Great teacher. Very nice and humorous. 5 tests, final, and oral presentation. Read the book and take good class notes and you will surely get an A.

Professor Firestone's class is easy, take notes and you'll be fine. As far as covering major world religions he doesn't do an adequate job because he omits Christianity. He is extremely biased. Isn't very open to question. Ex-lawyer. I grew to like him.

Excellent teacher. I would gladly take him again. He is very clear when teaching, and does an excellent job at exposing the students to other religions. For those who think that he's biased, I bet that they are the ones who are truly biased. Prof Firestone is extremely open to students sharing their views, and highly encourages it.

This class is not as easy as everyone's saying. You have A LOT of reading in this class so be warned. This is not one of those classes where you dont have to get the book.. you HAVE to have it. lots of hw, tests are not too hard. attendance is manditory and he's very strict about it. overall good class.

professor firestone's critical thinking class is the best class i have taken at el camino! everything learned can be applied outside the class and the the way firestone presents it will keep you engaged and interested. a for the day! woo hoo!

I like Prof. Firestone very much. Although we had our different ways of viewing things, he was attentive to what I had to say. Class overall was pretty easy if you read and pay attention in class. I enjoyed his class and most of all his personality. He is what makes the class even more interesting. Thank you Prof. Firestone. :)

Excellent professor! He is very open-minded (and not biased, like others claim). You have 5 exams, some hw (but it's for your benefit and for more points), 3-4 min. oral presentation, and final exam. He is very good about returning exams the next day. Come to class, take notes, and enjoy it; you won't regret it!

BEST PROFESSOR I HAVE EVER HAD since Kindergarden. Seriously. He taught me to be so open minded, he is funny, he is organized. You know exactly what he expects. Very honest, he is just so cool. I cant say anything bad about Mr. Firestone. I recommend everyone take him!!!!

Firestone is the best teacher I have ever had. He has a deep knowledge for philosophy. His lectures are clear and entertaining. His class will change your life, I guarantee it. Although some claim he's biased, I think he's very honest. I've had him for three classes now and I highly recommend taking him for any philosophy class.

Great and very knowledgeable prof. He really makes you think and start applying the concepts to your life. You have 2 exams, 1 final, and a presentation. Come to class, take good notes, and you will be fine. Everything he says in class is on the exam - no surprises, so take good notes; you're responsible so study them and you will get an A!

This class wasn't as amazing as made out to be. while it wasn't exciting, it wasn't really boring either. it was kind of an average class. teacher seems to have a sort of wikipedia-like knowledge. reading assigned every night. in general, i found the class to be below expectations - it won't blow your mind away or make you rethink your faith.

Took his "Philosophy of Religion" class. Excellent instructor. You will learn so much.

His class is pretty standard. You read and do 1 page summaries. You attend class, listen to the lecture...& take notes. Do all of that, & it's pretty hard to get anything lower than an A.

even though he might be biased, he makes you think for yourself!!! i love his class & his lectures. You don't have to agree with everything he says, but he def. makes you think outside the box!!!!

At first, i was very skeptical about this teacher until I learned that well, philosophy IS all about being skeptical! You'll learn a lot from this class. His exams are tough, but if you study you'll pass. Attendance & Homework is MANDATORY. Yes, he is biased but aren't we all? See, he's taught me to be more understanding of others already!

He is very clear about what he is teaching. He doesnt like stupid questions and will make you feel retarded but overall a very good prof. Hw is given everytime you read and his tests are tough. If you take good notes you'll do fine. Study though!

he claims to be there to simply 'inform', but he is very biased. if you don't agree w/ him, he'll try to put you down. hw: read book, do summary. class: go over book, lesson, discussion. If you know who you are, then you won't be shaken. if you haven't found yourself, don't take him. buy book: mybooksplease @ hotmail .com

He is an awesome professor, I took his class causse I had to, and it was one of my favorites! Do his HW and study moderately and you will be fine, btw there is a presentation at the end of the semester on what you learned, super easy though.

Awesome Teacher! Would definitely take him again!

Do the reading & show up to class.

Yes, Prof. Firestone has very strong opinions and will let you know them. But, he won't look down on you if you disagree and is tolerant. He seemed intimidating the first day, but after you get to know him, he's a nice guy and will gladly help you and answer questions. I found the material to be very interesting and am now majoring in philosophy.

with it being my first semester at ecc, taking this class was the best choice. i love it. it makes you open minded and tolerant of other people and their beliefs.

