Robert Hellenga, Philosophy Made Simple

Philosophy Made Simple

Robert Hellenga

Little, Brown, Mar 2006, $23.95

ISBN: 0316058262

Seven years have passed since Rudy Harrington's beloved spouse Helen died, leaving him alone to raise their teenage daughters. However, now that each of his children has left, the sexagenarian decides to sell his Chicago empty nest home that he owned for three decades and buy an avocado grove in Texas.

At the same time he makes his life move, Rudy is reading Philosophy Made Simple by Siva Singh, the uncle of his daughter Molly's fianc . The book makes Rudy ponder about life, and death, and beauty and truth, even as he plans Molly's wedding to TJ. His grove manager and new friend Mecardo takes Rudy on pleasure trips to Mexico where he meets Maria, who gives him a different view on life, at the same time his family and that of TJ begin the invasion of Texas for the bi-cultural wedding.

PHILOSOPHY MADE SIMPLE is actually a complex character driven tale, as perspectives switch constantly so that the audience can keenly see how different cultures and people define truth, beauty, life and death. What is interesting is the multifaceted comparisons; for instance Rudy vs. late-night radio evangelists that make the tale poignant. Readers who appreciate a deep look at concepts from varying points of view will want to join Rudy's search for meaning, sort of mindful of Supertramps' The Logical Song.