This Book Will Make You Think: Philosophical Quotes and What They Mean

by Alain Stephen

Succinctly distills each of the great philosophers' best-known theories through their most famous quotes—from Aristotle to Wittgenstein We may have heard of Socrates, Plato, Descartes, and Nietzsche, but what did they believe? What were their famous aphorisms? This book explains as simply as possible the ideas behind the world's most highly regarded philosophers, examining their core beliefs and presenting choice quotes that succinctly distill their most famous theories. Written in an accessible and informative style, it will help readers get to grips with the complex concepts of philosophy through the ages, and help match the theories to the names.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, History, Self Help

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2013

Reviews

[Said AlMaskery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably the first book in Philosophy which I complete reading with a lot of joy and interest. The author made this an exploration of the topic through a selection of quotes from known names in this field (and other) with a brief intro to the philosophers and philosophy behind the quote.

Although I disagree with the title, because the book doesn't really make you think, I still gave the book a 5 star as it was a light read with easy access and insight into this fundamental tool for the enhancement of the human knowledge.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, enjoyable read. It didn't make me think very hard because each quote only had brief explanations. Sometimes I felt like the book was more of a short introduction into the different philosopher's lives and didn't leave enough room to explain the actual quote.

It's a good book if you want some basic knowledge on different philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle, Nietzsche, Kant, etc..

3 stars.

[Tyoni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cool for quotes and a little bit of info

[Thomas Edmund · Rating 5 out of 5]

In reviewing this I must confess a strange sense of 'selling out' reading a listicle type summary book on philosophical quotes - however as long as the book is of quality I think its still legit learning and helpful!

This Book Will Make You Think, provides 2-3 pages on each quote and provides a touch of biography, context and impact of the speaker and a summary of their seminal quote. So by no means do you feel super well versed in philosophy, but IMHO its actually quite a good grounding in some of the basics - especially if you're like me and don't actually know a tonne of the subject, but have heard of many or most of the names at various points (e.g. learning more about Kant, Plato and so on).

Just to be clear this book is of course 100.5 Philosophy (with a small touch of scientists, politicians and authors included too) but its a worthy read and well written!

[Beatrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought it at the British museum, very easy to read and light on the heart, overall a pleasant read.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did make me think. But not very hard. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

It provides a whistle-stop tour through many of the key philosophers, covers their biographical details and briefly explains the most important things they said – starting with a famous quote. Fair enough. Nothing against this. Stephen writes well enough, keeping it simple and page-turning.

I felt that there was a little too much focus on the philosophers' lives, as if that was what makes philosopher's interesting – their (often crazy) biographies. Also, some of the entries were a little... strained. For example, as much as I admire him, I wouldn't really consider Richard Dawkins a philosopher. Although Dawkins certainly brings a lot to the discussion of death with his Selfish Gene, we're just given one of his comments about not being cognisant of anything after death, and that's it.

All in all, this is blast through philosophers, and it's fine. The different sections – Happiness, Religion and Faith, etc. – worked well.

[Maher Razouk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"السعادة الكبرى لأكبر عدد من الناس، هي أساس الأخلاق والتشريع."
جيريمي بنثام (1748–1832)

كان جيريمي بنثام مؤيدًا (جنبًا إلى جنب مع معاصره جون ستيوارت ميل) للمدرسة الفلسفية النفعية، والتي تهتم في المقام الأول بفرع من الفلسفة الأخلاقية يسمى "الأخلاق المعيارية" (دراسة الصواب والخطأ في سلوك الفرد)، وتدرس النفعية الأسئلة الناشئة عن القيمة الأخلاقية للأفعال البشرية. بالنسبة لبنثام، يجب قياس قيمة الفعل وفقًا لفائدته، والتي تتحدد بدورها تعزيز السعادة وتخفيف المعاناة والألم. تقول بديهية بنثام الشهيرة حول «السعادة الأعظم لأكبر عدد من الناس» أن الاختيار الصحيح للفعل هو الذي يحقق أقصى قدر من الخير للمجتمع ككل. وبالتالي يتم تحديد فائدة الإجراء من خلال عواقب نتائجه.

كان جيريمي بنثام طفلاً معجزة، التحق بكلية كوينز بأكسفورد في سن الثانية عشرة وأكمل درجة الماجستير بحلول عيد ميلاده السادس عشر. على الرغم من أن بنثام درس القانون لاحقًا وتم استدعاؤه إلى نقابة المحامين في عام 1769، إلا أنه لم يمارسه رسميًا أبدًا، بل استخدم تدريبه القانوني كوسيلة لفحص النظام القانوني والجنائي البريطاني الذي اعتبره معيبًا بشكل أساسي. كانت نفعية بنثام الكلاسيكية وإيمانه بالحرية الشخصية هي التي ساهمت في تشكيل وجهات نظره الاجتماعية والسياسية، والتي كان الكثير منها ــ مثل دعمه لإلغاء العبودية، وإلغاء عقوبة الإعدام والمساواة في الحقوق للمرأة ــ يعتبر غريباً للغاية في ذلك الوقت.
.
Alain Stephen
This Book Will Make You Think
Translated By #Maher_Razouk

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea behind This Book Will Make You Think is to use a series of well-known quotes from (mostly) philosophers, grouped into different themes, and use them to introduce philosophy as a whole and give a brief overview of its history. Each of the major philosophical traditions is covered, from the Greeks and the Stoics to the idealists and the existentialists, and a couple of quotes from more modern non-philosophers such as Margaret Thatcher and Richard Dawkins are also included.

