This is another book I read years ago, and now cannot recall what it was like. ( )

A resident of New York City and philosophy professor at Rutgers University, Colin McGinn was educated at Oxford University and has written broadly on his own philosophy and that of others. He has authored works such as The Mysterious Flame and The Space Trap., and has written for the New York Review of Books, The London Review of Books, and other notable publications. This particular book chronicles his personal journey of becoming a philosopher, while incorporating a number of philosophic concerns he has worked through during this journey. His writing is agreeable through a pleasant clarity of expression that often makes it feel as though you are sitting down with the man in a comfortable setting as he relays his story. Throughout the book, he cleverly and elegantly presents the act of contemplation as a delight of human experience, never soaring off into overindulgence or allowing the philosophical challenges he is worried with to conquer his charming tale. This works to grant the book an appeal to readers who may not be familiar with philosophy in general, or those who are new to it, and take it in as a story of becoming, rising from humble origins, working through identifying one's true passion, and how that discovery can be accommodated with practical concerns. It is this, and the honest delivery and sometimes humorous character of events, that makes this a pleasantly human read, as well as intellectually satisfying.

The book will find the most appeal among students of philosophy, especially those who have struggled with the impractical aspects of devoting one's educational career to this area of study. Seasoned philosophy students may find it lacking in serious philosophical engagement, but will surely be able to relate to the experiences of working one's way through college and beyond. This is an autobiography as well as a kind of introduction to general philosophy. It is a smooth and easy read, yet thought‑provoking in a fashion not common to philosophic accounts. He provides his ideas as well as those of his philosophical influences such as Descartes and Russell, while consistently keeping a balanced perspective on life. This is a refreshing read that will certainly bring some sense of comfort to new philosophy students, as well as provide an element of reminiscence to those who are deeper into a similar journey.

Interesting look into what it means to be a professional philosopher, but overall only touches on many of the ideas. I liked the autobiographical parts but the 2nd half of chapter 4 and the first part of chapter 5 were not very engaging. Too metaphysical for me, but this could also be due to my lack of understanding/interest. Chapter 6 was interesting as he introduced some ideas from Cognitive Science. The ending of the book became somewhat unfocused as he discussed many personal items of very narrow interest.

- He is at odds with Daniel Dennett (pg. 193)
- Nice description of Satre’s Existentialism
- Noam Chomsky was a major influence on him
- Briefly discusses Cognitive Science & Hilary Putnam
- Metaphilosophy
- Conciousness may not be understandable by humans

"I favor tolerance, individual freedom, and kindness to others. Above all, I favor thinking clearly and open-mindedly about the issues" pg. 196 ( )

a good read and something to think about ( )