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Summary: The unexamined life is not worth living.
Review: What a fantastic book! I just wish that it had existed when I was much younger- it would have saved me a great deal of time on my own personal journey. I always thought that intelligent, truly educated, individuals naturally applied the great wisdom teachings to their daily lives. I mean, that is why we are here isn't it? We truly come to obtain wisdom through philosophy (the love of wisdom) by applying it in the struggle of earthly life. I didn't realize that this had come to be rare and exceptional in the modern world. There is even a name for it now- philosophical practice. What a marvelous concept- students of philosophy helping each other to apply the lessons of the perennial teachings in their daily lives. Of course you can do it alone, as I did, but the author points out that it is nice to have a knowledgeable second party to make sure that you didn't miss something- and that you are truly applying reason and not rationalization. The use of case studies for specific problem areas is quite informative: seeking a relationship, maintaining a relationship, ending a relationship, family life and strife, work, midlife crisis, the reason for morals and ethics, finding meaning and purpose, and gaining from loss. The way that individual philosophers and their ideas are introduced is quite well done (theme, refrain, greatest hits, and a thumbnail abstract of their core ideas.) The basics of their systems are outlined nicely, which helps in deciding which to pursue later. I was amazed that so many of the great thinkers that that I had painstakingly discovered over the years were included. If you would like to delve a little deeper into the various philosophers without tackling the source works I recommend _Basic Teachings of the Great Philosophers_ by S.E. Frost.
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Summary: Tell it like it is Doctor Marinoff ! !
Review: Yes, Dr. Marinoff is right. Too much Prozac is being dispensed and too little philosophy is being discussed. Especially in this information-aged pluralistic culture, some elevation from the emotional diatribes of tedious talking heads, pompous pundits and TV demagogues is most overdo. In theory this democratization of culture is supposed to allow philosophic dialogue and synthesis of thought. Instead, electronic and water cooler sound bites convince us that if we do not have a perpetually adolescent sense of hedonistic joy, fragrant armpits, smooth skin and the universal sex appeal of Adonis we are in need of pharmacological rescue. So What? Well I'll tell you what: We are pathologizing and medicalizing what has historically and correctly been treated as philosophical challenges and the normal vicissitudes of life that, once embraced and overcome, result in character development, open mindedness and , dare we say it, wisdom. If all you get out of this book is that insight believe me you've spent your $10.00 well. (What's $10? ...the cost of a cheap lunch?!)Ok skip it, eat your $10 fast food burritos, pop a Prozac or six pack and turn on The Simpsons. The life of an intellectual slave is at least seemingly less challenging, (that is until you run out of Prozac!)
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Summary: good title though
Review: You would think someone with so much knowledge of the canon of philosophical thought would have something wise or even useful to offer. Unfortunately this book comes off as Ann Landers writing all night after reading Philosophy for Dummies, justifying wildly innacurate opinions with a pastiche of aphorisms employed as backup.
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