Heidegger Thinking: 'Being and Time' Explained

by Simon Critchley

An intelligent but approachable guide to the main concepts of Heidegger’s magnum opus, Being and Time, by one of the leading philosophers of our day.

Thinking 'Being and Time' Explained is a comprehensive, long-form deep dive into what is arguably the most significant philosophical work of the last century. Scheduled for release ahead of the 2027 centenary of Heidegger’s masterpiece, this volume by Simon Critchley (edited by Ben Olson) aims to explain the entirety of Heidegger's project in terms that are understandable and—most importantly—usable for intelligent, curious laypeople.

The book is structured into 18 episodes, each presenting a key concept such as Dasein, Being-in-the-world, Anxiety, and Ecstatic Temporality. Critchley avoids the "bazaar of pop philosophy," opting instead for a slow, intimate journey through Heidegger’s notoriously difficult architecture without sacrificing depth. The work originated as a popular podcast series recorded during the 2020 pandemic, capturing a cultural moment where themes of mortality and isolation were uniquely resonant. However, this text is a complete rewrite, clarified and expanded with a full scholarly apparatus for independent study.

Critchley’s central thesis is that "Being is time and time is finite." By stripping away Heidegger’s baroque jargon, he demonstrates how Heidegger’s insights into our "thrown open clearing of finitude" can change one's life. This book invites readers to master the "rhythm of existence" and move beyond the "cabinet of consciousness" to embrace a lived, worldly experience.

Thinking Heidegger is the essential guide for serious readers who intuit the importance of Heidegger’s thought but require a clear path through its legendary complexity.

Genres: Philosophy

536 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Simon Critchley (born 27 February 1960 in Hertfordshire) is an English philosopher currently teaching at The New School. He works in continental philosophy. Critchley argues that philosophy commences in disappointment, either religious or political. These two axes may be said largely to inform his published work: religious disappointment raises the question of meaning and has to, as he sees it, deal with the problem of nihilism; political disappointment provokes the question of justice and raises the need for a coherent ethics [...]