Philosophy becomes a little more entertaining – and perhaps a bit more approachable – with these books by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein.

Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar…

Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes
Call Number: BD31 .C38 2008
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Lively, original, and powerfully informative, Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar is a not-so-reverent crash course through the great philosophical thinkers and traditions, from Existentialism (What do Hegel and Bette Midler have in common?) to Logic (Sherlock Holmes never deduced anything). Philosophy 101 for those who like to take the heavy stuff lightly, this is a joy to read—and finally, it all makes sense!

Heidegger and a Hippo Walk Through Those Pearly Gates

Using Philosophy (and Jokes!) to Explore Life, Death, the Afterlife, and Everything in Between
Call Number: BD444 .C38 2009
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Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein now turn their attention to the Big “D” and share the timeless wisdom of the great philosophers, theologians, psychotherapists, and wiseguys. From angels to zombies and everything in between, Cathcart and Klein offer a fearless and irreverent history of how we approach death, why we embrace life, and whether there really is a hereafter. As hilarious as it is enlightening, Heidegger and a Hippo Walk Through Those Pearly Gates is a must-read for anyone and everyone who ever expects to die.