I liked this as a premise, and think that the book does a relatively good job in its aim. However, it could have been better if it were just a little longer. Each quote is dealt with in a few short pages, in which the author tries to provide both an overview of the philosopher's life and an explanation of what the quote means. This can only really be glossed over in a few pages, and so the ~200 page book is enjoyable and informative, but quite a light read for somebody looking to really understand the philosophy. I'd have preferred each quote to have maybe 5-10 pages of explanation, but maybe that's just me. 6/10

[Richard Hong · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book basically provides us with many philosophers' perspectives on issues we take for granted on our daily life, by which I mean something like happiness, faith, experiences and so on. This is a good book for those who are interested in philosophy yet don't really know where to start. On the flipside, in some chapters the focus lean on describing the biography of philosopher instead of argument itself.

[Dodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an enlightening read but overall interesting as an introduction to some philosophical thoughts. The bite-size chapters, each one just a few pages long and not linked to each other, seemed like a shopping list. However, they make the book easy to read, and something that you can just pick up and put down again, so I recommend it to those who are new to philosophy and don’t want to explore the topics too deeply.

Full review: https://dodireads.com/this-book-will-...

[Mj9566 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The introduction and conclusion are so good.
I loved what the writer did with this book, first the quotes then a brief information about the author and then an explanation of the quote. Although in some pages were all about the authors! The book is good.

P.S. The book doesn't really make you think

[Robin Dawes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puts many well-known quotes into their historical context and explodes modern re-interpretations. Makes no attempt to be encyclopaedic.

Achieved its titular goal by inspiring me to annotate it with the numerous points on which I disagreed with the author's summarizations of the philosophies touched on in the book.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good introductory book to philosophical thinkers and their respective concepts. Most topics covered off for some light to medium dinner party conversations, but any heavy thought is best to reference heavier books... well done to the author though

[Alannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has expanded my general knowledge of philosophers and philosophies. Really quite interesting. However, rather than sparking my philosophical mind, it handed me lots of information which I've forgotten most of. On the fence about this one.

[Keiarna Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful & simple way to discover popular & defining philosophical ideas. The book is full of quotes, & then goes on to explain the quote alongside the history of the great thinker from which it came from. I've been introduced to Susan Sotag, Jeremy Bentham, Georg Hegal, & over 40 others!

[curated crumbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really nice intro to philosophy for a beginner

"...as we have no knowledge of the afterlife, or what came before we came into being, how can we tell that we aren't, in fact, dead already?" - definitely made me think!

[Halit Cengiz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time.

[Malica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise and interesting.

[Ayesyah Abdullah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Best so IG worthy of quotes to appear deep in thought.

[Steve Freyne]

great book, read it in one sitting

[Margery C Wakefield]

Not too deep but certainly enlightening

[Bengi Şan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ziplenmiş bir felsefe antolojisi. Özellikle yazarın (çevirmen Bilge Ulusman’ı da kutluyorum) eğlenceli ve özgün üslubu içeriği okuyucu için kolaylaştırıyor.

[Jerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing more than high school 'Cliff's Notes'.

[Steve Osbourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

I have found the content of this book, challenging, thought provoking and life enhancing. My brain has been severely stimulated

[JESH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, enjoyable. Includes my favourite quote to avoid overoptimism ….Schopenhauer said everyone should swallow a live toad before breakfast so they’re sure that nothing worse will happen that day.

[Kiara Abarca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy and interesting read! I learned a lot about philosophers and the meaning behind their famous quotes. Opened my thinking and changed my perspective on certain aspects of life.

[Tabitha Calliope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book did make me think. I am in a philosophical mood at the moment, coming to a point in my life I have been anticipating for many years. It is great to read and centre yourself with the words and wit of great thinkers.

[Gabi Petersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really nice book to have it close to your bed and after you wake up, or before you go to sleep, ready a chapter. Each chapter contains a really famous quote and then it explains who said it and why.

[NoName · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ihan mielenkiintone ja hyvällätavalla yksinkertainen kirja. Lopussa en jaksanut lukea paljon, niin luin vaan isommat sitaatit. Tää ois kirja jonka voisin lukee uudestaan ja uskon että jos lukisin muutaman vuoden päästä näkisin kirjan eritavalla kun nyt.

[Daniel Mcintyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugely enjoyable read, a great introduction into the dynamics and starter points of philosophy.