Mr. Monk and Philosophy: The Curious Case of the Defective Detective - Popular Culture and Philosophy

Publisher Marketing: Neatly organized, Mr. Monk and Philosophy uses philosophy to uncover more about the brilliant obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk. With the guidance of history's greatest thinkers, readers learn who Monk really is, why he is the way he is, and what they can learn from him. Chapters address such topics as Mr. Monk's unique use of logic, how everyone uses their own phobias and idiosyncrasies to navigate a threatening world, and what Monk says about what it means to be a hero (albeit a flawed one). Monk's relationships receive special attention: his dedication to his late wife, Trudy, teaches us about romantic partnership, while his relationships with Sharona and Natalie reveal the importance of friendship in dealing with illness, death, and tragedy. Review Citations:

Reference and Research Bk News 05/01/2010 pg. 257 (EAN 9780812696745, Paperback)

Contributor Bio:  Wittkower, D E D. E. Wittkower is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. He received his PhD in philosophy from Vanderbilt University, is trained in German philosophy and the history of value theory (ethics, aesthetics, and social/political philosophy), and works primarily in philosophy of technology and the philosophy of everyday life and popular culture. He is editor of "Facebook and Philosophy", "Philip K. Dick and Philosophy", "Mr. Monk and Philosophy", and "iPod and Philosophy"; has written articles for "Slate" and "Speakeasy" (the Arts and Culture blog of the "Wall Street Journal") as well as numerous journal articles and book chapters; and has recorded a dozen audiobooks with Librivox.org.