Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes

Here’s an accusation – Sherlock Holmes never deduced anything.

When it comes to language, it all depends on what your definition of ‘is’ is.

And one for the existentialists – you haven’t lived until you think about death all the time.

Daniel Klein and Thomas Cathcart take philosophy to task with flair and gusto in this wise and hilarious treasure of a book. Lively, original, and powerfully informative, Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar... is an irreverent crash course through the great thinkers and traditions. It’s philosophy for everyone, from the curious layperson to the professor who’s seen it all. Klein and Cathcart have the knack of getting to the core of an issue in a crystal clear line, meaning there’s more room for jokes – good jokes, clever jokes, jokes that’ll have you laughing so hard the people nearby will shoot you strange looks. It’s the philosophy class you wish you’d had and finally, it all makes sense!


'A hoot'. (Times Literary Supplement)

‘Cathcart and Klein know their stuff, and wear their learnedness lightly…I can’t help but love this book, and I have been quoting liberally from it.’ (Philosophy Now)

‘What happens when you mix corny jokes, one-liners and vaudeville humour with some of life’s great lessons? You get an extraordinary read you’ll want to share with as many people as possible.’ (Orlando Sentinel)

‘A hoot!’ (Chicago Sun-Times)