Simply Philosophy by

Simply Philosophy

A clear, simple, graphic-led introduction to philosophy.

Are you short of time but hungry for knowledge? This philosophy book proves that sometimes less is more. Bold graphics and easy-to-understand explanations make it the most accessible guide to philosophy on the market.

Organized by major philosophical themes, each pared-back, single-page entry demystifies the groundbreaking theories of famous philosophers. The essential ideas of the major philosophical schools and traditions, such as empiricism, rationalism, dualism, and materialism, can be grasped in seconds.

Understanding Philosophy Has Never Been Easier

This smart but powerful guide cuts through the jargon and gives you the facts in a clear, visual way. Unlock the mysteries of more than 90 key philosophical ideas, from “I think, therefore I am” and Jean-Paul Sartre’s existential angst to Nietzsche’s Übermensch and Plato’s ideal forms.

Whether you’re a philosophy student or just a deep thinker with questions about the world, this indispensable guide is packed with everything you need to quickly and easily understand the basics.

Complete the Series:

Part of DK Book's exciting, brand-new reference series for those who are time-poor but keen to learn more. Discover the strange and fascinating world of physics in Simply Quantum Physics.

Reviewed by annieb123 on

4 of 5 stars

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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.

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  • Started reading
  • 27 January, 2021: Finished reading
  • 27 January, 2021: Reviewed