How to Read Derrida (How to Read)

An idiosyncratic and highly controversial French philosopher, Jacques Derrida inspired profound changes in disciplines as diverse as law, anthropology, literature and architecture. In Derrida's view, texts and contexts are woven with inconsistencies and blindspots, which provide us with a chance to think in new ways about, among other things, language, community, identity and forgiveness. Derrida's suggestions for "how to read" lead to a new vision of ethics and a new concept of responsibility.

Penelope Deutscher discusses extracts from the full range of Derrida's work, including Of Grammatology, Dissemination, Limited Inc, The Other Heading: Reflections on Europe, Monolinguism of the Other, Given Time, and "Force of Law."

Deutscher (philosophy, Northwestern U.) gives students and general readers a better chance at discerning the positive within deconstruction, including Derrida's vision on ethics and responsibility. Using excerpts from Derrida's texts judiciously, Deutscher examines his thoughts on reading as intervention, différence, culture, gender, politics, contexts, mourning and hospitality, giving and forgiving, justice and the law and perfectability. The result is an accessible supplementary reading to the originals, and a guide through some of the more difficult concepts and passages in such texts as Of Grammatology, Dissemination, Limited Inc and other major works. The list of resources is particularly helpful. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Intent on letting the reader experience the pleasure and intellectual stimulation in reading classic authors, the How to Read series will facilitate and enrich your understanding of texts vital to the canon.

An idiosyncratic and highly controversial French philosopher, Jacques Derrida inspired profound changes in disciplines as diverse as law, anthropology, literature and architecture. In Derrida"s view, texts and contexts are woven with inconsistencies and blindspots, which provide us with a chance to think in new ways about, among other things, language, community, identity and forgiveness. Derrida"s suggestions for 'how to read' lead to a new vision of ethics and a new concept of responsibility.

Penelope Deutscher discusses extracts from the full range of Derrida"s work, including Of Grammatology, Dissemination, Limited Inc, The Other Heading: Reflections on Europe, Monolinguism of the Other, Given Time, and 'Force of Law."

Penelope Deutchser is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Northwestern University. Her books include Yielding Gender: Feminism, Deconstruction and the History of Philosophy, and A Politics of Impossible Difference: The Later Work of Luce Irigaray.Simon Critchley is Hans Jonas Professor at the New School for Social Research, and a part-time professor of philosophy at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. His many books include Infinitely Demanding, Ethics-Politics-Subjectivity and, most recently, The Book of Dead Philosophers.