Daniel Martin Klein
Daniel Martin Klein (born 1939 in Wilmington, Delaware) is an American writer of fiction, non-fiction, and humor. His most notable works are Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar co-written with Thomas Cathcart.[1] and Travels With Epicurus.
Life
[edit]Klein went to school at Harvard College where he received a B.A. in philosophy.[2] After a brief career in television comedy, he began writing books, ranging from thrillers and mysteries to humorous books about philosophy, including the New York Times bestseller,[3] Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes (with Thomas Cathcart)[4] and the London Times bestseller Travels With Epicurus. He lives in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and was married to Freke Quirine Vuijst (1952-2020) until her death from cancer [1]. She was the American correspondent for the Dutch newsweekly, Vrij Nederland. Their daughter, Samara Quirine Klein, is Head librarian for the towns of Great Barrington and Housatonic MA.
Awards
[edit]‘ForeWord Magazine' Book of the Year – Silver Award in Literary Fiction (2009) for novel, 'The History of Now'.[5]
List of books
[edit]Non-fiction
[edit]- Travels with Epicurus: A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of a Fulfilled Life, Penguin, 2012, ISBN 0143121936
- Heidegger and a Hippo Walk Through Those Pearly Gates: Using Philosophy (and Jokes!) to Explore Life, Death, the Afterlife, and Everything in Between, (with Thomas Cathcart), Viking, 2009. ISBN 0670020834[6]
- Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington: Understanding Political Doublespeak through Philosophy and Jokes, (with Thomas Cathcart), Abrams Books, 2008. ISBN 0810995417[7]
- Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes, (with Thomas Cathcart), Abrams Books, 2007. ISBN 081091493X[8]
- The Half-Jewish Book: A Celebration (with Freke Vuijst), Villard, 2000. ISBN 0375503854[9]
- Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change It: Wisdom of the Great Philosophers on How to Live, Penguin, 2015 ISBN 0143126792
- I Think, Therefore I Draw: Understanding Philosophy Through Cartoons (with Thomas Cathcart), Penguin, 2018 ISBN 978-0143133025
Thrillers and Mysteries
[edit]- Embryo, Doubleday, 1980. ISBN 0445046880
- Wavelengths, Doubleday, 1982. ISBN 0385174454
- Beauty Sleep, St. Martin's, 1990. ISBN 0312042647
- Kill Me Tender, St. Martin's Minotaur, 2002. ISBN 0312981953
- Blue Suede Clues, St. Martin's Minotaur, 2003. ISBN 0312986696
- Viva Las Vengeance, St. Martin's Minotaur, 2003. ISBN 0312288069
- Such Vicious Minds, St. Martin's Minotaur, 2004 ISBN 0312319401
Novels
[edit]- Nothing Serious, Permanent Press, 2013. ISBN 978-1579623142
- The History of Now, Permanent Press, 2009. ISBN 1579621813
- Magic Time, Doubleday, 1984. ISBN 0385174527
Plays
[edit]- The Jewish Jester, New Stage Performing Arts, Berkshire Theater Festival, Stockbridge, MA, 2013
- Mengelberg and Mahler, Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA, 2010
Book reviews
[edit]Nothing Serious
[edit]- Kirkus described the book as follows: "A hip editor takes the helm of Cogito, a stodgy philosophical journal, with mixed—and occasionally hilarious—results."[10]
- New York Journal of Books reviewer Karl Wolff wrote, “. . . a rollicking farce . . . a tightly plotted comedic tale with a genuine emotional center and a sharp satirical wit.”[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Boston Globe". By David Mehegan, Globe Staff | August 15, 2007
- ^ "Herald_Times_Reporter" Archived April 4, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Article by Bev Denor Book columnist.
- ^ "The New York Times Best Seller List". Archived by Hawes.com
- ^ "Harvard Magazine". Article by C.L.
- ^ "Foreword Reviews" ForeWord Book of the Year Awards – Foreword Reviews
- ^ "NPR". Show Hosted by LIANE HANSEN.
- ^ "C-SPAN".
- ^ "Philosophy Now Magazine". Article by Tim Madigan.
- ^ "Jewish Post". Article by Gad Nahshon.
- ^ "NOTHING SERIOUS | Kirkus Reviews".
- ^ "A book review by Karl Wolff: Nothing Serious".
12. http://thoughtcatalog.com/the-thoughtful-reader/2010/08/theater-review-mengelberg-and-mahler/
External links
[edit]- Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar Official website Archived April 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
