Philosophy Made Simple

Philosophy Made Simple by Robert Hellenga is a charming novel about Rudy Harrington, a 60 year old widower who decides to sell his home and buy an avocado grove in Texas. Along the way he meets a eccentric bunch of people (and one elephant) who in some way guide his quest to discover the meaning of life by reading Philosophy Made Simple which explores the history of philosophy, from Plato to Kant. This was a fun read but I have read more complex and skillfully put together novels this year so I won't be recommending it for my list although I will be looking for his other novels to read when I get off of the committee.