A brilliant introduction to western philosophy. If you're new to philosophy, this book gives you a quick run down of the big thinkers among European philosophers, and will help you choose whom you'd like to read more from. It doesn't go super in depth on anyone, but you can get a good feel for each based on what's shared. If you're looking for a little less on whom and more of the concepts, the second part of the book is what you're looking for. This brings in the different stances of multiple philosophers mentioned in part one to try and answer the big questions such as morality and free will. A great starter book!

Western Philosophy Made Easy: A Personal Search for Meaning by Dennis Waite is witty and refreshing. My first thought when I opened the book, even though I liked the titile was that it was a great miss. I would not be able to complete nor comprehend.
Dennis Waite, I would say, clears the lacks and failures of elementary books on philosophy choosing the right to the point quotes for each philosopher and easily brings us to the Conclusion through the Key Issues. Due to the concise first part I could not stop reading. The second part dealing with - Morality, Free Will, Belief, and Conscousness as Key Issues, seem summarized here.
While I was surprised with the implication that book lover and philosophy readers are regarded as unhappy, I find it rather overfamiliar and funny.
Being unhappy again means being human even when 'satisfied'.
Western Philosophy Made Easy: A Personal Search for Meaning by Dennis Waite, in my opinion, is a must-read.

The scope of the book is very wide indeed and you can tell the author feels comfortable talking about his subject matter. It's written in an approachable format - ideal for a beginner who is dipping their toe into the water of philosophy and wondering which areas might be of interest for them to explore. I for one am off to seek out Spinoza!

Great for a beginner - the net is thrown wide. And as a consequence of throwing the net wide, it is not deep. That's not a criticism, just an observation :)

Western Philosophy Made Easy: A Personal Search for Meaning by Dennis Waite is a survey of Western thought. Waite has been a student of Advaita for over 25 years and lives in Bournemouth, England. He has authored several books on Advaita, most recently the revised edition of The Book of One, and he is a trustee of Advaita Academy, UK.

Waite is a student of Hindu philosophy and one of the classic Indian paths to spiritual realization which makes him an interesting choice to write a book on Western philosophy. Waite suggests that many people turn to philosophy when life is not going well for them. It is an attempt to find direction or redirection in one's life. I studied political philosophy in college and graduate school so there is some crossover for me in Rousseau, Hegel, and even Plato and several missing in this work like Machiavelli. My own thoughts on philosophy are to find the why or how things are or should be than a personal direction. I tend to think there is a difference between philosophy and religion.

Waite does give a good summary of the history of philosophy and covers the major players in thought throughout European history. Although only briefly covered, Waite manages to give the high points of each philosopher. It may be a single idea or statement without much supporting material but it is done well enough for the reader to understand. The book offers a starting point for the novice and enough information for the reader to branch out on his own further reading.

What makes this book more than a survey course in philosophy is the second part of the book. This section covers Key Issues -- Morality, Free Will, Belief, and Consciousness. Waite uses the previously discussed philosophers to try and find answers and meaning to key issues.  The conclusion covers happiness and what it really means.  I do find his prejudgement of the reader a bit irritating:

Since you ‘chose’ to read this book, I suggest that there is
a high probability that you are not happy! It is an undeniable
fact that the majority of people today are dissatisfied with what
they perceive as being a mediocre existence.

Perhaps most read philosophy because "an examined life is not worth living." Some readers just want to know more, to see how man's thinking of himself and the universe has changed.  Philosophy is a system of logical principles used to reach a conclusion  (I think, therefore, I am.). Waite seems to blur the lines between philosophy and religion is work, but that may be more of his personal philosophy.  A good primer on Western Philosophy.