Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar

Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar...: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes, Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Kline.

If you enjoy philosophy, read this book.

If you're looking for a book that's going to teach you the basics of philosophy, read a philosophy book first. Then read this book.

If you haven't the slightest interest in philosophy but you like a good joke, read this book.

From intelligent subtle jokes to downright groaners, Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar... is just plain funny. From the introduction, entitled "Philogagging": "The construction and payoff of jokes and the construction and payoff of philosophical concepts are made out of the same stuff. They tease the mind in similar ways....What the philosopher calls an insight, the gagster calls a zinger."

I laughed out loud reading Plato and a Platypus, literally, several times. It's great fun to read, and better still, the fun is witty and intelligent. It's one of those books that makes you snort and giggle and read the funniest bits out loud to the person sitting next to you. Even (or especially) the glossary is funny, and the timeline at the back of the book had me in stitches.

And I know this isn't nearly as important as the content of a book, but there's something about holding Plato and a Platypus that's just a sheer reading pleasure too. It's got a cool cover and pretty end papers. It's small and neat. There's no stupid book jacket to lose or wrinkle or tear. (I can't be the only one who hates book jackets.) The book is a gem visually too, and fits just right in the hand.

Visit the website: http://www.platoandaplatypus.com/
Read the the introduction online: www.platoandaplatypus.com/thebook.php

Watch the authors on YouTube.