The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us About Moral Choices
by Edmund M. Kern
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Book Summary Information
Author: Edmund M. KernEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2003-09
ISBN: 1591021332
Number of pages: 296
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Book Reviews of The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us About Moral Choices
Book Review: A Great Defense of the Series, Offers an Intriguing Moral Analysis
Summary: 5 Stars
"Harry Potter" is a popular, but very controversial series. From accusations of encouraging witchcraft to complaints about the book's social themes, there has been much criticism of the series, despite its massive appeal. In "The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us about Moral Choices," Edmund M. Kern presents a defense against the criticisms and succeeds brilliantly. His defense is comphrensive, thoughtful, detailed and well-organized. He even goes further, providing background on the series and offering his own analysis of the books' themes. Although his references to the books occasionally contain small errors in detail, it is obvious that he has read them and it helps that he is also a parent. (Although he stresses that his book is not just for parents, but anyone who's interested in a thorough analysis of the series' themes.) He has also held discussions of the series on the radio.
Edmund M. Kern posits to great effect that the themes of the books are an example of modern-day Stoicism. He develops this theory nicely in the first three chapters, while also touching on other themes and other critical analysis of the books. The fourth and fifth chapters tackle both the religious and social criticisms of the books. Kern exposes many flaws in arguments against the series. uses examples from the books along with intelligent commentary to reassure those who don't know what to make of the idea that the series corrupts readers or demonizes them somehow.
Kern shows that imagination is the key to this series greatness. While it may not present a perfect society, it is very real in many ways, and readers can relate to it. I recommend this book for any "Harry Potter" fan interested in a well-written defense of the series.
I hope this book is someday updated, because right now, it has only a brief analysis of "Phoenix" and, of course, nothing on "Prince."
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