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Kierkegaard in 90 Minutes  By  cover art

Kierkegaard in 90 Minutes

By: Paul Strathern
Narrated by: Robert Whitfield
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Publisher's summary

Kierkegaard wasn't really a philosopher in the academic sense. Yet he produced what many people expect of philosophy. He didn't write about the world, he wrote about life, about how we live and how we choose to live. His subject was the individual and his or her existence, the "existing being." In Kierkegaard's view, this purely subjective entity lay beyond the reach of reason, logic, philosophical systems, theology, or even "the pretenses of psychology." Nonetheless, it was the source of all these subjects. The branch of philosophy to which Kierkegaard gave birth has come to be known as existentialism.

In Kierkegaard in 90 Minutes, Paul Strathern offers a concise, expert account of Kierkegaard's life and ideas and explains their influence on man's struggle to understand his existence in the world.

©1996 Paul Strathern (P)2003 Blackstone Audiobooks

What listeners say about Kierkegaard in 90 Minutes

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great intros

Strathern provides a straightforward introduction to Kierkegaard, blending his philosophical development with the strange emotional trials and tribulations he suffered throughout his life. Strathern does best with Kierkegaard's struggles with the meaning of existence and nothingness and makes strong connections between Kierkegaard and Hegel, particularly the former's use of the dialectic between the aesthetic and the ethical that leads to Kiergegaard's famous leap of faith and the primacy of a subjective interpretation of the world. Of course, Strathern can only skate over the surface here, but he manages to whet the listener's appetite -- and hopefully go on to read the primary material. Whitfield's reading is clear and relaxed. Recommended to anyone beginning a study of existentialism or wanting an easy introduction to a man who influenced some of the greats of the 20th century, particularly Husserl, Sartre and Heidegger.

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13 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars

If you want to appreciate kierkegaards philosophy skip this title.

The author mocks as ridiculous the religion which was the focus of kierkegaards life. His reduction of the doctrine of the fall as some Freudian antipathy towards women is boring psych 101. The author at one point dismisses as “mad” kierkegaards belief in the mainstream doctrine that sin separates man from God because the author does not even have the most basic acquaintance with the Christian faith that informed them. Smug,self righteous loghorrea.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Cynical

More like: 90 Minutes on Kirkegard from Author Who Knows Hardly Anything About Kirkegard, Fails to Understand His Philosophy, Yet Dislikes Him Anyway

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

morbid.

I do not want to know this stuff.
I thought I was going to read about soorens writings, not his messed up sexual experiences.

I liked mr. k!
T.M.I.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Teach Me How To Exist!!

What did you love best about Kierkegaard in 90 Minutes?

It pushed me to question the meaning of my existense and what was I doing with it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kierkegaard in 90 Minutes?

Realizing that Soren really believed that by bringing ridicule upon himself, he would become a better Christian. Equally the last meeting he had with Regine and she asked God to bless him after all he but her through.

Have you listened to any of Robert Whitfield’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No but I look forward to it

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

That we need to take personal resposibility for what our individual existenses will end up meaning, especially thoose who are given time to define that existense. The other one is that we know we exist because we can doubt that we do. Wonderful paradox!!

Any additional comments?

I wish I could understand these things better, but it's obvious that todays thinkers dont delve nearly deep enough and I worry that we our losing a chance to understand the unknown and what humanity means as technology begins to rule. I believe that Kierkegard would be disturbed with how many people these days blame their state of affairs on the conditions surronding them not looking at there lives and accepting that they can define them regardless of that!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice Insight Into Kirkegaard's Thinking

Any additional comments?

The performance was fine, and did not distract at all from the material. The material feels like an insightful and well done summary of Kirkegaard; however, the author clearly has a high opinion of his views, and sometimes his condescending comments about his subject and attributions without foundation get irritating.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Informative but quick


An interesting outline of Kierkegaard’s background and development. Gives context to his theories and positions.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Review

Like most of Paul Strather’s works, this book is well written and is clear in presenting the complex thoughts explored and explored in its pages.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Weird tone of mocking Keirkegaard

Odd take for a context to tell the mans life and contribution to philosophy. But decent abbreviated intro none the less, if not swayed or distracted by the personality assessments throughout.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Series is exactly as it says.

Excellent short form material, highly recommended. Anyone who wants to either brush up or have a primer series, this is that material.

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