On Stories (Thinking in Action) [Paperback]

Richard Kearney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0415247985 | ISBN-13: 978-0415247986 | Edition: 1

Stories offer us some of the richest and most enduring insights into the human condition and have preoccupied philosophy since Aristotle. On Stories presents in clear and compelling style just why narrative has this power over us and argues that the unnarrated life is not worth living. Drawing on the work of James Joyce, Sigmund Freud's patient 'Dora' and the case of Oscar Schindler, Richard Kearney skilfully illuminates how stories not only entertain us but can determine our lives and personal identities. He also considers nations as stories, including the story of Romulus and Remus in the founding of Rome. Throughout, On Stories stresses that, far from heralding the demise of narrative, the digital era merely opens up new stories.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Like the best philosophy, and the best intellectual history, this is serious stuff dealt with a light hand.' - Roy Foster, The Guardian

'[Richard Kearney's] argument that appreciating story is an essential part of being human is strong and true.' - The Guardian

'Like the best philosophy, and the best intellectual history, this is serious stuff dealt with a light hand.' - Roy Foster, The Guardian

'Kearney's chief virtue has always been pedagogical, as a gifted storyteller of ideas, and this work is no exception. The first and final parts are exemplary in this respect, providing a concise and morally robust defence of the importance of structured narratives for the way we make sense of our past, present and future ' - Michael Cronin, The Irish Times

'A paean to storytelling...The voice is clear, humane and level-headed. Kearney serves as an guide through this brief history of the ways stories have worked, for better or for worse, in our lives.' - Molly McLoskey, The Sunday Tribune

About the Author

Richard Kearney is Professor of Philosophy at University College Dublin and Boston College. He is co-editor of the Thinking in Action series.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415247985
• ISBN-13: 978-0415247986
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #264,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and profound!, January 23, 2010

By 

Marlin Adrian - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On Stories (Thinking in Action) (Kindle Edition)

Ocassionally one encounters a thinker who both confirms and challenges every experience and thought long seen as personal and private, suddenly connecting them to a wide world of possibilities. Kearney, in this elegant and concise little book, does exactly this for me. On Stories is both brilliant and profound.