The Wisdom of Harry Potter

[mund1801]

Hi everyone,

I've begun to receive some questions about the availability of my 
book, _The Wisdom of Harry Potter_, so please permit me a bit of 
shameless self-promotion: it is now available in some bookstores or 
can be ordered on line. 

Although Amazon.com still lists it as not yet available, I'm hoping 
that they'll be up to speed soon.

Here's some information about the book for those of you who may be 
interested:

Publisher's Description:

Since the 1997 release of J.K. Rowling's first novel--HARRY POTTER 
AND THE SORCERER'S STONE--no series of children's books has been more 
incredibly popular or widely influential. How do we explain the 
enormous appeal of these stories to children? Should parents welcome 
this new interest in reading among their kids or worry, along with 
the critics, that the books encourage either moral complacency or a 
perverse interest in witchcraft and the occult? 

In this original interpretation of the Harry Potter sensation, Edmund 
M. Kern argues that the attraction of these stories to children comes 
not only from the fantastical elements embedded in the plots, but 
also from their underlying moral messages. Children genuinely desire 
to follow Harry as he confronts a host of challenges in an uncertain 
world, because of his desire to do the right thing. Harry's coherent 
yet flexible approach to dealing with evil reflects an updated form 
of Stoicism, says Kern. He argues that Rowling's great accomplishment 
in these books is to have combined imaginative fun with moral 
seriousness. 

Kern's comprehensive evaluation of the Harry Potter stories in terms 
of ethical questions reveals the importance of uncertainty and 
ambiguity in Rowling's imaginative world and highlightrs her call to 
meet them with virtues such as constancy, endurance, perseverance, 
self-discipline, reason, solidarity, empathy, and sacrifice. Chidren 
comprehend that growing up entails some perplexity and pain, that 
they cannot entirely avoid problems, and that they can remain 
constant in circumstances beyond their control. In essence, Harry 
shows them how to work through their problems, rather than seek ways 
around them. Despite the fantastical settings and events of Harry's 
adventures, children are quick to realize that they are just a 
fictional reflection of the confusing and disturbing circumstances 
found in the real world. 

Kern also shows adults how much they can gain by discussing with 
children the moral conundrums faced by Harry and other characters. 
The author outlines the central morals of each book; considers the 
common critiques of the books; discusses Rowling's skillful blend of 
history, legend, and myth; and raises important questions for guiding 
children through Harry's adventures. 

This fresh, instructive, and upbeat guide to Harry Potter gives 
parents a wealth of useful and educational information for discussing 
the moral implications of this continuously popular series of books 
with their children. 

About the Author

Edmund M. Kern is associate professor of history at Lawrence 
University in Appleton, Wisconsin.