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Derrida For
Beginners
by Jim Powell, cartoons by
Van Howell
(view book
information) (see
also)
 DERRIDA FOR BEGINNERS is an
illustrated introduction to Jacques Derrida, demiurge of deconstruction.
Think Cliff Notes with cartoons. Written by Jim Powell, with cartoons by
Van Howell, it is the clearest explanation of Derrida and deconstruction
presently available in our solar system.... The book is reportedly
flying off the shelves, especially in New York where Derrida, between
trips to India, is lecturing to the befuddled masses at SUNY. The
befuddled masses have been flocking to Shakespeare and Company and other
little intellectualist bookshops flanking the university, to get a good
beginners fix on Derrida. Word has it that the demiurge, himself,
recently went in and bought a copy. 
- Lara el Khazen (on-line review) |
| Lost in the forest of
deconstruction I searched for a path... Jim
Powell and Van Howell provided it. This is a masterful introduction to
everything you ever wanted to know about Derrida but were afraid to ask.
The expert coupling of prose and illustrations results in clear
explanations of what are some of the most complex, radical and all round
mind-blowing thoughts of the twentieth century. Not only that, but it's
also one of the funniest books I've read, making me laugh aloud even on
re-reading! If you are attempting to master any aspect of the
intellectual tradition of the West, check this one out - I liked it so
much, that I'm giving copies to colleagues at my University.
Reviewer: A reader from Wales, UK
(2000) |
| Philosophy in cartoons? Deconstruction "in a nutshell"?
The outlook is bleak...It's a relief that this is so well done, a
light-fingered "take" on Derrida that doesn't attempt to lift
off more than it can carry. But then, there's always been a lot more
philosophy in cartoons than is generally acknowledged...
Reviewer: A reader from cyberspace
(1998) |
| I teach
literary criticism to undergraduates. Reading Derrida in the original
would be almost impossible for these students. I have used Derrida for
Beginners, recently, with great success. I feel that Derrida's thought
would have remained inaccesible to them without Derrida for Beginners.
The text is accessible, but substantive; and the illustrations are a
gas.
Reviewer: A reader (1997) |
| The illustrated "For Beginners"
series is a welcome contribution to a canon that must cater to the
sound-byte generation. Some of the books are excellent (Derrida for
Beginners, Chomsky for Beginners) and others are not...
Great Books About Western Philosophy -
Reviews by Kevin Cassell
|
Hamptons On-Line
newsletter
| ...and
while we're talking about the Ross Institute, I bet that Richard Amper,
the executive director of the Pine Barrens Society, wasn't ready for the
kind of aggressive counter-attack he got from the Ross Institute's legal
pit-bull, Bertram Fields, a California attorney who has no ties to this
community. The Pine Barren society had come out shooting last month with
anti-Ross Institute radio ads and a cartoon which depicted a woman
mowing down the pine barrens in a Rolls Royce tractor, surrounded by
students of the school. "Hooray! It's Earth Day at the Ross
School," cried out one of the happy students. Another child
explains, "The Ross school is dedicated to teaching kids
environmental appreciation and our fifty new buildings will have a great
view of the environment once the trees are out of the way."
The cartoon was commissioned by the
Long Island Pine Barren Society and was drawn by Van Howell, a
Westhampton Beach artist.
Mr. Amper held a press conference on
Main Street, East Hampton, last Friday to publicly respond to what he
termed "threatening" letters from Mr. Field. The California
attorney, known for his representation of high profile entertainment
industry figures, like David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg, accused the
Pine Barren society of "creating a false hysteria," and called
the cartoon "inflammatory, grotesque and slanderous." Mr.
Amper said that a non-for-profit group like the Pine Barren Society
could not afford lengthy litigation.
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On another subject:
| Mr. Thiele has one opponent who has not been silent. He is Van Howell of
Westhampton Beach, running on the Green Party line. Mr. Howell's ideas
are provocative and worthy of debate, although he has no chance of
election.
East Hampton Star editorial Nov 2
2000 |
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