Aristotle for Everybody

By: Mortimer J. Adler

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's Summary

“Almost all of the philosophical truths that I have come to know and understand I have learned from Aristotle,” says Mortimer J. Adler. This easy-to-listen-to exposition of Aristotle’s thoughts about nature, human actions, and the conduct of life confirms convictions that most of us hold, though we may not be fully aware of them. This is because Aristotle’s philosophical insights are grounded in the common experience we all possess and because they illuminate the common sense we all rely on.

Philosophy is everybody’s business. It deepens our understanding of the knowledge we already have about ourselves, our society, and the world in which we live. With the proper guidance, all of us can experience success and great satisfaction from this effort of understanding, and in this, no better guide can be found than Aristotle.

©1978 Mortimer J. Adler (P)1993 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

“This is a self-help book in the best sense of the term.... The Aristotelian wisdom Adler affords us goes far beyond anything all the Norman Vincent Peales, Michael Kordas, and Wayne W. Dyers combined have to offer. Above all, Adler once again demonstrates that philosophy, real philosophy, can actually be useful.” ( Chicago Tribune Book World)

“Davidson has a wonderful voice. Far from common, it’s a genuinely erudite English actor’s voice. His sound is classy and classical.” ( AudioFile)

Incredibly well read

This is actually the first audio book I have listened to over and over (at least a few chapters 5 times). Chapters 12-15 (Audible's numbering) should be required reading for every member of human race. They deal with why we should live well, virtues and vices, making good choices. It amazes me, though it probably shouldn't, that Aristotle was thinking of things like the nature of love and friendship, family, government in 400 BC.

I also cannot say too much about Frederick Davidson, who has become my favorite narrator. He seems to completely understand the subject matter, which means we listeners are given a great advantage. He paces the text perfectly and puts the right emphasis on the complex parts which helps them sink in.

Don't be afraid of it. This really is an outstanding piece of work.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A great primer in classical philosophy

You either like Dr. Adler, or you hate him. A good experiment to tell whether or not you have a problem with intellectual hubris is to read one of his books and see how much it raises your blood pressure. He takes a very didactic tone, and if you don't like that, you'd better find somewhere else to get your primer in Aristotelian thought. Unfortunately, I think the choice of narrator may exacerbate this--the nasal tone with British accent and drawn out inflection may stir unconscious prejudices of snobbishness.

However, if you can swallow your ego for a few hours and listen to this book, you will be rewarded! It may even cause you to rethink some of your basic assumptions/ideas about reality. The chapter on logic and argumentation was great! (though, admittedly, I had to pause quite often to allow my brain to catch up with the various propositions, etc...)

I'm an Adler fan, so I admit my bias here, but I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to dive into Aristotelian conceptions of physics and metaphysics, ethics, politics, and theology.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good content, awful narrator

I really enjoyed the content of this book, but good grief the narrator sounds obnoxious. Luckily the book isn’t too long and I was able to power through it.

I’m a newb on Greek philosophy, so this was a nice intro for a dummy.

Great book.

This book is pure value. Aristotle is very well introduced here. I listened to this book before studying the primary text and I am very satisfied.

Excellent introduction to philosophical thinking.

Aristotle is represented well, concisely and in such a way as to train the listener to think more clearly.

One of the best summaries of Aristotle

It organizes Aristotle very well which the lecture notes that we have of his do not.
Purchase with confidence now

Condescending

The narrator, in combination with the writing style of Mr. Adler's, made the entire audiobook sound very condescending. If a book is meant to be written for everybody to understand, it should be narrated in a way that doesn't talk down to everybody.
The content was it's saving grace. I've been studying Aristotle for quite some time, and this smoothed out and clarified my understanding of his philosophical system.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Kill me now!

Would you try another book from Mortimer J. Adler and/or Frederick Davidson?

No

What was most disappointing about Mortimer J. Adler’s story?

Circular and rhetorical

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He is utterly annoying

What character would you cut from Aristotle for Everybody?

The narrator

Any additional comments?

So disappointed in this book. I tried to give it a chance, I really did, but after 2 hrs it made me want to gouge my ears out with a fork. I can't overemphasize how utterly annoying the narration is! And the writing? It just goes on and on in circles. Please make it stop!

0 of 3 people found this review helpful