Is God happy? : selected essays

by Letzec Kolakowski   (Get the Book)
The late Kolakowski was a philosopher of many gifts. Chief among them was his ability to imbue his philosophical reflections with his life experiences, making his work not only accessible but also exciting to read, especially by nonacademics and those untrained in the Western philosophical tradition. Born in Poland, in 1927, he lived through the German occupation of WWII and much of the Communist totalitarian state that followed, witnessing firsthand some of the greatest evil of the twentieth century. The essays selected for inclusion here demonstrate his vast range. The collection's title is taken from the title of an essay in which Kolakowski offers his unique analysis of the age-old problem of reconciling human suffering with a compassionate god. The same freshness and originality are found in the other essays, which address such topics as natural law, totalitarianism, truth, history, and reason, along with selections from his withering critiques of Marxism. This is philosophy at its best; namely, engaging, thoughtful, timely, challenging, and eminently readable. --Booklist