The Book of Dead Philosophers

“Tophilosophizeistolearnhowtodie.”—Cicero;assassinatedbyorderofMarkAntony“Onewhonolongeriscannotsuffer.”—Lucretius;suicide,allegedlydrivenmadbyalovepotion“Lifeissolitary,poor,nasty,brutish,andshort.”—Hobbes;diedinbed,age91Inthiscollectionofbrieflives(anddeaths)ofnearlytwohundredoftheworld'sgreatestthinkers,notedphilosopherSimonCritchleycreatesaregisterofmortalitythatistragic,amusing,absurd,andexemplary.Fromtheself-mockinghaikusofZenmastersontheirdeathbedstothelastwordsofChristiansaintsandmodern-daysages,thisirresistiblebookcontainsmuchtoinspirebothamusementandreflection.InformedbyCritchley'sacuteinsight,scholarlyintelligence,andsprightlywit,eachentrytellsitsowntale,butcollectedtogethertheyadduptoaprofoundandmovinginvestigationofmeaningandthepossibilityofhappinessforusall.