Rating: 
Summary: Best introductory Philosophy book i ever read
Review: I have taken 15 units of Philosophy in college but this book easily gives me more input for thought than all the classes I took combined. It is written in a CLEAR, CONCISE, EASY to READ, and ENJOYABLE MANNER. Yet, it does this without watering down the discussion on important philosophical issues. I dare you to find a better introductory philosophy book than this one! I don't see the point of those who criticize Mr. Morris for having biases. On the contrary, I think he has presented both sides fairly. Anyway, if you don't agree with his philosophical conclusions, you could always reject it with your own counter-arguement. Isn't this is what philosophy is all about? Philosophy is a process! A good philosophy book challenges you and this book definitely does. I just wished he could have been one of my philosophy professors 7 years ago. It would have made my studies much easier. It is no wonder that he is the most popular professor and his class has the most enrolled students in his university. Buy the book!
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Summary: An easy introduction to philosophy
Review: I read this with the hope that it would give me an overview of the major philosophical schools of thought developed over the centuries, and to an extent it did. What I primarily took away from reading this was a new knowledge of the major questions that philosophy hopes to address. While you won't walk away from this book knowing all there is to know about Kierkegaard, Kant and Aristotle, you will have a better idea what it is that those who study philosophy think and talk about. I possessed the ignorant person's skepticism about philosophy, and I am glad I read this book if only because I now know there's more to philosophy than rhetoric. The major concern that I have about this book is about the format. The Dummies format is not entirely suitable for this subject matter, even though the title is admirably suited to attracting people who want to know something about philosophy without biting off more than they can chew. The Dummies format works best for software applications, in that it is set up to point out useful tips, warnings and key points to the reader. I quickly came to realize that whenever I encountered one of the Dummies icons, such as "warning", that I wasn't going to necessarily be in danger of entering dangerous territory, but rather that Morris was explaining a concept that was flawed in some way. Similarly, the "great idea" and "tip" icons are sort of misleading, and to me, distracting. On the other hand, chapters are broken down into meaningful and concise sections, which makes the subject matter that much more manageable. I particularly found the chapters on belief in God well constructed and fair. As a practicing Christian, I approached this part of the book with some trepidation, expecting something that I might find hard to take, but I was glad to see that Morris handles the topic in a fair-minded fashion. I enjoyed learning about the various major arguments for Theism and comparing them to my personal justifications for my faith. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who will take the time to read it and be willing to think through the ideas that Morris presents. He has a talent for bringing concepts "home", and using his own experiences and anecdotal evidence to illustrate the topics he presents.
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Summary: Ever wanted a good overview of philosophy for a beginner?
Review: If so, this is the book for you. Thomas Morris has done an excellent job bringing the vast topics of philosophy down to a level that a beginner could understand, without sacrificing the central themes. In "Philosophy For Dummies", Dr. Morris covers the main themes debated throughout the history of philosophy, starting from what philosophy is, to more central issues, like our ability to know, what is good, freedom vs. determinism, soul vs. materialism, theism vs. atheism, life after death, meaning of life, then he finishes the book off with a quick overview of the ten greatest philosophers and the ten greatest questions. Throughout the process of analyzing these issues, Morris always presents both sides of the arguments and always let's you decide for yourself which side to take. The book is written in a conversational style and is broken up into independent sections, making the book much more easy to read and use as a book to go back too. There are also great quotes, sprinkled throughout the book, and the format of the "for dummies" books make it easy to see Dr. Morris's central points, and hints at ways of understanding the issues. The author is obviously very knowledgeable about the topic, and has a great way of explaining the material.
There is only one caution I can give; that is that the author clearly made this book "for dummies". It is clearly intended for the novice philosopher, someone who knows very little about philosophy. The less knowledgeable you already are about philosophy, the more you will like this book.
Rating:
Summary: More then meets the eyes
Review: Philosophy for Dummies is an invitation to journey into the world of philosophy and self-discovery using "well the wisdom of those who have come before us."
While reading 'Philosophy for Dummies' I was faced with the challenge of reexamining and questioning my own views on such topics as 'What is the Good', 'Are We Ever Really Free', and 'Is There a God' to name a few. Each chapter building on the last, in an easy to read format, created a foundation on which to ask the ultimate questions - "what is the 'Meaning of Life" and how can we find Happiness?
