Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy With My Kids book info and recommendations from remarkable people

Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy With My Kids

May 3, 2022

Categories:Non-Fiction

Some of the best philosophers in the world gather in surprising places—preschools and playgrounds. They debate questions about metaphysics and morality, even though they’ve never heard the words and perhaps can’t even tie their shoes. They’re kids. And as Scott Hershovitz shows in this delightful debut, they’re astoundingly good philosophers.Hershovitz has two young sons, Rex and Hank. From the time they could talk, he noticed that they raised philosophical questions and were determined to answer them. They re-created ancient arguments. And they advanced entirely new ones. That’s not unusual, Hershovitz says. Every kid is a philosopher.Following an agenda set by Rex and Hank, Hershovitz takes us on a fun romp through classic and contemporary philosophy, powered by questions like, Does Hank have the right to drink soda? When is it okay to swear? and, Does the number six exist? Hershovitz and his boys take on more weighty issues too. They explore punishment, authority, sex, gender, race, the nature of truth and knowledge, and the existence of God. Along the way, they get help from professional philosophers, famous and obscure. And they show that all of us have a lot to learn from listening to kids—and thinking with them.

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Rendors (6)

Tim Ferris Show Guest

Ryan Holiday

Author, marketer, entrepreneur

Tim Ferris Show Guest

This amazing new book . . . takes us on a journey through classic and contemporary philosophy powered by questions like ‘What do we have the right to do? When is it okay to do this or that?’ They explore punishment and authority and sex and gender and race and the nature of truth and knowledge and the existence of God and the meaning of life and Scott just does an incredible job.

Emily Oster

Economist and author

This book made me laugh and also think hard, sometimes on the same page. Highly recommended for anyone with kids, especially kids who wonder ‘Why?’

John Carey

Literary critic

An enormously rich and mind-expanding book, which anyone will gain from reading, especially parents.

Jordan Ellenberg

Professor of mathematics

In his witty and learned book Nasty, Brutish, and Short, Hershovitz intertwines parenting and philosophy, recounting his spirited arguments with his kids about infinity, morality, and the existence of God, and teaching half a liberal arts curriculum along the way.

Merve Emre

This is the only parenting book I would insist everyone read, whether they have kids or not. Hershovitz is a total delight—energetic, compassionate, patient, wise, and very, very funny, even when he is talking about weighty or difficult ideas. I'm grateful to have him as a model for how to talk to my children and how to think alongside them.

Pamela Druckerman

Funny and fascinating. Prompted by conversations with his two young sons, Scott Hershovitz walks us through some of philosophy’s stickiest questions: Does the universe go on forever? Can we really know anything? Is it ok to use swear words? Should you take revenge? Nasty, Brutish, and Short is an easy-to-read primer on how to discuss these profound topics with children, and how to think about them yourself.