A revelatory and concise primer on the free-will debate.
Tonelli considers the best way of approaching the question of free will in this short philosophical essay.
The concept of free will has long been one of the thorniest topics in philosophy. Those who believe in its existence see it as an essential—even foundational—aspect of what it means to be human. Free-will skeptics, on the other hand, suggest it is merely an illusion masking the unavoidable and unintentional physical, chemical, and neurological processes that govern our behavior. With this short essay, the author wades thoughtfully into the fray, arguing that the difference between a universe in which free will exists and one in which it doesn’t may not amount to very much. This is due to what Tonelli calls the Skeptic’s Paradox: Whether we technically have free will or not, it certainly feels like we do. “Even if you don’t believe free will is real,” he writes, “you can’t escape the burden of making your own choices.” While this sentiment might seem like a dodge, or even an outright dismissal of the skeptical position, the author does not mean it that way—indeed, he generally aligns himself with the skeptical end of the debate. Rather, Tonelli aims to use this paradox as a starting position in his approach to the topic and to address how we might think differently about our own free will—and ourselves in general—given the possibility that we might not possess it. He uses the example of a diner deciding to order chicken rather than beef at a restaurant as a means of demonstrating various models of free will, each considered in terms of how external forces might exert some control over the decision. Is the choice based purely on the desire of the diner (intentional free will)? Is it truly possible for them to order beef (libertarian free will)? Does a certain degree of randomness mean they might order the chicken or beef without inherent preference for one or the other (stochastic free will)? Could they order chicken in this universe but beef in another (metaphysical free will)?
Tonelli explores these and other intriguing concepts (probabilistic versus deterministic causation, emergent free will) on the path to his ultimately nuanced conclusion. Along the way, he describes his ideas in clear prose using accessible metaphors to illustrate his concepts: “We are all aware of things [we] would do differently if we had the chance to live again,” he writes. “But wishing you had been a little wiser when you got into that fight with your spouse, is like wishing you had been a little taller when you tried out for the basketball team—yes, it would have helped back then, but it doesn’t help now.” The text is a quick read at less than 100 pages, and the facility with which Tonelli presents the argument’s landscape should delight even those readers who ultimately disagree with the author’s conclusions. Tonelli embraces uncertainty, happy to explore the many pockets between various positions, and he cheerfully invites his readers to do the same.
A revelatory and concise primer on the free-will debate.Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2025
ISBN: 9798822989313
Page Count: 94
Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
Review Posted Online: Nov. 6, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.
The veteran actor, comedian, and banjo player teams up with the acclaimed illustrator to create a unique book of cartoons that communicates their personalities.
Martin, also a prolific author, has always been intrigued by the cartoons strewn throughout the pages of the New Yorker. So when he was presented with the opportunity to work with Bliss, who has been a staff cartoonist at the magazine since 1997, he seized the moment. “The idea of a one-panel image with or without a caption mystified me,” he writes. “I felt like, yeah, sometimes I’m funny, but there are these other weird freaks who are actually funny.” Once the duo agreed to work together, they established their creative process, which consisted of working forward and backward: “Forwards was me conceiving of several cartoon images and captions, and Harry would select his favorites; backwards was Harry sending me sketched or fully drawn cartoons for dialogue or banners.” Sometimes, he writes, “the perfect joke occurs two seconds before deadline.” There are several cartoons depicting this method, including a humorous multipanel piece highlighting their first meeting called “They Meet,” in which Martin thinks to himself, “He’ll never be able to translate my delicate and finely honed droll notions.” In the next panel, Bliss thinks, “I’m sure he won’t understand that the comic art form is way more subtle than his blunt-force humor.” The team collaborated for a year and created 150 cartoons featuring an array of topics, “from dogs and cats to outer space and art museums.” A witty creation of a bovine family sitting down to a gourmet meal and one of Dumbo getting his comeuppance highlight the duo’s comedic talent. What also makes this project successful is the team’s keen understanding of human behavior as viewed through their unconventional comedic minds.
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-26289-9
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Celadon Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
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