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The Philosophy Book

Big Ideas Simply Explained

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About this listen

An essential introduction to the history, concepts, and thinking behind philosophy that demystifies what can often be daunting subject matter, laid out in DK's signature style.

Are the ideas of René Descartes, Mary Wollstonecraft, John Locke, and Thomas Hobbes still relevant today? The Philosophy Book unpacks the writings and ideas of more than 100 of history's biggest thinkers, taking you on a journey from Ancient Greece to modern day. Explore feminism, rationalism, idealism, existentialism, and other influential movements in the world of philosophy.

From Socrates to Confucius to Julia Kristeva, The Philosophy Book breaks down difficult concepts in an approachable style. Cutting through the haze of academia and untangling complicated theories to show how our social, political, and ethical ideas are formed, The Philosophy Book contextualizes the information around time periods, innovative thinkers, method, and philosophical approach.

The Philosophy Book is a perfect and comprehensive introduction to a complicated and fascinating subject.

History Philosophy Metaphysical Morality Socialism Liberalism Capitalism Humanism Mathematics Middle Ages Social justice Ancient History

Critic reviews

"[The Big Ideas Simply Explained books] are beautifully illustrated with shadow-like cartoons that break down even the most difficult concepts so they are easier to grasp. These step-by-step diagrams are an incredibly clever learning device to include, especially for visual learners." – Examiner.com

"This graphically lively presentation, which also features color reproductions, colorfully framed pull quotes, photos, and a variety of fonts, offers students an overview of the ideas and concepts generated by people who have spent their lives "wondering about the world." – School Library Journal

"In The Philosophy Book, the ideas and thoughts of more than one hundred of the most influential philosophers from the ancient world through today are presented in a succinct, yet highly readable, format. From all corners of the world and from different traditions and approaches to philosophy and the art of reasoning, the contributors to this excellent book highlight the impact of each philosopher on his society and how it affected the development of subsequent ideas. Students of philosophy or those interested in human thought will thoroughly enjoy this book. This volume is an excellent addition to a general philosophy collection." – Voice of Youth Advocate/VOYA Magazine

All stars
Most relevant
Overall very good info and interesting. Sometimes difficult to keep track of all the important names, dates and how they flow together.

Overall good, sometimes hard to keep track

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I enjoyed the way the book puts the various theories and philosophers in context. I think this book could be of interest to anyone. It might be of particular interest to those studying for higher degrees.

Enjoyable and useful

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If you are looking for the perfect philosophical book then this is it! It’s jam packed full of info and things that I never knew. The only thing I struggled with was not listening to it all night.
Hope you found this helpful.🙃

Easy to listen to and a nice voice,

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This is not only the best philosophy book I've listened to, but the best I've ever digested altogether. A perfect introduction to philosophy. Works highly, highly recommended.

Best book I've ever listened to.

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boring style. poor naryation. waste of a credit. i should be allowed a refund. do yourself a favour and try another book

boring style. poor naryation. waste of a credit.

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