Great Minds

LoveReading4Kids Says

‘What’s philosophy for?’, asks this large format, stylishly illustrated information book; and it comes to the conclusion that it’s a tool to change the world. Over its 60+ pages, we are introduced to the philosophers who have shaped the way we think.

First up is Confucius and his exploration of what makes a good person; from there, we meet the ancient Greek philosphers, Socrates, Aristotle and Plato; then the focus moves to the Islamic world and thinkers such as Ibn Rushd, probably less well known to general readers in the UK, but hugely important (a panel explains Ibn Rushd’s influence on those who took part in the Arab Spring for example).

The book continues to follow a timeline while ranging across the world, the connection between philosophers from different cultures and civilisations made clear and it demonstrates how ideas formed hundreds or even thousands of years ago are still influencing way people think today.

The final sections bring us right up to date with Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, the Black American thinker who developed critical race theory and the framework for intersectionality. It’s a fascinating and thought-provoking book, and with the world facing so many critical moral issues a really important one to share with young people.

Andrea Reece

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