Avatar: The Last Airbender and Philosophy: Wisdom from Aang to Zuko by Johan De Smedt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Aaaa! I was so excited when I learned this book existed. As an amateur philosopher, it lived up to all my expectations and desires.
It covers so many different aspects of the show and teaches philosophical concepts through the lens of the characters and worldbuilding and considers them beside real world comparisons, including Iroh and the Zhuangzian Wise Fool, Aang and the Karmapa, true anarchist values, and the many different ways disability is commonly represented in media and where Toph fits in. I listened to the audiobook and I would now like to own a physical copy to reread, write notes in the margins, and reference in days to come. I’ve already started relistening to the section about guilt and blame with Katara and Iroh as the main topics. Highly recommend for anyone struggling with relationships and forgiveness (or not).
Ugh! There are so many sections with amazing teachings both for real life applications and for consideration as I write my own stories and characters. This was my first dive into reading books that analyze philosophy through the lens of pop culture and I think I will start making a new home here. XD
View all my reviews
N. K. Valek: Author 