It is deranged to attempt to read Kant outside of a classroom setting. But, if you are for some reason doing that, I will note a few tips here that’s made the going easier. First, write down a glossary of definitions. Kant refers to a few terms over and over again in different contexts, and it’s good to have something to look back on as things get more complicated.

Second, this lecture series by Robert Paul Wolff is mildly entertaining and goes over key concepts in the book. However, it takes seven lectures for the content to start paying off, and for the concepts to combine into comprehensible ideas. Also, three quarters of the content is just his old man ramblings. There is another video series on YouTube with a bitesized overview of the book that I would recommend as well.

Note: I only read to the end of the Transcendental Analytic because that’s what the Wolff lecture series did. Anyone judging me should be reminded that I am inexplicably doing this for fun. I would also like to say that, yes, I actually did read this, and I watched the entire lecture series. It was extremely painful and slow, and took me about two months. Also, after I finished this book, I legitimately didn’t read another book for like six months. It took every ounce of will I had in my body away from me.

I also liked Kant's 'What is Enlightenment' if you want to read a single page and say you’ve read Kant.

Highlights

⚖️ Expectations vs Reality

They say some books are tough that aren’t actually tough. This book is tough tough tough.

🍻 Would I get a beer with the author?

I read somewhere that Kant was the kind of guy who didn’t like hanging out with his peers in his discipline, because he did not like talking about work while hanging out. I know it’s so strange, but my vibe I get from him is that he wouldn’t be pretentious IRL, and would know how to have a nice conversation. So yes.