Review by Choice Review
Samuelson (Kirkwood Community College) intends this volume as an introduction to philosophy. He avoids the rigor found in contemporary analytic philosophy, choosing instead to extol the virtue of engaging in philosophical thought. The book examines some of the most persistent problems in philosophy; unfortunately these topics are bogged down by the autobiographical nature of the author's writing style. It is truly a shame that Samuelson has such reverence for doing philosophy but buries the lead within literary quotes, poetry excerpts, and stories of his personal experiences. The book comprises four parts, each consisting of two chapters followed by a "short interlude" that often feels like a non sequitur, and sometimes feels more like pop psychology than philosophy. The first part is a rough introduction to philosophy. The second discusses two ancient theories of happiness. The third asks whether knowledge of God is possible. The fourth is an investigation of the nature of good and evil. This reviewer wanted more from this book: a passionate case to be made for studying philosophy, an in-depth look at the scope of philosophy, and a glimpse at contemporary philosophy. --William Simkulet, Prince William Sound Community College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* As a freshman in college, Samuelson fought with classmates over whether philosophy was essential for a meaningful life. Fortunately, he's still fighting. Defying the widespread perception of philosophy as an academic specialty, Samuelson urges readers to join him in a humanizing intellectual adventure, one that begins with Socrates' frank profession of ignorance. Awakened to a sense of wonder at the mysteriousness of human experience, readers interrogate alternate forms of happiness, reflect on the perilous freedom in suicide, ponder the origins of evil even examine the reasons for boredom. Even the simple act of eating an apple yields surprising new meaning under the philosophic gaze. Though Samuelson regards radical doubt as an essential step toward truth, he pushes beyond skepticism, exploring the paradoxes of Christian faith with Pascal, tasting the ecstasy of Sufi mysticism with al-Ghazali. Predictably, Samuelson takes titans such as Aristotle, Epictetus, Descartes, and Kant as guides for critical passages of his philosophic journey. Despite Plato's misgivings about their influence, Samuelson also draws inspiration from poets. But perhaps no one teaches more than Samuelson's own diverse college students a wine-loving bicyclist, a sleep-deprived housewife, a monk-faced factory worker. These seemingly ordinary people underscore the most important lesson of all: philosophy matters for everyone.--Christensen, Bryce Copyright 2014 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Iowa City-based Samuelson (philosophy, Kirkwood Community Coll.) sets out to prove that philosophy is not only for academics who specialize in the discipline but instead is approachable to anyone looking for answers to life's difficult questions. He asserts that "this book is about the journey of philosophy itself, an intensely personal journey that has become the journey of human civilization." Samuelson uses the stories of nontraditional students he taught at Kirkwood Community College along with his own experience to prove his claim that the subject is accessible and useful. These stories are intermixed with past philosophers' theories on the purpose of inquiry, the possibility of the knowledge of God, and views on good and evil. Samuelson's account is open and heartfelt; through his writing readers can tell that he cares not only about the subject of philosophy but also about relaying its importance to both his students and a wider, general audience. -VERDICT Those looking for an introduction or practical account of philosophy will find this work highly rewarding.-Scott Duimstra, Capital Area Dist. Lib., Lansing, MI (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
