Martin Cohen - Editor
I am a UK author, editor and reviewer with experience of UK and US publishers specializing in philosophy, social science and politics
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Overview
I'm a writer, college professor and researcher. I've myself written about twenty books in philosophy and social science which have been reprinted in numerous languages and editions but I've also worked with many authors for essays, articles and occasionally books. The interest for me is always to develop with the author THEIR idea and get it as clear - and entertaining! - as possible for that wider audience. My approach is that of peer review and guidance. If you are just starting out and need background advice that's fine, happy to chat informally too. If you have a fully worked out m/s that you want reviewing and giving a professional shine, I'll work carefully and patiently with you to do just that.
You can see some of my own projects below; find some of my reviews of books at the Times Higher Education website and some of the philosophical articles I've coaxed into life at the websites of The Philosopher and Philosophical Investigations.
But enough about me! Back to you and your project. The way I like to work is to first take a look at the WHOLE of an author's manuscript and see which bits work and which bits don't. (If you've only written part of it, that's fine, but I would like to look through all the bits.) If you've a summary letter or a draft blurb, make sure you send that too.
Often I have found this is like looking for glittering nuggets in amongst a lot of material that actually doesn't work as it is. Assuming there is a viable central core to a project, then there is a more workmanlike process of building on the central idea. This often requires authors to go back and rework material, but I find that people genuinely grappling with philosophical ideas are prepared to do this, as long as they feel the process is getting somewhere good.
Successful non-fiction books are original, clear and entertaining. It's a difficult triple to achieve!
If you want someone to give your book a superficial shine, that's not me - but if you think you've got something important to say but need help to do it, please get in touch.
Languages
English (UK)
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Philosophy
Certifications
- Phd
- Bachelor of Arts
- PGCE
Work experience
Visiting Lecturer in English and Philosophy
University of Pau
January, 2020
–
Present
(about 3 years)
This is a part-time post that allows me to get on with my own writing projects, including books. These days I spend most of my time working on my own books, researching, writing and the often forgotten "marketing" aspects!
For the University of Pau, the idea of this post is to help their students, who are typically native French speakers to really get both their written and spoken English up to the highest standard . But my role is also to improve the ability of students to argue and present their views and ideas
Editor
The Philosopher
September, 2015
–
Present
(over 7 years)
I have been Editor of The Philosopher for over twenty years. This requires me to help authors to prepare their ideas as short articles for a worldwide audience of non=secialist, general readers. Often my contributors and authors are working in a second language with complex material.
Since 2012, I have also co-edited (with Thomas Scarborough) a website called 'Philosophical Investigations' which looks at a wider range of issues in the arts and sciences, but at much shorter length. This so-called 'blog' format typically of less than 1000 words.
Author
T&F, Hodder, Wiley, Wiley-Blackwell, Palgerave, Turner
January, 1999
–
Present
(about 24 years)
I have written numerous books for various publishers, including the two '101 Philosophy' books for Routledge (Taylor and Francis) that between them have been translated into over 20 languages and sold over 250 000 copies.
I have shepherded authors through books too, notably my dictionary of philosophy and ethics for Hodder, and as editor of the popular journal 'The Philosopher'.
Portfolio (10 selected works)
Critical Thinking Skills For Dummies
Martin Cohen
Turbocharge your reasoning with Critical Thinking Just what are the ingredients of a great argument? What is the secret to communicating your ideas clearly and persuasively? And how do you see through sloppy thinking and flim-flam? If you’ve ever asked any of these questions, then this book is for you! These days, strong critical thinking skills provide a vital foundation for academic success,... read more
101 Philosophy Problems
Martin Cohen
Does Farmer Field really know his prize cow, Daisy, is in the field? When is an unexpected exam not wholly unexpected? Are all bachelors (really) unmarried? Martin Cohen's 101 Philosophy Problems, Fourth Edition introduces philosophy in an entertaining but informative and stimulating way. Using philosophical puzzles, conundrums and paradoxes he skilfully unwraps some of the mysteries of the su... read more
The Doomsday Machine: The High Price of Nuclear Energy, the World's Most Dangerous Fuel
Martin Cohen, Andrew McKillop
Today, there are over one hundred nuclear reactors operating in our backyards, from Indian Point in New York to Diablo Canyon in California. Proponents claim that nuclear power is the only viable alternative to fossil fuels, and due to rising energy consumption and the looming threat of global warming, they are pushing for an even greater investment. Here, energy economist Andrew McKillop and ... read more
Wittgenstein’s Beetle and Other Classic Thought Experiments invites readers to participate actively in discovering the surprisingly powerful and fruitful tradition of "thought experiments." Gives a lively presentation of an "A to Z" of 26 fascinating and influential thought experiments from philosophy and science Presents vivid and often humorous discussion of the experiments, including streng... read more
Enlightening and entertaining, Philosophical Tales examines a few of the fascinating biographical details of history’s greatest philosophers (alas, mostly men) and highlights their contributions to the field. By applying the true philosophical approach to philosophy itself, the text provides us with a refreshing 'alternative history' of philosophy. Opens up new philosophical debate by applying... read more
Cracking Philosophy
Martin Cohen
This guide covers the main schools of thought from the Ancient Chinese philosophies of Confucius and Lao Tzu, Ancient wisdom from Aristotle, Plato, Zeno and Pythagoras through to those most influential of philosophers studied the world over - Hegel, Marx, Descartes, Kant, Kierkegaard and Wittgenstein to name but a few. It also discusses the big questions such as 'What is truth?', the relations... read more
Why do giraffes have long necks? It can't really be for reaching tasty leaves since their main food is ground level bushes, tidy though that explanation would be. And how does relativity theory cope with the fact that the observable universe defies prediction by being far too small and anything but homogeneous? By inventing a vastly larger, but invisible, universe. And what exactly should we m... read more
Philosophy For Dummies
Martin Cohen
Confused by metaphysics? In a muddle with aesthetics? Intimidated by Kant? Then look no further! Philosophy For Dummies, UK Edition is a complete crash-course in philosophical thought, covering key philosophers, philosophical history and theory and the big questions that affect us today. Tying in with standard UK curricula and including core topics such as logic, ethics and political philosoph... read more
The Leader's Bookshelf: 25 Great Books and Their Readers
Cohen, Martin
Martin has 7 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Great experience/Highly recommend -- Martin provided an editorial assessment for my completed manuscript and also helpful coaching as to how to edit my proposal and submit to a university press in the US. He was especially good at communication and staying consistent and timely with returning chapters marked with comments. He provided a lot of helpful honest feedback, overall advice about publi...
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Julie Geredien, March 2023
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Reply from Martin Cohen
Martin is a great listener. Displays a great balance or I should say skill in making me think out of the box and at the same time allows me to preserve my individuality. I also love the communication style which is "direct". Martin knows the art of getting the best out of me. Consider myself lucky to work with Martin.
Sujeet Nair, April 2022
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Reply from Martin Cohen
Martin's work enabled very significant improvements to and restructuring of the piece. He was happy to repeatedly provide detailed comments through a series of iterations. There was useful feedback both helping with focus/structure, and details such as alternate spellings of names and clearer ways to write a sentence.
Nick Lee, March 2022
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Reply from Martin Cohen
The job turned out to be a tough one but all went well. I'm very happy with the advice and feedback and glad I went down this route.
Peter Jones, September 2021
Reply from Martin Cohen
My experience of working with Martin has been a good one so far and I'm happy with how the job is progressing. I'm lucky to have found someone so well qualified and helpful.
Peter Jones, June 2021
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Reply from Martin Cohen
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