Derrida: Philosophy in an Hour

By: Paul Strathern

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

Length: 1 hr and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Philosophy for busy people. Listen to this succinct account of the philosophy of Derrida in just one hour.

Jacques Derrida’s ‘deconstructionism’ is nothing less than an effort to destroy all ‘writing’ by demonstrating its inevitable falsehood. The writer writes but does not know what he is writing. Derrida argues that all texts have their own hidden agenda and contain their own metaphysical assumptions – the writer’s very language inevitably distorts what he thinks and writes. The ‘truth’ of all our knowledge is thus undermined; post-structuralism arrives.

This is audiobook is an expert account of Derrida’s life and philosophical ideas – entertainingly written and is above all easy listening. Also included are selections from Derrida’s work, suggested further reading, and chronologies that place Derrida in the context of the broader scheme of philosophy.

©2013 Paul Strathern (P)2013 HarperCollins

Critic reviews

”Well-written, clear and informed, they have a breezy wit about them . . .I find them hard to stop reading.” (New York Times)

”Witty, illuminating, and blessedly concise” (Wall Street Journal)

”Each of these little books is witty and dramatic and creates a sense of time, place, and character . . . I cannot think of a better way to introduce oneself and one's friends to Western civilization.” (Boston Globe)

”A godsend in this era of the short attention span.” (New York Times)