This teacher LOVES what he does, many teachers are not very passionate. You can tell by his lectures, his love for philosophy. I would take him a million times more, he makes you understand concepts very well. He also takes his time to help you during office hours. Do the HW, do the readings, and attend class.. You will get an A.

Great professor, very passionate about topics. I loved this class, but you do have to study for tests, they are pretty hard and a big portion of your overall grade. No essays, just 3 tests and a presentation. In the end, you get a lot out of this class that will help you look at life in a different way for the better. Recommend!! :)

I've taken 90 units in college and Firestone is my favorite. Existentialism is the best class I've ever taken. It is life-changing, no hyperbole there! Firestone is a great professor, and also a good man. Yes, he is biased, because he's human, but he's also had more education and life experience than any of the reviewers here. Thanks professor!

Every test question will be straight from the lecture. The book is not very helpful because the text is so cryptic but it is a must to have it. Lectures can be boring at times, and if you disagree with him he tends to shoot you down. Homework is easy points, he doesn't even read it. Tests are multiple choice with a short answer section.

This professor was brilliant and the best,this was a very interesting class, you will get your moneys worth along with more knowledge and culture. This was by far one of the best classes and Professors I have ever taken. He is just wonderful and very nice. The material is challenging but the study effort is worth it.

decent prof. very nice and genuine. tests are easy. its the topic he teaches that is really worth taking him. great lessons to learn from this class. if you enjoy reading and writing, you will enjoy the class. about 15 one-page reviews on daily readings, a research paper, 2 exams. and dont be afraid of the presentation at the end of the course.

Brilliant, life-changing prof! Will never the philosophy lessons I learned through Firestone's courses. A MUST-TAKE.

this is a COLLEGE ClASS! he does not give handouts,studyguide, nor extra credit. you have to attend class every single day, if not goodluck in passing the class. test are okay if you study but difficult if you dont. this class was great and so is he. he is not bias at all!!! he id probably the best prof at elco

First of all he wrote the book for this class, so obviously he is going to discuss only his opinions, which some may not like. Personally, I did not. He is very passionate about said opinions and if you differ on the tests or the 6 page paper, then he will take off points. I received an A because I only missed 2 classes and studied for the exams.

great professor, very helpful during and after class. tests are based PURELY on lectures, books are only used for daily assignments. got an A in the class only by taking great notes and did not miss one lecture. didn't even read more than a paragraph for each chapter.

This is the 2nd class I have taken with prof. Firestone. His intro class was easier than phil. of religion (currently taking), but I highly recommend this course if you are interested in preparing for 4-yr course work. Attendance is mandatory; he is happyavailable to meet in office hours. You will not pass if you don't study -- this is college.

Brilliant, inspirational, funny, well-versed, crystal-clear, life-changing professor who truly cares about his students and gives great feedback. I wish I could give more than five stars; would recommend to any student. Pay close attention and don't miss classes. His book on critical thinking is amazing; I still use it to this day. --A lifelong fan

I never had an interest in philosophy until his intro class. By the end of the semester, the class had changed my life - I'm not the only one. I'd say 85-90% of the students really get something positive out of the class. I'm a typical B student who doesn't study a lot, but I managed to pull good marks on his tests. Helps during office hours.

This is one of more old-school setting type of class. Be ready to pay heavy attention during lectures as studying on your own just by reading text is almost impossible due to overwhelming amount of reading materials (as it is with all philosophy). Some religious students may be little offended bc of his bluntness but he is nevertheless great prof

Professor Firestone is one of my favorite professors at El Camino. Be prepared to read from the book, do homework, study, and attend class, as the lectures are essential to passing the class. Very passionate about what he does and makes Philosophy very interesting. Taking him again for Phil115. Would definitely recommend him!

Professor Firestone is one of the most passionate professors I've ever encountered. He really cares about his students' success and about the topics he teaches. Taking good notes in this class is key, since the tests are based on lectures. The homework is very straightforward and helps you understand the readings. Great professor and great course.

Professor Firestone is a great teacher and very passionate about his course matter. This is the third time I have taken one of his classes as I find his courses extremely interesting. His exams are based on his lectures in which he dissects the subject matter from the assigned readings, so students should be fully prepared for success in his class!

