Contrary to appearances, this book is not a proper sequel to Dr. Seuss and Philosophy: Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! Rather, this book is an alternative vision of what that book might have been. When I first conceived Dr. Seuss and Philosophy, I had no home for it. Editors and presses I’d previously worked for were not interested. I shopped it around, sending proposals and emails to presses that I believed would be receptive. I found Jon Sisk and his colleagues at Rowman & Littlefield, and they agreed to gamble on the book. But they were clear: they were not interested in a series. The book was to be a one-time deal. So I put together a conservative project, an introduction to philosophy using the works of Dr. Seuss as a vehicle. It wouldn’t be a random collection of essays that just happened to all discuss Dr. Seuss in some fashion; it would be intentionally structured as an introduction to main themes and topics in the history of philosophy. To make sure it was done well, I reached out to my small circle of trusted colleagues to find a full complement of authors. Where I couldn’t find an author, I wrote the chapter. The book took shape and turned out quite well. I was pleased. But there were chapters and ideas that weren’t written or developed for various reasons. But that first Seuss book was produced to be a general introduction to philosophy through Dr. Seuss.
There was another way it could have all gone: the book could have been a guidebook to living an examined, flourishing life, structured to intentionally walk the reader through philosophy with me, the editor, as a guide. As the years have worn on since the first book was published, more and more it’s this version of the book I’ve wanted to see produced. Then circumstances started to line up. The first book was successful.[1] My publisher was interested in more books, even a series.[2] And we’ve had a successful, collaborative working relationship for several years. And then, finally, I got the email: “Would you be interested in doing a second Seuss book?” Yes, I would.
The first book was good, but I’d had an alternative idea all along, and it wasn’t until recently that I felt comfortable with trying to pull it off. I’ve done enough academically, with truly brilliant and amazing people, to have fantastic authors willing to collaborate with me and help bring this alternative vision to life. So here’s my alternative version of the Seuss book. Not a sequel, but rather a “could’ve been” that I was able to make a “finally is.” A second chance to do it the other way.
More Dr. Seuss and Philosophy is intended to be a handbook for living well, one that uses Dr. Seuss’s works as a common narrative or touchstone for readers. The book is intentionally structured to walk the reader through issues pertaining to living well as an individual, in relation to others, and as a member of society. It opens with chapters on the value of literature and imagination to focus the reader’s attention on the fact that in reading Seuss you are already beginning your journey of self-discovery and considering issues fundamental to living a praiseworthy life. Some of these authors have an agenda—they are promoting a viewpoint, one echoed in Seuss even if not intentionally Seuss’s—and the book has an agenda to promote a way of living: a reflective, engaged, humane life. I’ve intentionally invited and included each of these authors for the purpose of writing what they wrote. They’re the best. This edited book is the result of many minds coming together for a common purpose, to present to you the best of philosophy in an accessible format as a handbook to life’s journey. But your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!