Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . . carries the subtitle Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes. However, the subtitle could just as easily read Understanding Jokes Through Philosophy; nothing would change. This delightful little book by Harvard philosophy majors Cathcart and Klein is the funniest serious book I’ve ever read. Had I known that philosophy could be this much fun, my life might have veered onto a radically different course.

The authors delve into various philosophical disciplines, including metaphysics, logic, epistemology, ethics, religion, and existentialism, among others. They ask relevant questions, explore plausible answers, and use gags, cartoons and other humor to provide examples of the philosophy at work.

For instance, in explaining deductive logic, Cathcart and Klein tell this joke to demonstrate a way to screw up a deductive argument by basing it on a false premise:

An old cowboy goes into a bar and orders a drink. As he sits there sipping his whiskey, a young lady sits down next to him. She turns to the cowboy and asks him, “Are you a real cowboy?”

He replies, “Well, I’ve spent my whole life on the ranch, herding horses, mending fences, and branding cattle, so I guess I am.”

She says, “I’m a lesbian. I spend my whole day thinking about women. As soon as I get up in the morning, I think about women. When I shower or watch TV, everything seems to make me think of women.”

A little while later, a couple sits down next to the old cowboy and asks him, “Are you a real cowboy?”

He replies, “I always thought I was, but I just found out I’m a lesbian.”

There are pessimists (the glass is half empty), optimists (the glass is half full), and rationalists (the glass is twice as big as it needs to be); Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . . uses brisk writing and engaging humor to explain philosophical differences and connect the reader with various philosophical facts and fallacies.

Insight, wisdom and humor served on the same platter make for a particularly delicious feast for the mind, with the satisfaction of life's lessons learned a just dessert. Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . . is a book you’ll want to read a second time, just to prolong the pleasure.

After majoring in philosophy at Harvard, Tom Cathcart worked with Chicago street gangs (not sure if he was pro-gang or anti-gang), dropping in and out of various divinity schools along the way. Dan Klein, also a Harvard philosophy major, wrote jokes for comedians, was a stunt designer for Candid Camera, and continues to write thrillers. Both are married and live in New England.

Review by Phil Hanson, for FSB Associates