Like a Splinter in Your Mind: The Philosophy Behind the Matrix Trilogy

• Offers a way into philosophy through the Matrix films.
  
• Covers thirteen of the biggest philosophical questions in thirteen self-sufficient chapters suitable for course use.
  
• Demonstrates how each of these questions is illustrated through the events and characters of the films.
  
• Considers whether sentient machines are possible, and whether we should expect them to face the same existentialist issues that we do.
  
• Familiarises readers with key issues in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, philosophy of mind, race and gender, existentialism, Taoism and mysticism.
  
• Includes a chapter that explains some of the technical elements of the films and confusing aspects of the plot.
  
• Also includes a Matrix glossary, and a cast of characters and their related symbolism.

Customer reviews:

Philosophy 101 revisited, 2008-03-03
This is really a great philosophy 101 book that tries to link examples to the three matrix movies, animatrix video and enter the matrix game. It does this very well but asside from the very excellent glossary and cast of characters which gives you the symbolism of names used down to what agent smith's car license plate "IS 5416" means, this is first of all a philosophy book. You will find all views on current philosophy, dualism determinism, etc etc discussed and defined. It's really great stuff and they try to make it as far removed from a college course as possible by going back to the matrix once in a while to give examples. I really liked it and learned a lot of things i missed back in college phil 101 that have pointed me to new books and ideas.

Although i haven't read these other books, it seems a trend now to link movies or tv shows to a book about philosophy. I've seen the tv show LOST and even "Battlestar Galactica" published as a "the philosophy of...". I have a feeling many of these books will also go over the same basic philosophy principles and try to make them stick to the show/ movie for better or worse.

Unbelievable, 2007-08-23
THis book dives right into the Philisophical side of the Matrix and the ideas behind the Matirx. This book also goes over writings used to help understand other points about Philosophy.