In this collection of brief lives--and deaths--of nearly two hundred of the world's greatest thinkers, noted philosopher Simon Critchley creates a register of mortality that is tragic, amusing, absurd, and exemplary. From the self-mocking haikus of Zen masters on their deathbeds to the last words of Christian saints and modern-day sages, this irresistible book contains much to inspire both amusement and reflection.--From publisher description.

Originally published: London : Granta, 2008.

Pre-Socratics, physiologists, sages and sophists -- Platonists, Cyrenaics, Aristotelians and cynics-- Sceptics, stoics and Epicureans -- Classical Chinese philosophers -- Romans (serious and ridiculous) and Neoplatonists -- The deaths of Christian saints -- Medieval philosophers: Christian, Islamic and Judaic -- Philosophy in the Latin Middle Ages -- Renaissance, reformation and scientific revolution -- Rationalists (material and immaterial), empiricists and religious dissenters -- Philosophes, materialists and sentimentalists -- Many Germans and some non-Germans -- The masters of suspicion and some unsuspicious Americans -- The long twentieth century I: philosophy in wartime -- The long twentieth century II: analytics, continentals, a few moribunds and a near-death experience.