One of the most passionate professors about the subject matter; loves to teach and wants you to succeed. Ideas/thoughts that can improve your life or how you choose to do things. Course relies heavily on his tests/papers. Do the homework, read! It'll be less confusing when he lectures on it the next day. Tests consists of mult., quotes, and essays

He is not a difficult teacher, just study the lecture notes. He can be very insolent towards students and likes to embarrass some. When encountering counter philosophical views he doesn't really give adequate reasons why but just rash commentaries. I was hoping to find great discussions but they are very minimal so it's not that fun.

Took Firestone for Philosophy 101 Honors. You get homework everyday that consists of writing a page of whatever your reading was. There are no study guides, it's all based on lecture notes so you need to take great notes. Study hard for his tests. Overall, it was a very rewarding class with a very knowledgeable professor. Not an easy A.

Amazing Professor. He's super clear when he teaches. He will be a role model, and will teach you a lot about life. People might say he's a tough grader, but if you study for his exam you'll be fine. Definitely should take.

Three Tests and they are everything Study hard for them, and a one page essay due every class (easy he doesn't read them) . Great teacher, really loves his subject takes a while to warm up to but he is great. Don't miss class, and take very good notes

I know my ratings may contradict what I'm saying but trust me I took him for philo honors 101 and he made you read every night, write a paper and your grade was mostly composed of 3 tests, homework and 3 short papers but its worth it. You will learn! He is a great professor.

Fantastic Philosophy teacher, who you can feel his passion during the lectures. Class consists of diving into the philosophy for that day. Honors class has to write an additional 3 papers over the normal class, but as long as you do well on tests, those likely won't make or break your grade. Expect to read a lot for homework, but tests are fair

He is really inspirational and has good morals and values. But beware if you're taking his Philosophy of Religion class, he's an opinionated atheist. The tests are not accumulative, so there technically is no final. But there is a ton of reading and lecture. And you must show up, or else you might miss something crucial on a test.

Took him for both 103 & 105 during my last sem before transferring & he's honestly one of the only profs I'd go back for just to take him again. By far one of the most intelligent people I've ever met. He's pretty opinionated and exams are intense, but his classes are SO worth it and really make you think critically about the world. Take him.

Firestone is super passionate about what he teaches and only tests on the lectures, which if you take good notes, makes the class really easy

Incredible lectures, especially for his 101 class. Assigns quite a bit of reading and has daily credit/no credit 1 page reading reviews for all classes. If you don't miss much class and pay attention to lectures you should do well. Tests are based on lectures and are multiple choice. Note: for 101 honors/other classes hes a hard grader for papers.

Took Philosophy of Literature with him. Great with lectures. Clearly knows what he's talking about and is open to all related questions and viewpoints. Homework is worth 10% so it's almost entirely negligible, though it saves grades. Study HARD for the exams though, not because they're hard, but because they're worth so damn much!!

Professor Firestone is great. He really cares that his students understand the material. His lectures are clear and straight to the point. There is homework due every class, but it's not hard as long as you read the assigned chapter.

amazing professor who is passionate about the subject, everyone should take this class at one point. No homework ever, just a few exams and a new lecture every class but they are very interesting. tests arent hard just come to class and take good notes. he's very funny and made the class very enjoyable. definitley recommend!!!

You can tell he cares about his students and about philosophy. If your goal is to learn, take this class. His lectures are very clear. If your goal is an easy A, it's still not even that hard. There are daily reading assignments, but they're fairly short and worth very little. Pay attention during class, study for tests, and you'll be fine.

Took him for Philosophy 101H. Great professor who knows what he's talking about. He's slightly biased but you will learn and be engaged through his lectures. His tests can be dumb cause there are questions about his perspective on topics rather than fact.

He's a great professor and really cares for his students. You don't need the book, as long as you show up to lectures and take good notes you will pass. If you're slightly interested in philosophy and need a good grade, I'd recommend this class.

Professor Firestone prepares you for your future life in the higher education university system and on your lifelong career path, honing your ability to be a critically thinking citizen in a competitive global world. He teaches you how to understand diverse perspectives, be able to choose and defend a position with good reasons and write clearly!

Professor Firestone will open your mind. You will ask the most important questions of your life. You will understand that other people look at existence differently from you. You will question your own beliefs and views. You will read and discuss the philosophers and questions "Existentialism" provokes. Professor Firestone will change you forever.

One of my all time favorite professors! His engaging lecture style kept me on the edge of my seat and eager to contribute.

