PhiLOLZophy

Critical Thinking in Digestible Doses

By: Chrissy Stockton, Sarah Heuer

Narrated by: Theresa McCarthy

Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

A popular question in philosophy is "How do I know I exist?" That seems really boring, though. How about, "How can I use logic to get over my ex?" If you really love wisdom, you love it in all situations - you don't need to be spoon fed unsolved problems in philosophy, because you're already analyzing the US Weekly you’re reading or your kinda significant other. Sarah Heuer and Chrissy Stockton are writers living in Minneapolis who are determined to do something more interesting with their philosophy degrees than talk about dead white guys. PhiLOLZophy: Critical Thinking in Digestible Doses helps its listeners think critically about vodka, religion, and sex - proving that brains do have more fun.

©2013 Sarah Heuer and Chrissy Stockton (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

A try to generalize a personal story to everyone

What disappointed you about PhiLOLZophy?

The authors told their personal story and experience, sometimes namedropping philosophers and theories, and made it sound like all life was like theirs. Drew conclusions based on this and tried to tell them as facts.

Has PhiLOLZophy turned you off from other books in this genre?

I might still read about philosophy, but not in this form of self experience philosophy.

Any additional comments?

Got this book on a promotion for free and noticed halfway through that it was mostly written for women. I would however not recommend this book to anyone since it is mostly a collection of personal experiences mixed with some blaming on religion and boy/girlfriends and trying to fit situations like religion and partners into simplified compartments.

I feel attacked

I felt attacked personally when reading this book so I stopped it around the 20-minute mark. From what I heard in the amount of time I listened was the author spoke hate towards philosophy.

condescending hypocrisy

Greek/Socratic philosophy would be great for teenagers - That doesn’t mean you have to take a teenager’s tone to reach them.

Horrible!!

What would have made PhiLOLZophy better?

If the writers had not tried so very hard to be breezy and light, this might have been better. Calling people assholes and swearing a lot isn't necessary.

What didn’t you like about Theresa McCarthy’s performance?

sorry- just hated it!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

anger at myself for buying it.

Any additional comments?

no

Not for me

While tarted nice it quickly becomes a paper on how to manage your relationships with your boyfriend or girlfriend and this is not that interesting.

enjoyable enough that I wish there were more

Would you try another book from Chrissy Stockton and Sarah Heuer and/or Theresa McCarthy?

I would

What other book might you compare PhiLOLZophy to and why?

various pop-philosophy (not in a negative way) books, and the better 'self-help' style books.

What does Theresa McCarthy bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good voice, she seemed to have really understood the material and inhabit the authors.

Did PhiLOLZophy inspire you to do anything?

It's gotten me interested in searching out other material by the authors.

Any additional comments?

During the first 10 minutes or so of the book I was a bit put-off by the modern 'hip' lingo; I soon got over that and ended up enjoying the irreverence that such language evokes. The book is very quotable -I found myself wanting to share lines from it with friends.
In the end this is a short, light, and funny book that distills philosophical ideas down to common-sense suggestions on how to look at relationships, love, life, sex, self esteem, etc.
I would suggest the book to nearly anyone -an interest in, or knowledge of philosophy isn't necessary at all. There are a few philosophy majors I'd suggest this to -ones that'd get a kick out of the mix of philosophy and the everyday life of many people.

It's actually just an angsty autobiography.

I thought it would be about fun, unique ways to consider philosophical concepts in the context of ordinary everyday life, but it's really just an angsty young philosopher's autobiography. She frames her story under chapter headings and numbered list titles that would make you think they would start out as a discussion from her life and then expand into a discussion of the concept as a whole, but that expansion just never happens. This material is really only relevant to the author or people who have had similar life experiences as her, but it WAS funny at some points.

Predictable, Drunken, mindless, rant ..me, me, me,

What disappointed you about PhiLOLZophy?

I have had a more intellectual conversation with a slobbering drunk. The drunk at least thinks outside the box. Picture a burned out cigarette butt in beer bottle after a bar pick up where you talked about yourself as you had sex. Critical thinking????

What do you think your next listen will be?

Jack and Jill since it is better story.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Why did I waste my money!

Painful to listen to

I tried a couple different times to listen to this book, but couldn’t get through it either time. Just garbage.

author was very condescending.

I didn't like this book the first five minutes I listen to it but promised I would listen to two chapters. The author was very much of "this is what we don't like instead of this is what we want to strive for in philosophy"