Metallica and Philosophy: A Crash Course in Brain Surgery (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series) (Paperback)

~ (Editor)
Key Phrases: iron maiden, metal militia, existentialist club, New York, Ride the Lightning, Some Kind of Monster (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The most elucidative dissertation on Metallica ever written. And a kick-ass read to boot!!!”
Scott Ian, guitarist for Anthrax<!--end-->

“Like philosophy itself, Metallica’s music can scare the uninitiated, who fear their brains will hurt. This book makes both philosophy and Metallica accessible to the curious while deepening the experience of those already in the know.”
Theodore Gracyk, author of Rhythm and Noise and Listening to Popular Music

“Metallica and Philosophy is, at long last, the book which finally gives everyone’s favorite headbangers due credit for being intelligent, questioning, and even cerebral.”
Joel McIver, author of Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica

“Not just heavy metal, not just rock n’ roll, not just angst or anger or conceptual analysis, but a monster in a category of its own that shows us something dangerous about ourselves and our post-industrial culture.”
Dale Jacquette, Pennsylvania State University

"Intellectual snobs and proud low-brows alike may dismiss this as a joke- though obviously not respected academic publishers Blackwell ... as an introduction to some of the major schools of thought, it is no less worthy than popular books like Sophie's World that have also sought to bring philosophy to the mass market."
Tommy Udo, Metal Hammer

A “provocative study” on one of metal’s greatest bands, this paperback examines the connection between Metallica and highly regarded philosophers like Aristotle and Nietzsche, and “uses themes in Metallica’s work to illuminate topics such as death, metaphysics, epistemology, the mind-body problem, morality, justice and what we owe one another.” Edited by a college professor, chapters include “Alcoholica: When Sweet Amber Becomes The Master Of Puppets,” “To Live and Die: Metallica and The Meaning Of Life” and “Boys Interrupted: The Drama Of Male Bonding In Some Kind Of Monster.”
Metal Edge Magazine

Product Description

Hit the lights and jump in the fire, you’re about to enter the School of Rock! Today’s lecture will be a crash course in brain surgery. This hard and fast lesson is taught by instructors who graduated from the old school—they actually paid $5.98 for The $5.98 EP. But back before these philosophy professors cut their hair, they were lieutenants in the Metal Militia.

• A provocative study of the ‘thinking man’s’ metal band
  
• Maps out the connections between Aristotle, Nietzsche, Marx, Kierkegaard, and Metallica, to demonstrate the band’s philosophical significance
  
• Uses themes in Metallica’s work to illuminate topics such as freedom, truth, identity, existentialism, questions of life and death, metaphysics, epistemology, the mind-body problem, morality, justice, and what we owe one another
  
• Draws on Metallica’s lyrical content, Lars Ulrich’s relationship with Napster, as well as the documentary Some Kind of Monster
  
• Serves as a guide for thinking through the work of one of the greatest rock bands of all time
  
• Compiled by the editor of Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book about Everything and Nothing and The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D’oh! of Homer

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell (April 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405163488
• ISBN-13: 978-1405163484
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #280,112 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This item is part of The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Metallica is GREAT and so is this BOOK!!!, June 8, 2007

By	The Great Guldna (Eastchester, NY USA) - See all my reviews

I started listening to Metallica in my teens shortly after the release of RTL. I even quoted Motorbreath in my high school yearbook. At the time listening to Metallica and "acting like a maniac" is what came natural to me. Who would have ever thought I was such an existentialist?

I always felt a deep connection to their music, but at that time I didn't even know what philospohy really meant. Metallica's lyrics provoked my thoughts and the raw power of their music just always felt right to me. So if you were like me ,you didn't get into Metallica to be philosophical. That's not what we were about.

I first picked up this book hoping that philosopy would validate the music of my youth. But as I got into it I soon remembered that I didn't listen to Metallica for anyone's approval. Back in the day I could care less what "other people thought" about most things. And in the end I realized that it's not Philosphy that validates the music. Metallica's lyrics, their music, and most importantly their fans are what validate Philosophy. Somehow I think we knew that all along.

This book was an enjoyable read and helped me realize important things about myself and the music that I love. If you're story is similiar to mine, go ahead and "Jump in the Fire". You want be disappointed with this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Philosophy & Metal Rocks!, June 25, 2007

By	Mylissa Graves "Princess Metallica" (Signal Hill, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was given this book by the Editor Bill Irwin & had A Crash Course in reading it! I had 4 days to finish it, what pressure! This books contains 20 essays from 20 different perspectives & although I did not agree w/ some of them I agreed w/ most especially the essay by Rachel Sotos, you will have to buy the book to read her essay, but I related to what she had to say.

The premise of the book is taking the lyrics of Metallica's songs & trying to portray what Jaymz Hetfield was feeling/thinking when he wrote them & analyzing what it all means. This book is meant to get you thinking & to open your mind. They touch on all of Metallica's albums including St. Anger, which is not a favorite among many including me, but reading the lyrics & the analagy makes me think that I should give St. Anger yet another listen to find my own analagy.

This was a great book & I suggest everyone to read it whether you are a Metal Head or not! Metallica fans will LOVE this!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining, December 27, 2009

By	M. Lucas "mlucasone" (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

If you are a Metallica fan, and you like to think about things, you will like this book. It contains very thought provoking material about most of Metallica's work and personal lives. Some of it requires very deep thinking.