[To be printed in The Sacramento Book Review]

The joking-philosopher duo are back, and this time around they have delved deeply into the realms of man's mortality. In a wonderfully written, well-paced romp through the philosophy of Death (and Life), Cathcart and Klein cover the likes of Keirkegaard, Heidegger, Husserl, Sartre, Freud and William James—blended with public polls, scientific discoveries, and theories of the future (from cryogenetics to teleportation) . And whereas most books of ... (show more)

[To be printed in The Sacramento Book Review]

The joking-philosopher duo are back, and this time around they have delved deeply into the realms of man's mortality. In a wonderfully written, well-paced romp through the philosophy of Death (and Life), Cathcart and Klein cover the likes of Keirkegaard, Heidegger, Husserl, Sartre, Freud and William James—blended with public polls, scientific discoveries, and theories of the future (from cryogenetics to teleportation) . And whereas most books of this type tend to stick to the small playing field of what could be called the “an introduction to . . . “ syndrome, here the authors have actually created a lively read for “philosophers” of any level, type or education.

The jokes (and the running dialogue with neighbour Daryl Frumkin) are sharp and to the point, if not always that funny. The cartoons are well-chosen and sometimes clarify a point more than any words could. This is, of course, no “serious” guide to philosophy; but for those that share a mild-interest in the philosophy of life and death (especially from that of an Existentialist viewpoint), and for those that already know the material but would enjoy a simple, sometimes thought-provoking, refresh, this book can't lead you much astray. A worthy afternoon romp culminating in the most important of punch-lines of all: The Grim Reaper Himself. (show less)

[Printed in The Sacramento Book Review & The San Francisco Book Review: http://sacramentobookreview.com/philosophy/in-praise-of-doubt/]:

"In Praise of Doubt" attempts to lay down an ethical perspective of tolerance and open-mindedness as an antidote to any sense of religious, social, political (etc.) certainty or fanaticism. In a language clear and simple (if often articulated on the intellectual level of a child), Berger and Zijderveld advocate a moderate perspective whilst ... (show more)

[Printed in The Sacramento Book Review & The San Francisco Book Review: http://sacramentobookreview.com/philosophy/in-praise-of-doubt/]:

"In Praise of Doubt" attempts to lay down an ethical perspective of tolerance and open-mindedness as an antidote to any sense of religious, social, political (etc.) certainty or fanaticism. In a language clear and simple (if often articulated on the intellectual level of a child), Berger and Zijderveld advocate a moderate perspective whilst making a (weak) stand against the tyrannies of the age: Fascism, Fundamentalism, (non-democratic) Socialism, Post-modernism and (extreme) Relativism.

This may all seem noble, but nothing expressed within these pages can be granted as new, fresh, or revolutionary. In-fact, the book's failing point is that its near 200 pages aim only to defend the basic position of the “liberal” West. Naively, the authors seem to think that we have reached the very end of political and moral history: nothing else can be done, there is nothing better than the viewpoint that we should accept the multicultural attitude of the time, whilst acting against fundamental evils. Explicitly: on the surface, one should act as if he accepts and understands all modes of life; but underneath, he will still act upon the unquestioned, unchanged, ideology of the (post)modern age.

This is no exposé. Berger/Zijderveld have simply epitomised the attitude of modern intellectualism: stale and stagnant, it spends its days chasing its own tail in an attempt to gratify its own, now out-dated, ideas. (show less)