September 2023 MBR The Philosophy Shelf

The Philosophy Shelf

The Godfather and Philosophy
Joshua Heter, editor
Richard Greene, editor
Open Universe
c/o Carus Books
315 Fifth Street, Peru, IL 81334
www.carusbooks.com
9781637700372, $24.95, PB, 306pp

https://www.amazon.com/Godfather-Philosophy-Joshua-Heter/dp/1637700377

Synopsis: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Joshua Heter and Richard Greene "The Godfather and Philosophy: An Argument You Cant Refute" is comprised of twenty-eight chapters by philosophers, who reflect upon the ethical and metaphysical issues raised in The Godfather novels and movies, beginning with the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo and the 1972 movie by Francis Ford Coppola.

"The Godfather" saga has had a profound impact on American cinema, storytelling, thinking about crime, and popular culture. Aimed at thoughtful fans of The Godfather franchise, among the questions tackled in these provocative philosophical chapters are the immigrant experience in America, the relation between ethics and the law, the nature of moral corruption, private justice and vigilantism, organized crime and the American Dream, betrayal and forgiveness, religion and family values, the difficulties of breaking out of a dysfunctional way of life, and the uncertain consequences of vice laws.

Critique: A fascinating, thought provoking, and fun read from cover to cover, "The Godfather and Philosophy: An Argument You Cant Refute" will have an enormous appeal to Godfather fans and readers with an interest in popular culture, social science, and philosophy. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Philosophy & Popular Culture collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Godfather and Philosophy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note #1: Joshua Heter (https://philpeople.org/profiles/joshua-heter) teaches philosophy at Jefferson College, Missouri. He co-edited Punk Rock and Philosophy (2022).

Editorial Note #2: Richard Greene (https://www.weber.edu/rgreene/default.html) teaches philosophy at Weber State University, Utah. He wrote the definitive and highly acclaimed book, Spoiler Alert! (It's a Book about the Philosophy of Spoilers) (2019).

Joshua Heter teaches philosophy at Jefferson College, Missouri. He co-edited Punk Rock and Philosophy (2022).

Richard Greene teaches philosophy at Weber State University, Utah. He wrote the definitive and highly acclaimed book, Spoiler Alert! (It's a Book about the Philosophy of Spoilers).

Better Call Saul and Philosophy
Joshua Heter and Brett Coppenger, Editors
Open Universe
c/o Carus Books
www.carusbooks.com
9781637700266, $24.95

https://www.amazon.com/Better-Call-Saul-Philosophy-Culture/dp/1637700261

Better Call Saul and Philosophy: I Think Therefore I Scam belongs in any media studies collection strong in analyzing television and films. Its subject goes beyond plot and character study, however, to delve into the moral and ethical dilemmas presented in Better Call Saul, requiring that readers have a basic familiarity with the subject in order to apply the philosophical reflections here. Joshua Heter and Brett Coppenger gather essays that are candid, contemporary, and often push the common scholarly tone boundaries of philosophical inspection. One such example is Joshua Luczak's "Saul's Bullshit's Not All Good, Man." Its inspection of truth, lies, and what occurs between them provides not just food for thought, but ideally discussion material highly recommended for any viewer of Better Call Saul, or for modern young philosophers who would more closely examine the connections and approaches of modern philosophy to movies and media.

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