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Western Philosophy in Simple German: Learn German the Fun Way with Topics that Matter

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***FOR LOW- TO HIGH-INTERMEDIATE LEARNERS***

***Black and White Interior Edition****

Improve your German and expand your vocabulary with topics that matter.

When it comes to mastering a foreign language, reading around your interests makes all the difference. But finding books designed for language learners can be hard! This book fixes that. For the first time, you’ll learn to improve your German while reading about the main concepts and key figures of Western philosophy.

“I love Olly’s work - and you will too!” - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers

Told through short, manageable chapters in intermediate German, you’ll become confident in the words, phrases and expressions you need to speak about the topics you care about.

Written in a conversational, easy-to-follow format that makes the concepts easy to understand, Western Philosophy in Simple German explores the main traditions of Western philosophers from Aristotle to Descartes, and from Kant to Nietzsche.

But that’s not all! Philosophy has many real-life uses, and this book explores the way in which you can implement them in your life while improving your vocabulary, comprehension and fluency in German.

Here’s what you’ll 25 chapters written in conversation format, so you can learn about Western philosophy without the struggle of reading an academic text.Helpful chapter summaries at the end of each chapter to help you understand the text.Chapters that are carefully written to be accessible for intermediate learners (CEFR B1-B2), so you can read purposively, at your level.Word lists with English definitions in every chapter, so you can get instant translations of any difficult words. This means you can focus on enjoying the history rather than wasting time in a dictionary.(Kindle and Paperback only).
Created by Olly Richards, language teacher and author, Western Philosophy in Simple German gives you an experience in real German that you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll be better prepared for using German in the real world, speak with more confidence, and take a giant leap towards fluency in German!

SCROLL UP AND GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!

“[Olly’s] techniques have made a world of difference. I was able to learn more in 9 months with his techniques than I did in the 6+ years in school” - Courtney Baird, successful language learner

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 24, 2023

62 people are currently reading
34 people want to read

About the author

Olly Richards

159 books274 followers

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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Profile Image for Joseph Hirsch.
Author 50 books134 followers
March 30, 2024
When it comes to learning a foreign language using an immersive and engaging technique, there is no teacher better than Olly Richards. And there is no better series than his “Topics that Matter.” I don’t just use his books to brush up on my German, but to limp my way through Spanish (trilingualism is hard for an adult American to master.)
“Western Philosophy in Simple German” was a worthy addition to the language learner’s collection, but it’s far from my favorite in the series. I take no issue with the content, as it is a vast and ranging subject that’s near impossible to summarize in a couple hundred pages. Dealing with Platonic ideals and the Critique of Pure Reason and the synthesis achieved through thesis and antithesis in simple, direct language is not an easy task. But Mr. Richards makes it look so, and is to be commended for that.
No, my problem is with the arrangement, the format, the way the chapters run on. I much prefer the basic summaries (like in “Revolutions of the World”) as opposed to the conversations between the various fictional characters.
I also like to take frequent breaks, so subdividing the chapters into clear sections also makes it easier to decide where to knock off for the day. Here, though, things are not arranged so that it’s easy to find a place to pause when you’re finished. Most of the time I just read the conversations all the way through, which sometimes took a lot longer than I’m used to spending on just this one task. I like, for instance, to supplement this practice with using flashcards, watching movies, and a handful of more hands-on workbook exercises in the “Practice Makes Perfect” series.
That’s a minor quibble (read any of my reviews on here, and you’ll see they’re full of such quibbles) and others may feel differently. If you want to learn about the history of philosophy—from Attic antiquity to twentieth century existentialism—while also boning up or starting your language journey from scratch, you could do much, much worse. Recommended.



Profile Image for Conor Rafferty.
7 reviews6 followers
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January 14, 2025
A subject that I love

This is one of my key German language learning resources over the past six months. I bought the book in both Kindle and Audible formats so I can listen as I'm relaxing or commuting, but then I have the text as a reference when I run into words and phrases I don't recognise from the audio. The diffuculty level is just beyond my comfort level, Krashen's famous "i+1".
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