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

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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

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ForeWord Magazine' Book of the Year – Silver Award in Literary Fiction (2009) for novel, 'The History of Now'.[5]

List of books

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Non-fiction

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  • 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

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Novels

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Plays

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  • The Jewish Jester, New Stage Performing Arts, Berkshire Theater Festival, Stockbridge, MA, 2013
  • Mengelberg and Mahler, Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA, 2010

Book reviews

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Nothing Serious

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  • 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

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  1. ^ "Boston Globe". By David Mehegan, Globe Staff | August 15, 2007
  2. ^ "Herald_Times_Reporter" Archived April 4, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Article by Bev Denor Book columnist.
  3. ^ "The New York Times Best Seller List". Archived by Hawes.com
  4. ^ "Harvard Magazine". Article by C.L.
  5. ^ "Foreword Reviews" ForeWord Book of the Year Awards – Foreword Reviews
  6. ^ "NPR". Show Hosted by LIANE HANSEN.
  7. ^ "C-SPAN".
  8. ^ "Philosophy Now Magazine". Article by Tim Madigan.
  9. ^ "Jewish Post". Article by Gad Nahshon.
  10. ^ "NOTHING SERIOUS | Kirkus Reviews".
  11. ^ "A book review by Karl Wolff: Nothing Serious".

12. http://thoughtcatalog.com/the-thoughtful-reader/2010/08/theater-review-mengelberg-and-mahler/

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