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Book Review: House and Philosophy- Everybody Lies

After watching more than hundred monotonous episodes of HOUSE M.D., I still find Dr. Gregory House one of the most challenging and a bit complex protagonist/antagonist of all the television shows I have watched. Believe me, that’s what I have been doing on New Year’s Eve. Reading it.

House, if one closely observes, can be of those influential characters in the life of a curious person. Characters that would stick with you. Another one would be, Sherlock Holmes.

House and Philosophy: Everybody Lies, edited by Henry Jacoby is a collection of essays in the series created by Bill Irwin of philosophical examinations of various popular, even iconic television shows or films. The series explores a range of shows from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the function of superheroes in our culture to animated series like South Park. more

The content varies from literary analysis to arguments presenting which philosophical perspectives the character of House espouses. With respect to the individual scholars, the quality of the content of these essays varies dramatically. For example, there is one essay that discusses in-depth about the inspiration of the character of House from the character of Sherlock Holmes, points out fascinating correlations between House’s television program and the literary world of Doyle, and proves that ‘Dr. Gregory House’ the name is derived from the main characters of Conan Doyle’s The Study in Scarlett. Another one discusses House’s presentation of Sartre’s philosophy, and an entire section of the book discusses the ethics of the physicians in the show as they correspond to accepted medical ethics in the ‘real world’. Other essays leave you flipping pages quickly to reach the end of the them because they lack all credibility.

The philosophy isn’t presented at a deep academic level, but rather in a well-balanced style. The language is accessible, and overall the book goes by very quickly once you begin.

As I aforesaid about the show being monotonous, yes it is if you watch it back-to-back you will notice that there isn’t much except few glimpses from the lives of all other characters’ and their lives being planetary about Gregory House. There is something about the character of Gregory House which is undoubtedly attractive to a viewer. As a viewer, that thing definitely motivates me to admire the character of Gregory House. The book, however, fails to attract my admiration.

2.5 out of 5!

View Comments

moosha23 says: January 26, 2015 at 12:37 AM Ah haven't watched House in a very long time, but yep it's very philosophical - and such a shame that the book wasn't that good.
blondeusk says: January 26, 2015 at 12:53 AM Useful review - thx
leeduigon says: January 26, 2015 at 6:24 AM Nice review (I think you've warned me off this book). My wife is crazy about House, but I find him wearisome. Still, though, the idea is inherently fascinating--a bad man who does good things for entirely selfish reasons. Edgar Rice Burroughs did it decades earlier when he created Ras Thavas, "The Master Mind of Mars." Ras and House have more in common than most sets of twins.
DebraB says: January 26, 2015 at 7:13 AM Sounds like an interesting book. House is such a fascinating character. He is such a jerk, and i can't help watching him, and even being amused by some of the things he says.
theamazingworldofgummies says: January 26, 2015 at 5:40 PM I find the though of an analysis of Dr. Gregory House abhorrent. To try and analyse him is an insult to his mad and wonderful genius. Furthermore, he is a fictional character. We should simply marvel at him and maybe also hate him everytime he is a jerk and be done with it. He himself would laugh at his book.
sherlockianbooklover says: January 26, 2015 at 9:20 PM Hugh Laurie is perfect as House. I'm so sad the show ended.
Mike says: January 27, 2015 at 3:28 AM I agree. The character of House was intriguing, however the plots were the same old-same old. A baffling illness afflicts some odd character. The staff can't diagnose it. House swoops in, insults the staff, insults the patient, dishes out homework assignments to all, then brilliantly solves the case. I enjoyed it 2-3 months. Then ....
Mike says: January 27, 2015 at 7:18 PM I hear that Rainn Wilson's new TV venture is a copy of House. Too bad the reviews were all negative.

Ah haven't watched House in a very long time, but yep it's very philosophical - and such a shame that the book wasn't that good.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: January 26, 2015 at 9:11 AM The book fails to provide basic needs for a reader. However, only last week I watched the series finale, and it was good.

The book fails to provide basic needs for a reader. However, only last week I watched the series finale, and it was good.

Useful review - thx

Aman(@amanhimself) says: January 26, 2015 at 9:12 AM You're welcome :)

You're welcome :)

Nice review (I think you've warned me off this book).
My wife is crazy about House, but I find him wearisome. Still, though, the idea is inherently fascinating--a bad man who does good things for entirely selfish reasons.
Edgar Rice Burroughs did it decades earlier when he created Ras Thavas, "The Master Mind of Mars." Ras and House have more in common than most sets of twins.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: January 26, 2015 at 9:14 AM Thanks for mentioning about Ras Thavas. I have to check that book out. The series recently ended, and for good I guess.

Thanks for mentioning about Ras Thavas. I have to check that book out. The series recently ended, and for good I guess.

Sounds like an interesting book. House is such a fascinating character. He is such a jerk, and i can't help watching him, and even being amused by some of the things he says.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: January 26, 2015 at 9:14 AM He is a fascinating jerk, I agree :)

He is a fascinating jerk, I agree :)

I find the though of an analysis of Dr. Gregory House abhorrent. To try and analyse him is an insult to his mad and wonderful genius. Furthermore, he is a fictional character.

We should simply marvel at him and maybe also hate him everytime he is a jerk and be done with it. He himself would laugh at his book.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: January 26, 2015 at 8:44 PM It's in human nature to analyse characters whether fictional or not. If we do not analyse something, how will we know whether it's good or bad or something else for us? I cannot simply be astonished by anything that exists. It's take a lot of factors to do that, for me. Of course, I agree, he would laugh at this book, fictionally.

It's in human nature to analyse characters whether fictional or not. If we do not analyse something, how will we know whether it's good or bad or something else for us?

I cannot simply be astonished by anything that exists. It's take a lot of factors to do that, for me.

Of course, I agree, he would laugh at this book, fictionally.

Hugh Laurie is perfect as House. I'm so sad the show ended.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: January 26, 2015 at 9:21 PM Yeah, he fits the role amazingly well.

Yeah, he fits the role amazingly well.

sherlockianbooklover says: January 26, 2015 at 9:34 PM Some people even believe he's American :P

Some people even believe he's American :P

Aman(@amanhimself) says: January 26, 2015 at 9:37 PM Haha well, he doesn't sound too British either.

Haha well, he doesn't sound too British either.

sherlockianbooklover says: January 26, 2015 at 9:42 PM When you see him out of character he's very British :P
Aman(@amanhimself) says: January 26, 2015 at 9:45 PM That's true :)

When you see him out of character he's very British :P

That's true :)

I agree. The character of House was intriguing, however the plots were the same old-same old. A baffling illness afflicts some odd character. The staff can't diagnose it. House swoops in, insults the staff, insults the patient, dishes out homework assignments to all, then brilliantly solves the case.

I enjoyed it 2-3 months. Then ....

Aman(@amanhimself) says: January 27, 2015 at 11:56 AM I finished the whole series in 3 months, do not have that much patience. I realised its trait of being monotonous just after the third season but the character of House had my curiosity rooted.

I finished the whole series in 3 months, do not have that much patience. I realised its trait of being monotonous just after the third season but the character of House had my curiosity rooted.

I hear that Rainn Wilson's new TV venture is a copy of House. Too bad the reviews were all negative.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: January 27, 2015 at 8:37 PM I don't know about it yet. But I will check it!

I don't know about it yet. But I will check it!

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