16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the better books of this series, 24 Feb 2006
By M Fendrich "sola fide" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bob Dylan and Philosophy (Popular Culture and Philosophy) (Paperback)
I have read several of the "Popular Culture and Philosophy" series and this is one of the better ones. That may be because I have been a fan of "all things Dylan" for more years than I care to remember. The chapters are well written and researched and are on topics that actually pertain to Dylan as these writers muse on Dylan's lyrics, writings and statements over the years. The fact that Dylan has changed over the years (maturing as an artist and human being) is readily noted in the book with the attendant fact that this makes it very hard to pin Dylan down on any particular philosophical system. Of course, not being able to "pin him down" is Dylanesque.
Much has been written about Bob Dylan over the years, some good, some horrible. This book would be a good addition to anyone that seriously considers the content and meaning of Dylan's poetry, that is until Bob gives us a philosophy textbook of his lyrics himself.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun stimulating pastiche, 8 Oct 2006
By EHinLA - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bob Dylan and Philosophy (Popular Culture and Philosophy) (Paperback)
I picked this book up on a whim - interesting title, attractive cover - and I skimmed a bit in the library. I am glad I took it home. I think you are likely to be a bit disapointed if you are looking for a book about Bob Dylan - and certainly there are plenty of others to choose from. As the Introduction to the book says, Dylan's work is used as a starting off point to look, with a philosophical perspective, at various themes in Dylan's work as a way of introducing philosphical concepts and methods to a broader audience. I don't get the impression that the idea is to be definitive, rather these generally easy to read essays are thought provoking and a rather fun way to learn about philosophy. While I have read all of the Platonic dialogues, I do not know very much about current trends in philosophy. I have particularly enjoyed the material in this book which touches on Post Modern philosophy, specifically as it relates to the Enlightenment ideals. There are a number of authors and sources which I plan to have a closer look at. In this way, as a fun introduction to what can only be described as a frequently stodgy subject (at least in its academic form) I highly recommend this book. You may not agree with all of the opinions expressed within, but they are nevetheless quite stimulating. After all, it is still fun to think - isn't it? ;) And what better excuse do you need to dust off some of your old Dylan LP's and give them another spin? Enjoy!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Incisive and Intelligent, 15 Nov 2007
By Alfons C. Salellas Bosch - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bob Dylan and Philosophy (Popular Culture and Philosophy) (Paperback)
This is a good book if your goal is to think about Dylan's oeuvre and/or from his lyrics. If you're looking for an eulogistic volume, escape this one. The book as a whole is very clear in its purpose, all the essays included in it are interesting. From ethics to metaphysics, through aesthetics, Bob Dylan and Philosophy (50% of Dylan, 50% of philosophy, which is really good) is also a nice teacher ressource. Finally, if you like Bob Dylan's work and you like reading philosophy, yes: this is your book. I enjoyed very much.