Heidegger Thinking: 'Being and Time' Explained

An intelligent but approachable guide to the main concepts of Heidegger’s magnum opus, Being and Time, by one of the leading philosophers of our day.

Heidegger Thinking is a comprehensive examination of what is arguably the most significant philosophical work of the last century. Published to mark the centenary of Being and Time, the masterpiece that is central to Heidegger's work, this book aims to explain the entirety of the philosopher's project in terms that are understandable and—most important—usable for intelligent, curious laypeople.
The book comprises eighteen chapters, each presenting a key concept such as Dasein, being-in-the-world, anxiety, and ecstatic temporality. Simon Critchley avoids the "bazaar of pop philosophy," opting instead for a slow, intimate journey through Heidegger's notoriously difficult architecture. The work originated as a popular podcast series recorded in the summer of 2020, at a moment when themes of mortality and isolation were especially resonant. The text here, however, is a complete rewriting of the material, clarifying and expanding the original, and including a full scholarly apparatus for independent study.
Critchley's central thesis is that "Being is time, and time is finite." By stripping away Heidegger's baroque jargon, he demonstrates how Heidegger's insights into our "thrown-open clearing of finitude" can change one's life. This book invites readers to master the "rhythm of existence" and move beyond the "cabinet of consciousness" to embrace a lived, worldly experience.
Heidegger Thinking is the essential guide for serious readers who intuit the importance of Heidegger's thought but require a clear path through its legendary complexity.

Simon Critchley has written more than twenty books, including studies of Greek tragedy, David Bowie, football, suicide, Shakespeare, how philosophers die, and a novella. His book Mysticism was published by New York Review Books in 2024. He is the Hans Jonas Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York.

Ben Olson works on Heidegger and historicity, specifically applying Heidegger’s thought to the question of family. He is currently an Onassis Fellow at the New School for Social Research and teaches as an Adjunct Lecturer in Philosophy at New York City College of Technology.