The author, Simon Critchley, needed to tone down the editorializing; his own professorial, high-handed voice definitely watered down the strength and profundity of some of his subjects. Also, the sense of "humor" utilized by the author makes it clear that the humor itself was an afterthought, that despite the intrinsically humorous subject matter (philosophers drowning in manure, or flinging themselves into volcanoes), he felt it necessary to include "jokes" as a professor would include in his lecture to the quiet, placative faux-amusement of his students. Now and then, the subject matter is too serious in print to warrant flippancy. It softens the voice even more, and I know the author meant for this book to be widely read and accessible, but it does no one any good to water down and soften the profound messages of 3000 year old philosophers in order to accommodate a more common ear. The strength and purpose of this book is in the facts, what the philosophers said, and how they died. It is not hard to relate one to the other, and I wish the author had kept his opinions and extrapolations and interpretations and associations to himself. Those who are interested in philosophy will buy a book for the merits of its philosopher(s); an example is Isiah Berlin's "Russian Thinkers." Serious, strong, and clear, with facts upon facts, in a very readable style. It sold quite well.
Otherwise, "The Book of Dead Philosophers" is informative, detailed, and a work of the author's own passion. I just wish the passion could have been a little more reverent, a little more pure, a little more evident in the scholarship department, even if Critchley is a professor.Buy The Book of Dead Philosophers (Vintage)!
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