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

by Thomas Cathcart

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!

And now, you can read Daniel Klein's further musings on life and philosophy in Travels with Epicurus and Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change it.

• ISBN10: 0143113879
• ISBN13: 9780143113874
• Publish Date: 24 June 2008 (first published 1 July 2007)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Penguin USA
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 224
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780143113874

Reviews

[katjah]

I thought the book was fine, it had (mostly) funny jokes that did illuminate the philosophical concepts discussed, but I did think that the pace was a bit too fast. They race through so many different displines and strains of philosophy that some are a bit under-explained, which makes it hard to really feel like you have a basic understanding of it now. But all in all, it's a fun and accesible introduction to philosophy. 

[MurderByDeath]

A light, funny way to introduce yourself to the fundamentals of philosophy, or refresh what you were taught in school.  I had a really hard time not reading a lot of this out loud to MT, and while he claimed prior knowledge of a few of the jokes, they were all new to me (I think, I don't remember jokes very well).   

If you're looking for anything resembling an in-depth look at the different schools of philosophy, this isn't the book for you, but otherwise, I'd recommend it as both entertaining and informative.