Ask a Philosopher

A great explanation of life's most interesting questions. The author bases the philosophy questions on real questions that have been asked of his team when they set up "Ask a Philosopher" booths. It was interesting to not only learn about the most common questions but the type of people who ask them and why. There was a little more science involved in the explanations that I expected but overall the author presents philosophy in a clear and understandable manner for the reader.

Ask a Philosopher is a book filled with questions that are on people's minds. When Philosopher Ian Olasov sets up a booth, these are the questions people ask him. By answering them in print, he provides a beginner overview of both philosophy and human nature. I'd use this with upper Middle Grade or high school kids as part of a human geo class, or another humanities-based course.

This was a quick and really fun read. Despite confronting a few serious ideas in a small way it really stayed light, which was super commendable. Most importantly, I learned a ton, which I cherish! I've read similar books and don't think it blew me away with originality which is why I docked a star, but would definitely recommend picking this up. I'd especially recommend this as a gift for family members/ friends etc that are not huge readers, or just want a fun book to dive into to learn something new

This book was super interesting! I really enjoyed reading the philosopher's answers to many popular questions about life, love and purpose. I wouldn't call it the most useful book, but it's a good one to crack open when you just want to sit and think about things or have a laugh.

Why should I read this book?

If you like to think about the great questions in life - then this book is for you. But if you’re interested in every day basic questions this book is for you too. This covers from the meaning of life to why not everyone loves jelly beans, but in a philosophical way. Every chapter starts just like this review, with a question as a prompt and a few paragraphs trying to discuss the topic in order to get to a (provisional) answer.

As for why you should this book, it is interesting to discuss some of life’s most intriguing questions. Even if philosophy does not provide a clear cut answer for most of those questions, it will at least make you think about them in a different way. Or just think about them, really, because some of the questions are things you didn’t even know they could be posited as a philosophical question.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for giving me a free electronic galley of this book in exchange for feedback.

This book was fun!

A group of philosophers sets up a stand in a public place with a sign that says "Ask a Philosopher."

This book collects some of the most popular questions, and some of the most interesting ones, each one followed by an essay attempting an answer to the question.

I liked the author's actual answers, and also the way the book moved quickly from one question to another, so I never got bored, even when one specific question wasn't really doing it for me.

This is a fun book to see what questions people ask and how a philosopher would reply. I was not in agreement with some of the answers I read. I will be honest, I did not read them all. I feel this is a book to pick up from time to time, read a couple questions, and contemplate the answers. I also feel this is a interesting book for an educator to use to get student's minds working. Even if the answers are not shard, you can ask the questions and get conversation going. I look forward to continually reviewing this book over time.

Interesting concept... A team of philosophers set up a table in a busy area with a sign that said "Ask a Philosopher". People came up and asked questions (some original questions, some from a list). This book contains 50+ of those questions and answers.

The questions range from big ("what is the meaning of life?") to small ("is ketchup a smoothie?"). Some questions seemed very pertinent ("are people born straight or gay?") and some less so ("how do you know that 1+1=2?").

In any case, it was an interesting journey into philosophical thought and practice, if not entirely pragmatic.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my opinion. My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley. #AskAPhilosopher

This is a good book. The title sets this work up nicely. Varied presuppositions regarding philosophy and/or philosophers abound. Olasov's approach attempts to reach the spectrum of those presuppositions by adding a relatively fresh, novel methodological approach to the corpus of philosophical pondering--an approach embodied by his 'Ask a Philosopher' booths.

If you're interested in learning a bit of philosophy and critical thinking skills while reading a fairly light, oftentimes entertaining read, then this might be a book for you.

DM

Within a few sentences, Ian Olasov's witty, down-to-earth, and stunningly readable prose captured my attention and did not let go until I got to the end of ASK A PHILOSOPHER. Coming out of a real-life "Ask a Philosopher" booths set up around New York City, the book poses important questions and provides insights, anecdotes, and approaches that only the most approachable philosophers could give. This book was a shocking, wonderful surprise, not at all the wisdom I expect from the typical, self-appointed, lofty geniuses pondering matters us mere mortals cannot comprehend through the fog of our dumb minds and drooling, pedestrian lives. Not at all. It is charming, witty, incredible fun and got me thinking about things I have never thought before. I had a rollicking good time with smart, accessible, and essential ideas. The highest, highest appreciation to Olasov, his publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Ask a Philosopher is a superb book as quite simply the one complaint I generally hear about philosophy is that to a layperson it is inaccessible, and despite having read a large number of philosophy books over the years I agree that the general population can often have issues understanding and comprehending exactly what is being discussed. Of course, many people with varying degrees of interest and prior knowledge of philosophical concepts ask themselves the same questions about our existence and purpose for living to name only one and perhaps the most asked question of them all. Just because a person may lack the capacity to fully understand the often lyrical, convoluted and/or complex ways in which these writings usually lean does not mean they shouldn't be privy to the conversation surrounding that particular question or whatever question they may have.

Here, the author has made an accessible and overwhelming stint as a successful street vendor of philosophical answers into a book and explains everything in terms anyone can understand regardless of their education. Rather than treating the topic of philosophy as esoterical and much misunderstood, Ian Olasov opens it up to a wider audience than ever before and manages to make it a fun and entertaining experience along the way. It is a collection of answers to the philosophical questions on people's minds—from the big to the personal to the ones you didn't know you needed answered. From questions that we all wrestle with in private to questions that you never thought to ask, Ask a Philosopher will get you thinking. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Thomas Dunne Books for an ARC.

I was really intrigued by the title alone as it brought me back to my college days as a student sitting with others asking and answering wordly questions (which I now see was rather pretentious in nature as we provided only badly thought out infantile responses lol). I like the author's practical approach to some ideas that are thought to be fantastical; such as time travel. While the author was right in the beginning of the chapter that the answer is "likely a bit disappointing" he dug even further into the motivation of individuals who were seeking backwards time travel which was intriguing. Overall, this is a great book that will definitely get the wheels turning in your head about certain topics.

*An advanced copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review.

In this very strange year, a lot of people are contemplating the meaning of life. Ian Olasov's new book, Ask a Philosopher, has come along at the perfect time. He shares some of the common questions he's gotten while running his "Ask a Philosopher" table in New York City, such as "does God exist?", "do we have free will?", and "what's the best form of government", and gives answers from a philosophy perspective. He freely admits that some of these answers are contradictory, but that the universe is also full of contradictions. Interesting reading for anyone who enjoys thinking about big questions. Should start interesting conversations, too.

Super cool read. Interesting and I love the humor I felt as I read it. Fun questions, with answers posed, you be the judge. Nice to just sit and take in others opinions. Ya know?

This was a nice, easy read that explored many of the questions we have as humans that are sometimes afraid to verbalize, or don't even know we need to verbalize! The humor and wit found in the answers of this introductory philosophy book make it an enjoyable read. This book makes you reflect on the bigger picture of life if you will. Will definitely recommend it.