"Well-written, clear, and informed, they have a breezy wit about them.
I find them hard to stop reading."New York Times

"Witty, illuminating, and blessedly concise."Wall Street Journal

Schopenhauer, the "philosopher of pessimism," makes it very plain that he regards
the world and our life in it as a bad joke. But if the world is indifferent to our fate, it
doesn't thwart us on purpose. The world's faade is supported by what Schopenhauer
calls the Universal Will, blind and without purpose. This Will brings on all our misery and
suffering; our only hope is to liberate ourselves from its power and from the trappings of
individualism and egoism that are at its mercy.

In Schopenhauer in 90 Minutes, Paul Strathern offers a concise, expert account of
Schopenhauer's life and ideas, and explains their influence on man's struggle to understand
his existence in the world. The book also includes selections from Schopenhauer's writings,
a brief list of suggested readings for those who wish to delve deeper, and chronologies that
place Schopenhauer within his own age and in the broader scheme of philosophy.


Paul Strathern earned a degree in philosophy at Trinity College, Dublin, and has lectured in philosophy and mathematics. A Somerset Maugham prize winner, he has written books on history, philosophy, and travel as well as five novels. His articles have appeared in numerous publications, including the Observer (London) and the Irish Times. He lives and writes in London.

Earphones Awards recipient Robert Whitfield was born in England and worked for the BBC for ten years as a radio news announcer and also worked as a narrator for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London. In addition to narrating for Blackstone Audiobooks, he involves himself in numerous stage-acting projects in the United States and Europe.