Daniel Martin Klein


Daniel Martin Klein 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. and Travels With Epicurus.

Life

Klein went to school at Harvard College where he received a B.A. in philosophy. 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, Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes and the London Times bestseller Travels With Epicurus. He lives in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and was married to Freke Quirine Vuijst until her death from cancer . 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

‘ForeWord Magazine' Book of the Year – Silver Award in Literary Fiction for novel, 'The History of Now'.

List of books

Non-fiction

  • The Half-Jewish Book: A Celebration, Villard, 2000.
  • Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes,, Abrams Books, 2007.
  • Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington: Understanding Political Doublespeak through Philosophy and Jokes,, Abrams Books, 2008.
  • Heidegger and a Hippo Walk Through Those Pearly Gates: Using Philosophy to Explore Life, Death, the Afterlife, and Everything in Between,, Viking, 2009.
  • Travels with Epicurus: A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of a Fulfilled Life, Penguin, 2012.
  • Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change It: Wisdom of the Great Philosophers on How to Live, Penguin, 2015.
  • I Think, Therefore I Draw: Understanding Philosophy Through Cartoons, Penguin, 2018.

    Thrillers and Mysteries

  • Embryo, Doubleday, 1980.
  • Wavelengths, Doubleday, 1982.
  • Beauty Sleep, St. Martin's, 1990.
  • Kill Me Tender, St. Martin's Minotaur, 2002.
  • Blue Suede Clues, St. Martin's Minotaur, 2003.
  • Viva Las Vengeance, St. Martin's Minotaur, 2003.
  • Such Vicious Minds, St. Martin's Minotaur, 2004

    Novels

  • Nothing Serious, Permanent Press, 2013.
  • The History of Now, Permanent Press, 2009.
  • Magic Time, Doubleday, 1984.

    Plays

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

    Book reviews

Nothing Serious

  • Kirkus described the book as follows: "A hip editor takes the helm of Cogito, a stodgy philosophical journal, with mixed—and occasionally hilarious—results."
  • 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.”