Heads Up Philosophy

November 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-This basic overview of philosophy will draw readers in with its dynamic design, starting with the eye-catching cover, which includes quotes such as Rene Descartes's famous "I think, therefore I am" to pique interest. The book starts with a brief introduction and a chart that answers the question "What Do Philosophers Do?" Weeks organizes the material thematically by the branch of philosophy being highlighted ("What Is Reasoning?," "What Is the Mind?"), making the text ideal for browsing. Each section uses different font sizes, graphics and images, sidebars, and inset text boxes, enabling the author to convey a great deal of information without overwhelming readers. Weeks also integrates biographical sketches of selected male and female philosophers (Socrates, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and Hannah Ardent) with intriguing facts about each figure and their personal struggles, which makes the subject much more engaging for students. The text becomes repetitive at times, particularly in the first two chapters. However, Weeks maintains interest overall. A directory of famous philosophers is included, but there is no bibliography. A solid introduction to the subject.-Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KYp

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2014
Grades 8-12 Adolescence is a prime time for questioning truth, justice, freedom, God, and beauty. With the help of this entry in the Heads Up series, teens will learn the role philosophy plays in our daily lives. Divided into branchesincluding knowledge (epistemology), metaphysics, natural science, psychology, logic, and ethicsthe text is further divided into manageable chunks of information set off by questions such as, Is your mind separate from your body? Readers will quickly see, however, that seemingly straightforward topics like time, art, common sense, and artificial intelligence are multifaceted when viewed through a philosophical lens. From Socrates to Simone de Beauvoir, the book includes numerous big names throughout the explanations and in separate biography sections. In typical DK fashion, a highly visual format with graphics, text boxes, quotes, and pixelated photographs keeps the subject matter inviting. A Directory of Philosophers and a lengthy glossary are also useful features. Whether used to supplement government, science, math, or psychology coursesor to explore the universe's mysteriesstudents will find this a valuable resource.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)