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Schopenhauer: Philosophy in an Hour
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 1 hr and 18 mins
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Schopenhauer: Philosophy in an Hour
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Summary
Philosophy for busy people. Listen to a succinct account of the philosophy of Schopenhauer in just one hour.
Arthur Schopenhauer, the ‘philosopher of pessimism,’ makes it clear that he regards the world and our life in it as a bad joke. However, if the world is indifferent to our fate it doesn’t thwart us deliberately – its façade is supported by what Schopenhauer calls the universal Will. He saw this as a force that is blind and without purpose, bringing on all our misery and suffering. Schopenhauer taught that our only hope is to liberate ourselves from the terrible power of the Will and from the trappings of individualism and egoism that are at its mercy.
This audiobook is an expert account of Schopenhauer’s life and philosophical ideas – entertainingly written and above all easy listening. Also included are selections from Schopenhauer’s work, suggested further reading, and chronologies that place Schopenhauer in the context of the broader scheme of philosophy.
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Editor reviews
Critic reviews
‘Well-written, clear and informed, they have a breezy wit about them . . .I find them hard to stop reading’ NEW YORK TIMES
‘Witty, illuminating, and blessedly concise’ WALL STREET JOURNAL
‘Each of these little books is witty and dramatic and creates a sense of time, place, and character . . . I cannot think of a better way to introduce oneself and one's friends to Western civilization’ BOSTON GLOBE
‘A godsend in this era of the short attention span’ NEW YORK TIMES
What listeners say about Schopenhauer: Philosophy in an Hour
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alan J Power
- 23-03-14
One miserable philosopher..
Would you consider the audio edition of Schopenhauer: Philosophy in an Hour to be better than the print version?
The audio has the advantage of being delivered by an accomplished orator. A really enjoyable listen.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Schopenhauer: Philosophy in an Hour?
Can't pick out one bit. The whole experience was like wading through a swimming pool of miserable treacle. Schopenhauer is so miserable, so fatalistic and misanthropic I needed to take a shower after having listened to his analysis, lest I become infected with his pessimism. Despite the depression, I strangely enjoyed myself.
What does Jonathan Keeble bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
His delivery is perfect. It felt like he was talking just to me about someone he actually knew on personal terms.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Disgusted but educated.
Any additional comments?
Schopenhauer is a pessimistic old soul, but we can at least thank him for giving birth to psychoanalysis. Freud, often cited as the originator behind the idea of the subconscious, can thank this wild-haired German philosopher for asserting the notion with his idea of world as representation and will. Freud definitely read Schopenhauer and would have been fascinated by his licentious lifestyle and his odd relationship with his father who committed suicide long before the thinker flourished.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ian
- 17-03-19
Well worth it
Easy, entertaining, descriptive and sharp.
A very enjoyable listen. Since fifteen words are ridiculously required by some imbecile I might as well speak nothing as a lie than lie about the truth.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Terry
- 08-08-19
More of a Biography
Quite a good listen, but more of a biography than a philosophical discourse. The view on Schopenhauer feels slightly bias, but is reasonable.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
- Richard Fairley
- 09-08-17
Diatribe
The writer, Paul Strathern, obviously thought the purpose of this series was to provide biographies of the philosophers concerned - as biography rather than philosophical explanation this is. Strathern patently loathes Schopenhauer and this is nothing more than a sarcastic diatribe and character assessment.
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3 people found this helpful