Michael Baur

A group of collected papers about the philosophy of the Beatles. Unlike many modern philosophy books, this one is written in accessible language, clearly intended for the layman. You wouldn't need to understand much philosophy to follow the book, though it would help to know at least a little about Plato's cave, since they talk about that without really describing it. Overall, it's a disappointment. It can be interesting, and not offputting, to see several different, and mutually exclusive, show more interpretations of the same song, because much of the Beatles music lends itself to conflicting interpretations. It is offputting, though, to see people interpret a song in a clearly backward manner by simply ignoring, and failing to quote, crucial parts of the song. This was especially true with "She's Leaving Home", in which the authors selectively ignored bits and pieces of the lyrics to force it into a preferred interpretation. And while it might be interesting to discuss the world as the Beatles saw it (at least through the lenses of these philosophers), the assumption that somehow or other we have to accept their vision as accurate, or somehow more worthy, than many other learned individuals, is, well, annoying. The Beatles examined different beliefs, explored new worldviews, some of them drug-induced, but they are not the ultimate authority. The contempt for actual learning was palpable in the book. And the writing was not good. It was at best pedestrian, and lapsed at times into the illiterate. Interesting so far as it provokes thought and discussion, but much too pretentious and full of itself to be good philosophy. show less

A collection of essays each being a philosophical analysis of some aspect of The Beatles lyrics, interviews, or life. Perhaps more accurately an opportunity for the authors to expound on some favorite philosophical points while using The Beatles' lyrics for fodder. Certainly must be a nice opportunity for the authors. A reader would have to be more interested than I in philosophy and philosophical arguments to make it through the book.