In the process of reading 'Philosophy for Dummies' I learned that by opening myself to questions and really listening my vision of 'who I am' opened to a deeper truth leading me to re-discovered what I really believe.
It's no easy task seeking the answers to these questions, and Tom Morris leaves it up to you to determine your own truths, yet perhaps just asking the questions is a start and 'Philosophy for Dummies' is a good guide for anyone who wishes to journey there. "Every decision we make either keeps us on the path of truth that is right for us, or takes us down a contrary road. We should remember that fact in everything we do". - (T Morris) "Go with the truth you have, and let it carry you into collision with the hard rocks of 'life', and then you'll learn something" - Austin Farrer
Rating:
Summary: Useful Stepping Stone to Learning Philosophy
Review: Thomas Morris has done a good job of making philosophy understandable, although he necessarily only scratches the surface of most philosophic topics.
Morris covers the basics of what philosophy is and why it should be studied, then moves into some basic philosophical questions. He covers how we can know things, what 'the good' is, freedom, death, God, and the meaning of life, addressing several popular takes on each issue as well as his own personal take. Morris then closes with a list of ten great philosophers and ten great philosophical questions.
Morris' style is conversational, making the book easy to read. He interjects humor throughout, ensuring the reader doesn't take anything too seriously, while still providing convincing arguments.
If you're looking for a basic primer on philosophy, this is an excellent start. While it won't get you deep into any particular philosophy, it should provide you with better grounding to move on to more in-depth works.
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Summary: Too religious.
Review: It's clear where this author's beliefs lie. An introductory book should have less bias.
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Summary: Take the Title Literally
Review: I was a bit disappointed in Tom Morris's "Philosophy for Dummies®". I expected it to be an intelligent offering of some difficult but rewarding thoughts of the best minds of the last 3,000 years, presented in layman's terms. Well, I was partly right. The layman's terms are there. Or maybe layboy or laybaby would be a more accurate word. Dr. Morris went overboard in his attempt to present a difficult subject to the average Joe, and he wound up patronizing and talking down to us (albeit unintentionally). The book is 346 pages long and could easily have been edited to quite a bit less than half that length if Dr. Morris had not belabored every single detail. Invariably, he introduces an idea with a brief description of its main points, then expands on each point in a separate two-page section, giving endless examples, anecdotes, and quotes to support it. In most cases, the brief description is sufficient. The author's attempt to make his presentation more interesting with the use of humor is admirable. Unfortunately, Tony Kornheiser he ain't. His jokes are corny, and he never fails to follow each outrageous comment or claim with, "Just kidding." I felt like I was reading a penpal letter written by a juvenile. He used that particular two-word sentence an astounding 1,742 times, an average of five times per page! (Just kidding. I didn't really count, but it sure seemed like that many.) Most of the ideas presented in "Philosophy for Dummies®" are basic enough that the majority of readers who have done any thinking whatsoever on their own will have already "discovered" these simple concepts themselves. If it was Dr. Morris's intention to make us feel as smart as the greatest thinkers of all time - Socrates, Plato (whose name, the author so helpfully informs us, is pronounced "Play-toe"), Aristotle, Kierkegaard - he was nearly successful. I suspect, however, that Dr. Morris had an entirely different audience in mind when he penned this book: not the average Joe, but the average sitcom-watching mushbrain. Unfortunately, one of those gentle souls isn't likely to pick up a book unless it has full-color panels and the text appears in little balloons above the characters' heads. Don't let the title mislead you. It means exactly what it says.
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Summary: Engages the reader--as philosophy should
Review: In the introduction, Tom Morris, a professor of philosophy at Notre Dame University, explains that in his classes, he attempts to teach philosopohy with humor and to use both ancient and modern examples. This approach is perfect for a book in the "...for Dummies" line as it is usually what this line of books attempts to do as well. In the case of this book, Morris succeeds very well. Morris swings between a light and humorous narritive and a more serious tone frequently, making for an interesting read. Furthermore, I enjoy the way he divids up his topics/chapters: Often in the title, he asks a question, then takes you through the history of philosphers who have tried to answer the question. Often, Morris "stresses out" the reader in the process (especially in "How do we know that we know anything") section as he (the reader) struggles along with a seemingly logical argument that runs counter to prior beliefs. While many have argued that Morris argues positively for the existence of God in the book, I would light-heartedly say a) havn't you learned after reading this book is that philosophy is about thinking hard about important questions and proving the conclusions you've come to? Write Morris a letter or write your own book about your views on God b) this is just an introduction to philosophy. It's intended more for people to get a bit of a handle on an intimidating subject--bringing philosophy to the masses, if you will and c) even if you believe the author's treatment of God is poor, the rest of the book overshadows this point. In all, I recommend this book, especially to those of you who, like me, have friends that are philosophy majors and you have trouble keeping up with them in conversation because you don't get the following joke: Rene Descartes walks into a bar. The bartender says, "do you want a beer?" Descartes replies, "I don't think so..." then he disappeared. (I've been sitting on that joke for a while and couldn't find any other way to get it out)
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Summary: Where Was This Book When I Needed It?!
