Jr.

About the author

Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein studied philosophy together at Harvard in the last millennium. Since then Danny has written comedy for Lily Tomlin, Flip Wilson, and others, and published scores of fiction and nonfiction books-- from thrillers to entertaining philosophical books, such as his London Times bestseller Travels with Epicurus and his most recent book, Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change It. Born in 1939, Danny persists in denying his mortality. He thinks it's a joke.

Thomas Cathcart studied theology and managed health care organi­zations before linking up with Danny to write Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar, Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington, and I Think Therefore I Draw. He is also the author of The Trolley Problem, or Would You Throw the Fat Guy Off the Bridge? and There is no God and Mary is His Mother: Rediscovering Religionless Christianity

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by Cathcart, Thomas; Klein, Daniel

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Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar ... : Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes
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Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar ... : Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes

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