Hegel: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (ISBN 019280197X)

Excellent:
Probably not very many people will plunge into Hegel on their own, and most of those will quickly plunge back out. As Bryan Magee said, "His writing is almost uniquely obscure -- it positively repels the reader...One can read page after page of Hegel, racking one's brains and thinking: 'What the HELL does he mean?'" Hegel may just be one of those writers best approached through the secondary literature -- at least you will come away with something. Even if you intend to take the plunge, a preparatory introduction seems like a smart idea. I can't imagine a better warm-up than this little book by Peter Singer. It is a model of clear writing, and I have no doubt that Singer is superb in the classroom. He has taken a good deal of trouble to organize the book so that the reader is carefully shepherded along, step by step, through the ideas and arguments. It gives you the feeling of being in a seminar with a master teacher who really, really wants you to understand the material. This is a true introduction, not a once-over synopsis, a careful job in every sense of the term. Highest recommendation.

A decent overview of a difficult philosopher:
The author here presents a short overview of the philosophy of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831). As with most of the books in the Very Short Introduction series from Oxford University Press, the presentation is clear, straightforward, and lucid. Singer's overview briefly cover's Hegel's life, and then turns to major works - Philosophy of History, Philosophy of Right, The Phenomenology of Mind, and Science of Logic. Each of these works is briefly discussed, with the longest discussion being reserved for the Phenomenology. It concludes with a brief look at the Young Hegelians; Karl Marx was one of them, and Hegel was an important influence on the development of Marx's philosophy. Singer clearly has a strong interest in Marx (he wrote the Very Short Introduction to Marx) and frequent references to Marx and Engels throughout the book reinforce Hegel's influence, if unintended, on the development of Communism. Recommended as a first foray into the study of Hegel - the original writings of the philosopher are quite difficult, but this volume makes Hegel's thought relatively accessible.

I read it; I'm still a beginner.:
I have a couple of the "V. Short Introductions". Reading this book, one should bear in mind that by himself Singer is something of an anti-Hegelian, as well as an expert. His reservations spill over into his follow-up intro to Marx. Compared to Roger Scruton's V. Short Intro.s, Singer is summary and helpful, but after reading, you will remain a beginner. Scruton's intro to Kant is much, much harder, and much more rewarding. I feel like I still don't know anything about Hegel, and I think a slightly deeper introduction, by a more sympathetic commentator, is advisable. If you're as slow as I am, by all means take it out of the library. But put your money somewhere else.

An excellent VSI:
The VSI series can be a bit mixed, but Singer's entry in the series on Hegel is outstanding. It offers a superlative introduction to the complexity of Hegel's thoughts and does so in clear and engaging prose. My primary complaint, although I sympathize with the reasons that Singer offers, is the scant treatment of the Science of Logic. It is immensely important to understanding Hegel, and other works, like The Philosophy of Right, which Singer devotes a chapter too, rest on the views put forward in the Science of Logic. My other complaint is Singer's repeated emphasis on Marx and Marxism in relation to Hegel. There are far more important ways, philosophically speaking, in which Hegel has influenced thinking. I would rather have seen discussion of the interplay of analytic philosophy with Hegel and his interpreters. Nonetheless, don't let these complaints mislead: Singer's VSI is excellent. Buy it.

Amazingly clear:
Peter Singer's clarity is astonishing. This Very Short Introduction is a great read, and so is the one he wrote on Marx. I wish he'd write more of these books, thy're a great way to get to know the basics on these thinkers without spending too much time on it.