In other shoes : music, metaphor, empathy, existence /

Walton (recurring visiting professor of philosophy, Stanford) presents 15 essays in this book, including one new piece (on empathy) and two newly revised works. The rest of the essays were written over the past 40 years, the oldest being his frequently anthologized seminal "Fearing Fictions" (1978). Those familiar with Walton's work will welcome this collection as an addition to their libraries on fiction, make-believe, and empathy, but overall, the collection covers a medley of interconnected issues. Walton is a witty, imaginative, wonderfully clear writer, though sometimes his views may seem too simplistic to account for the phenomena--a beautiful mind too in love with one very good idea. However, if one is to fully appreciate the lay of the land in philosophy of art, music, literature, and imagination, one must know and understand Walton's claims and arguments. This is well-written, carefully reflective philosophy of the highest order. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. --Phil Jenkins, Marywood University