«This book made me laugh and also think hard, sometimes on the same page. Highly recommended for anyone with kids, especially kids who wonder 'Why?»

Emily Oster, bestselling author of The Family Firm

«An enormously rich and mind-expanding book, which anyone will gain from reading, especially parents»

John Carey, The Sunday Times

«Thoroughly enjoyable ... fun anecdotes abound ... This sincere and smart account puts to rest the idea that philosophy belongs in academia's ivory tower »

Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review)

«Equal parts hilarious (for years, Hank kept up a facade of not knowing the alphabet to worry his dad) and profound (4-year-old Rex: 'I think that, for real, God is pretend, and for pretend, God is real') . . . clear and lively . . . A playful yet serious introduction to philosophy.»

Kirkus

«Witty and self-deprecating, Nasty, Brutish, and Short explores the wonder that young kids bring to their efforts to make sense of the world - and what grown-ups can learn from it.»

The Christian Science Monitor

«Radical... Hershovitz highlights the ways your kids' sometimes awesome and sometimes annoying questions make them tiny versions of Socrates and Sartre ... The point of this book is not to provide a code for living morally. Instead, it's about the process of thinking philosophically»

Elissa Strauss, Atlantic

«Vibrant, funny and provocative»

Times Literary Supplement

«In his witty and learned book Nasty, Brutish, and Short, Hershovitz intertwines parenting and philosophy, recounting his spirited arguments with his kids about infinity, morality, and the existence of God, and teaching half a liberal arts curriculum along the way»

Jordan Ellenberg, New York Times Bestselling author of Shape

«This book will teach you how to transform the endless questions of childhood into the endless wonder of philosophy»

Barry Lam, Host and Executive Producer, Hi-Phi Nation podcast, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Vassar Colleg

«This delightful book is about philosophy and, ultimately, how to better love your kids. Want to cherish them, respect them, help them learn? Then join them in their natural wonderment and enjoy the philosophical fun»

Aaron James, bestselling author of Assholes: A Theory and Professor of Philosophy at UC Irvine

«Funny and fascinating. Prompted by conversations with his two young sons, Scott Hershovitz walks us through some of philosophy's stickiest questions: Does the universe go on forever? Can we really know anything? Is it ok to use swear words? Should you take revenge? Nasty, Brutish, and Short is an easy-to-read primer on how to discuss these profound topics with children, and how to think about them yourself.»

Pamela Druckerman, author of Bringing Up Bébé

«Hershovitz is a total delight--energetic, compassionate, patient, wise, and very, very funny, even when he is talking about weighty or difficult ideas. I'm grateful to have him as a model for how to talk to my children and how to think alongside them.»

Merve Emre, author of The Personality Brokers