Open Court's titles specialize in and emphasize philosophy and Movies And The Meaning Of Life: Philosophers Take On Hollywood keeps with the strong intent of linking philosophical concepts to everyday popular culture. The meaning of life is the most basic of questions, and many a movie director has examined such meaning in their films. Movies And The Meaning Of Life contrasts these modern films of recent years and tackles topics ranging from how films help define identity and reality to how they illustrate interpersonal interactions. An excellent achievement.

This book is accessible to students and armchair philosophers who love movies. At a time where common culture is dwindling, movies seem to be the only thing that links us together. It is also an art form that is vital in a time where novels, sadly, have become a near obsolete form of expression. This book takes ideas and movies seriously. and it also takes movies seriously. It inspired me to take a second look at some of the movies like Being John Malkovich and Memento. Reading Kimberely Blessing's lead piece in the book on Descartes and the movie The Truman Show reminded my how much that particular movie anticipated the rise of reality TV. Truman Show brings Nozick's experience machine thought experiment to life.

Movies and the Meaning of life is a great as a supplement for introductory philosophy classes. I hope it sells well so that an expanded volume may be published which include new movies like Adaptation (Identity) and Million Dollar Baby (Bio Ethics).