Busy students need the themes and concepts of coursework explained in simple, easy-to-understand language. This book addresses nineteen major Western philosophers, from Plato to Sartre. Concise biographies introduce each philosopher, followed by overviews of the major themes, arguments, and ideas that run through each philosopher’s work. Each chapter also provides in-depth summary and analysis of the philosopher’s most important works, as well as sample A+ student essays.

I originally wrote two 17-20K word SparkNotes guides: one on John Locke and one on David Hume. But as the company evolved they chose to stop producing the individual guides and created book collections like these (now they’ve moved on to online-only guides focusing on individual works rather than on the philosophers themselves). So, my material on Locke and Hume was repurposed to form chapters in SparkNotes’ Philosophy 101: A Complete Course in a Book.

Paperback, Spark Publishing

Published in July, 2005

ISBN-10: 1411400291

ISBN-13: 978-1411400290

Founder of The Writer’s Ally, Ally E. Machate is a bestselling book collaborator, award-winning editor, and expert publishing consultant who loves using her insider knowledge and experience with the publishing industry to lead serious authors toward success. She and her team live to help make great books happen, whether that means showing a writer how to improve a manuscript, get an agent, or self-publish; or coaching an author on growing her platform to sell more books. Since 1999, she has supported hundreds of authors on their publishing journey and takes pride in serving as their books’ best ally.