Marx in 90 Minutes

“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.”—Katherine A. Powers, Boston Globe. “Well-written, clear and informed, they have a breezy wit about them....I find them hard to stop reading.”—Richard Bernstein, New York Times. “Witty, illuminating, and blessedly concise.”—Jim Holt, Wall Street Journal. These brief and enlightening explorations of our greatest thinkers bring their ideas to life in entertaining and accessible fashion. Philosophical thought is deciphered and made comprehensive and interesting to almost everyone. Far from being a novelty, each book is a highly refined appraisal of the philosopher and his work, authoritative and clearly presented.

In Marx in 90 Minutes, Paul Strathern offers a concise, expert account of Marx's life and ideas, and explains their influence on man's struggle to understand his existence in the world. The book also includes selections from Marx's writings; a brief list of suggested reading for those who wish to push further; and chronologies that place Marx within his own age and in the broader scheme of philosophy.

KLIATT

These two additions to a growing series on philosophers (30 and counting) have the same strengths and weaknesses of others in the series. All the books follow a uniform structure: life and works, writings excerpts, and chronology sections. The books come in around 90 pages and have rudimentary indexes. They are all concise, clear, informed and well written. I'd prefer seeing books for students that separate life and works into two chapters and ones that summarize less and provoke more. If I were going to have any one of the 30 available for students, it would be the Marx book. (90 Minutes series) KLIATT Codes: SA—Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2001, Ivan R. Dee, 90p. bibliog. index., $6.95 each. Ages 16 to adult. Reviewer: Daniel J. Levinson; History & English Teacher, Thayer Acad., Braintree , September 2001 (Vol. 35 No. 5)

Paul Strathern is author of the popular and critically acclaimed Philosophers in 90 Minutes series. Highlights from the series include Nietzsche in 90 Minutes, Aristotle in 90 Minutes, and Plato in 90 Minutes. Mr. Strathern has lectured in philosophy and mathematics and now lives and writes in London. A former Somerset Maugham prize winner, he is also the author of books on history and travel as well as five novels. His articles have appeared in a great many newspapers, including the Observer (London) and the Irish Times. His own degree in philosophy came from Trinity College, Dublin.