Review: I found Tom Morris' Philosophy for Dummies book a very helpful starting point for digging into philosophy. It seems like the kind of introductory college course I wished I had had years ago. I had one philosophy course in college that was aweful. The professor stood in front of the class the whole semester and ranted about the stupidity of people who believed in God. We didn't learn much philosophy. It both turned me off to philosophy as an academic subject, and made me look deeper into the nature of God. Some of the reviewers of this book seem to feel the same way about Philosophy for Dummies. But to attribute manipulation to the author is a stretch. So they don't agree with everything the book says. Are they only looking to have their own views validated? From my perspective, it sounds like they are writing from the same script. Tom Morris' book should not be the only philosophy book someone should read. It provides enough of a basis of understanding to venture off into new areas of learning. From it and his other books, I have begun to read Greek philosophy for the first time in my life, and am loving it. So, read the book, but don't stop there, keep reading philosophy and make up your own mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Poorly Done Considering Expectations
Review: Some time ago I sat down and read through "Philosophy for Dummies" and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy." My intentions were to find a book that I might recommend to friends who have a passing interest in the subject, so that I might encourage their understanding and gain more people to discuss ideas with. Not only was I disappointed with "Philosophy for Dummies" but I found the presentation to be both offensive and underhanded. While appearing at first to be an introduction to the greater subject, it turns out to be a packaging of the author's own beliefs... heavily skewed and full of personal bias. Whole movements are passed over with little or nothing said, other than a dismissive comment from the author, who apparently does not think them worth mention because he does not agree. This is HARDLY proper for what is supposed to be an introduction to the subject. The novice reader is left with a lopsided, limited presentation that while written well enough, leaves him needing to go buy ANOTHER book so he can actually BE introduced to what this title led him to believe he would be -- the subject of philosophy in a wide ranging sense. In surfing Amazon tonight, I decided to look at the reviews for this book ("Philosophy for Dummies"). I was VERY glad to see that a number of people saw the same thing as I did in this. Pro-God or not, is not the point. The glory of philosophy is all the different views, and this is what an introduction should present. A book like this should be written with the intention of exposing the reader to the subject of philosophy itself, not just the author's step by step program of -- "This is what I think, so I am going to show you why you should think this way too. Don't worry about the other stuff, it's just nonsense, so we won't say anything much about that." "Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy" is a much better choice if we were to compare the two. It presents a wide variety of thoughts and explanations, leaving each person to think for himself and later search out more of what he finds speaks to him. The layout is well organized, and the progression of ideas fit well together, allowing the novice reader to not only see the varying concepts, but how each stage of thought fed into the next, and how differing theories challenge one another. The reader is exposed to the ideas themselves, as presented by the given philosophers, not as packaged by a single author who is spending less time introducing and more time selling his own views. Concepts are not examined in great detail, but then again, that is not what this book is trying to do. While "Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy" is not the best introduction to the subject, it is a good, concise volume of work. As its intention was to be just that, it does its job well. There are better introductions available, but these are often much longer with ideas being developed in greater detail... something that while would be sought by a true student of the subject, might turn off those just looking for a surface exposure. The examinations are cursory at times, but this is again understandable considering the breadth of the subject in relation to the attempt to introduce as much as possible in a limited space, in simple terms. If you are choosing between the two...
Buy "Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy" if you want an introduction to the subject.
Buy "Philosophy for Dummies" if you want an introduction to Tom Morris. Actually... check out "Thinking Through Philosophy" - Horner and Westacott - Cambridge University Press. The format and organization of this book is different from the two spoken of above, feeling less "rushed" though still concise and accessible... and the style of introduction is good for both casual readers and those seeking to later move into a deeper study.
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