The teacher is amazing and when we moved to online classes during the pandemic he was caring about the students. Even though his lectures got bland due to no debates or discussion the class remained easy. Would recommend taking him on campus if possible

To succeed in his class and get an A, I HIGHLY recommend taking organized notes on everything from the morals of in-class discussions to the things he writes on the board and study them VERY well to prepare for exams. All in all, he's just an awesome guy that I genuinely feel changed my life. Made me not only love Philosophy but appreciate life.

The moment that stuck out most to me with Prof. Firestone was when he took me aside before the final to tell me that he thought I was a great student, and that I should take more philosophy classes in the future. To date, he's the only professor to say anything of the sort to me. Professor, if you're reading this, thank you. It meant a lot to me.

He's absolutely amazing! He loves to teach, and his lectures are fun, engaging, and thought-provoking. You have to write a 1 page summary of the reading, but it doesn't have to be detailed. He just checks that you did it and gives you credit. Tests can be tough, but if you paid attention, you'll be fine. Definitely put some effort in your papers.

Randy is great. His class changed my life. 3 tests, 3 essays, easy HW assignments here and there. Really interesting lectures and discussions. I highly recommend taking his class! (ps don't call him randy tho)

His lectures are literally always engaging and you'll instantly realize how passionate he is about philosophy and inspiring his students. He explains the readings extremely well, has solid notes for us, so lectures are never difficult. If you want a chance to reflect the kind of authentic or inauthentic person you are, take him for existentialism!

Great class! Lots of takeaways. Able to apply the material to life.

Randy is a great teacher; if you're looking for a great class, I would definitely recommend taking his class. He takes a hands-on approach to Philipose and makes good arguments when you ask him questions. He's really funny too and makes the class more personable. I would recommend this class to anyone at ECC.

Mr. Firestone takes a hands-on approach when it comes to his lectures and discussions with his students in class giving you a better grasp of contemporary philosophy. I would recommend this class to anyone who is looking to have a better understanding of life as most of the class covers great ideas that give one insight into life.

Never attended zoom. Watched the recorded lectures instead. Reading isn't required tbh, though some of the stuff is extremely cool to read about. Negative reviews are from salty "honors" kids who were constantly told they were wrong or, didn't receive and A... sucks to suck. Overall, good course, and instructor. Firestone is the GOAT.

Very passionate about philosophy, makes sure not to offend anyone during seemingly controversial topics, and is just a nice person. Strongly recommend this course to broaden your life perspective. Join this class with an open mindset--if you enroll stiff in your beliefs, you will not enjoy it (why'd you enroll in the first place?). Lectures are A+

Firestone is sort of an old school instructor- stay engaged during the lectures and take good notes and you will succeed. You can do well on exams just skimming through the readings, his lectures explain everything you need to know but the readings also help you to prepare. Professor is an amicable guy and lectures are engaging and easy to follow.

I took his PHIL 103 class as well and textbook was required. He loves philosophy. He uses REAL LIFE EXAMPLES of religions and different ideologies as we discuss and learn about them. PARTICIPATE! He likes the engagement and it helps you also ask questions! He can sometimes go broad, so if you want more specificity you need to ask sometimes

I took Firestone's 105 in person and 107 online. Both were very enriching and memorable. Firestone, and ECC's philosophy department as a whole, have provided many of the best classes I've ever taken. He may initially come off as opinionated, but I always found him respectful and endearing. It's clear he cares and always wants to help his students.

I was honestly pretty shocked he has such bad reviews. He's a seriously engaging professor and he's absolutely hilarious. My only issue : When it comes to essays, especially if you're taking his Philosophy honors class, he's not clear what the rubric is AT ALL. But otherwise, the class is a total breeze. Just pay attention!

Passionate and amiable. If you miss class, he usually has recordings of the lecture on canvas. Engaging lectures. Pauses to ask if we understand, but the material is easy to grasp anyway. Grade is mainly based on 3 exams, but do the homework anyway in case you end up in between grades (that was my downfall here).

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH HE IS A GREAT TEACHER WOULD TAKE HIS CLASS AGAIN SUCH AN AMAZING PERSON I LOVE HIM

Took 101H, 103, 105, 107, and 115 for fun, so definitely a great professor. Highly recommend PHIL-115 Existentialism, his best lectures, readings, and commentary were from this class. Exams only tough if you take bad notes/disengage. He can be dismissive of others ideas, but he does try to return to peoples ideas eventually, don't take it to heart.

Your grade really depends on the exams! But as long as you show up for the lectures, do the readings, and take good notes you should be prepared for the tests. I really liked this class and found it very eye opening. Definitely taking the things I learned in this class with me in the real world.