Plato and a Platypus

Just as with wine sometimes a small book is best.

I read Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein a couple of years ago and since the authors have a new book out I thought it would be good to re-read this one. Subtitled "Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes" the book is small, quick, sharp and hilarious.

The jokes are sometimes corny and groaners, but the points made about what they illustrate are eyebrow arching if not totally unique. Both authors were philosophy majors at Harvard.

Want to understand a little existentialism? Try this joke.

A man is making love to his best friend's wife when they hear the husbands car in the driveway. He dives into the closet. The husband comes in and goes to the closet to hang up his jacket and sees his best friend standing there naked and says, "Lenny, what are you doing here?"

Lenny sheepishly shrugs and says, "Everybody's gotta be somewhere."

No need to go on, but if you are up for a three hour 'educational laugh' this is a good book.

Their new book? Aristotle and an Aardvark go to Washington, Understanding Politician Speak. With seven weeks to go before the U.S. elections I can't think of a better way to approach it than through another book from these two authors.