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Aristotle For Everybody: Difficult Thought Made Easy

Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 9 years, 8 months ago to Books
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Aristotle For Everybody: Difficult Thought Made Easy
Author, Mortimer J. Adler Philosophy
192 pages ISBN-13: 978-0-684-83823-6, ISBN-10: 0-684-83823-0

The title of this book is perfect. Aristotle’s books are very difficult and not suited for most beginners.
This book has distilled the most important and profound thoughts of one of the greatest thinkers of all
time to under two hundred pages. The language is easily understood by anyone with average reading skills
and a basic English vocabulary. It is a great primer.

Having read Aristotle, suffered through the difficult syntax, odd usage of language, constantly reaching for
dictionaries and necessarily gathering meaning from context, this book was a breath of fresh air. It was like having a
good professor that could help make sense of the difficult and pique your interest in what would otherwise be drudgery.

Aristotle was recognized by Rand and the reasons are clear. Aristotle shared much of Rand’s perception
of the world, the capacity of our senses, reason, epistemology and metaphysics. He has been called the Father of
Logic for a good reason. Rand had high regard for Aristotle’s book of Logic (Organon). Of course Aristotle offered
much more and this book touches on and integrates his wisdom from many of his writings in a way that everyone can
relate to.

If you enjoy Rand and wish to examine a source of inspiration for her, pick up this easy read and enjoy.

Respectfully,
O.A.


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  • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 8 months ago
    Thank you! The timing couldn't be more perfect. I'm reading works of Aristotle right now, and ponderous, brilliant!, but ponderous as well.

    With profound gratitude,
    NMA

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    • Posted by 9 years, 8 months ago
      Hello NMA,
      My pleasure. I read The basic Works of Aristotle ( http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Aristotle-Mo... ) years ago without a primer and found many parts to be quite difficult. I had to read many parts several times sometimes skipping ahead and sometimes going back several sentences to piece together the meaning from context...constantly checking various dictionaries. At almost 1500 pages of relatively fine print it was a daunting challenge. I am not great on retention of details, but I manage to gather the general wisdom and like to think I retain a bit of it. I am proud to have it on my done list and in my library, but I would not recommend it as a starting point for anyone just starting their philosophic journey as it may discourage. Aristotle for Everybody... is a better starting point. There are many cross references to the original works in the expanded index.

      Considering Aristotle lived from 384- 322 B.C. his timeless wisdom and foresight was an amazing accomplishment and even today remains virtually unmatched.
      Happy reading!
      O.A.
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      • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 8 months ago
        Thank you for your thoughtful insight. I have found myself doing what had done, and stopping for spans of time, just to mull over what I had read.

        I am ordering this forthwith, and eagerly anticipate its arrival, and my broadened knowledge. :-)

        In anticipation,
        NMA
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