Heidegger: An Introduction

I have struggled with Heidegger for years but this book was very useful to bring forth some of Heidegger's more obscure usages. I have at times thought the translations might be lacking. I also bought 'Introduction to Metaphysics' in Polt's translation and whether it is the translation or the introduction it is easier going. That's not to say Heidegger is ever going to be easy. He commands you to think the thought which is quite a bit different than reading many philosophers' thoughts. In many ways Heidegger is like some of the Buddhists trying to talk about those things that transcend talking. At least Polt clarifies the nuances Heidegger was trying to convey in German that do not always make it to English.

This is a MUST for anyone learning to read Heidegger for the first time. What I like most about the book, besides its clarity, is that it can be read without reading "Being and Time" first. Though Professor Polt acknowledged that he wrote the book as a guide for those reading through "Being and Time," the book can be read prior OR alongside Heidegger. I truly look forward to Professor Polt's other book, "The Emergency of Being."

Book was delivered in great condition. Very pleased.

I have only read the first few chapters of Professor Polt's beautifully written book as I am using it, as suggested by him, as a companion to Being and Time. (This may take a while.) But so far it is a wonderful read, almost like a thriller. His writing is clear and direct as he explains the problems Heidegger was dealing with, and their place in history. He does this so well you become excited and want to know more. A real page turner. How often can you say that about a book on philosophy?

This book is a great introduction to Heidegger's thought. Specifically, chapters 3 and 4 serve as a section by section reading guide for Being and Time, which helps to break down Heidegger's more complicated ideas into laymens terms. I enjoyed reading this, and I think it does justice, based upon my elementary prior knowledge, to Heidegger's thought process.

In good condition, no writing in the book; book is clean.

This book brought me back some 30 yers to graduate school, to auditing Hubert Dreyfus's class on Heidegger at Cal, and a graduate seminar on the later Heidegger. This book does the impossible, that is, it makes Heidegger understandable. In a way, the basic concepts are not that difficult, but Heidegger seems to go out of his way to make them confusing. Having read a recent book on Heidegger and Nazism, I must say, though, that Heidegger's Nazism is here not really handled that well. Admittedly, the publication of Heidegger's notebooks happened a year after this was published, and they are pretty damning, but even on what we already knew, our author here tries so hard to be fair to Heidegger that I think he perhaps goes TOO far. I'm not Jewish, but MH's refusal to own up to Germany role in the Holocaust seems pretty unforgivable. Of course, the great question is, OK, he may not have been a good guy, but does it touch his philosophy. Not sure about that. My own view is that a lot of what he argued for (the best parts) could be found in some way in James, Dewey, Rorty, the American pragmatist tradition. But then, I'm an American and he hated upright?

Being and Time is a difficult read, even for people who are accustomed to reading dense works. This book will help you understand Heidegger, therefore I highly recommend it.