Ethics and moral philosophy Books

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAn optimistic historian sifts through the past in his mission to prove that mankind might not be so bad . . . A superb read - brisk, accessible and full of great stories * Sunday Times *This is the book we need right now . . . Entertaining, uplifting . . . If Bregman is right, this book might just make the world a kinder place * Telegraph *Here, we visit the blitz, Lord of the Flies – both the novel and a very different real-life version – a Siberian fox farm, an infamous New York murder and a host of discredited psychological studies . . . There’s a great deal of reassuring human decency to be taken from this bold and thought-provoking book . . . It makes a welcome change to read such a sustained and enjoyable tribute to our better natures * Observer *Filled with compelling tales of human goodness . . . Bregman’s book is a thrilling read and it represents a necessary correction * The Times *Humankind displays [Bregman's] gift for synthesising libraries full of academic research into spellbinding reads. I whizzed through Humankind’s 480 pages, engrossed * Financial Times *The notion that we already have the capacity to radically improve the world is both an exhilarating and a daunting one * New Statesman *Bregman argues convincingly that what we teach and report about ourselves, we become . . . Bold, entertaining and uplifting * Spectator *Bregman’s book is something of a beacon at the moment, when many are looking for values to profess in our traumatised and altered society . . . People have started to talk about this book: perhaps the moment of this entirely positive, heartening message is about to come -- Alexander McCall Smith * Scotsman *Lively and illuminating . . . Even a few months ago, [the idea that most people behave well in most circumstances] might have seemed, as Bregman claims, “a radical idea”. The coronavirus crisis has made it blindingly obvious * Irish Times *This book must be read by as many people as possible - only when people change their view of human nature will they begin to believe in the possibility of building a better world -- Grace BlakeleyOne of the most powerful books I have read for a long time, and a book I have absolutely no hesitation about saying everyone needs to read, and that it will change your life if you do so -- Matthew Taylor, RSARutger Bregman’s extraordinary new book is a revelation . . . Humankind is masterful in its grasp of history, both ancient and modern -- Susan Cain, author of 'Quiet'Cynicism is a theory of everything, but, as Rutger Bregman brilliantly shows, an elective one. This necessary book widens the aperture of possibility for a better future, and radically -- David Wallace-Wells, author of 'The Uninhabitable Earth'This important book is almost preternatural in its timing and argument. Rutger Bregman is poetic in his rejection of a Hobbesian view of our true natures. The gigantic upheavals of 2020 have proved him right. Reading this during lockdown changed the way I think about our humanity. We are good -- Dan SnowRutger Bregman is out on his own, thinking for himself, using history to give the rest of us a chance to build a much better future than we can presently imagine -- Timothy Snyder, Holocaust historian and author of 'On Tyranny'A devastating demolition of the misanthrope’s mantra. A beacon of hope for a frighted world -- Professor Danny Dorling, author of 'Inequality and the 1%'

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A landmark contribution to humanity''s understanding of itself'' The New York TimesWhy can it sometimes feel as though half the population is living in a different moral universe? Why do ideas such as ''fairness'' and ''freedom'' mean such different things to different people? Why is it so hard to see things from another viewpoint? Why do we come to blows over politics and religion?Jonathan Haidt reveals that we often find it hard to get along because our minds are hardwired to be moralistic, judgemental and self-righteous. He explores how morality evolved to enable us to form communities, and how moral values are not just about justice and equality - for some people authority, sanctity or loyalty matter more. Morality binds and blinds, but, using his own research, Haidt proves it is possible to liberate ourselves from the disputes that divide good people.Trade ReviewA landmark contribution to humanity's understanding of itself * The New York Times *If you want to know why you hold your moral beliefs and why many people disagree with you, read this book -- Simon Baron-Cohen * author of The Essential Difference *A truly seminal book -- David Goodhart * Prospect *A tour de force - brave, brilliant, and eloquent. It will challenge the way you think about liberals and conservatives, atheism and religion, good and evil -- Paul Bloom * author of How Pleasure Works *Compelling . . . a fluid combination of erudition and entertainment -- Ian Birrell * Observer *Lucid and thought-provoking . . . deserves to be widely read -- Jenni Russell * Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWe all want to live more healthily and ethically. This book is not just for vegans; it's for anyone who is curious about veganism, its principles and what even non-vegans can learn from its practice. According to reports, the number of vegans in the UK has more than quadrupled since 2014 and with the rise in plant-based foods and cruelty-free products showing no sign of stopping, Think Like a Vegan is a timely exploration of how vegan ethics can be applied to every area of our lives. Through a personal and often irreverent lens, the authors explore a variety of contemporary topics related to animal use. From the basics of vegan logic to politics, economics, love and other aspects of being human, each chapter draws you into a thought-provoking conversation about your daily ethical decisions that will open your eyes to a new way of living in a plant-powered world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERGives us hope, humour and guidance at a time when all are in short supply' TIMOTHY SNYDERThe rare read that might actually help you become a better person' ADAM GRANTTHE ANTIDOTE TO APATHY FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR RUTGER BREGMANEvery day we're bombarded with methods, mantras and life hacks that promise us wellness and prosperity while time and talent remain some of our most squandered resources. The average full-time worker will spend 80,000 hours at their job: are you making the most of them? Do you truly believe in what you do, day in, day out? What if you want to do something more with your limited time on the planet?Internationally bestselling author Rutger Bregman shows us that with moral ambition the will to make the world a wildly better place we can be both idealistic and successful, and change the world along the way. Uncovering the qualities that made the great change-makers of history so effective, he shows how we too can lend our talents to the biggest challenges of our time, from climate change to inequality to the next pandemic. With moral ambition, we can do more than be on the right side of history: we can make history itself.This book won't make your life easier, but it should make it more meaningful. The question is: what will you do with it?

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe scientific research enterprise is built on a foundation of trust. Scientists trust that the results reported by others are valid. Society trusts that the results of research reflect an honest attempt by scientists to describe the world accurately and without bias. But this trust will endure only if the scientific community devotes itself to exemplifying and transmitting the values associated with ethical scientific conduct. On Being a Scientist was designed to supplement the informal lessons in ethics provided by research supervisors and mentors. The book describes the ethical foundations of scientific practices and some of the personal and professional issues that researchers encounter in their work. It applies to all forms of researchwhether in academic, industrial, or governmental settings-and to all scientific disciplines. This third edition of On Being a Scientist reflects developments since the publication of the original edition in 1989 and a second edition in 1995. A contTable of Contents1 Front Matter; 2 Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research; 3 Advising and Mentoring; 4 The Treatment of Data; 5 Mistakes and Negligence; 6 Research Misconduct; 7 Responding to Suspected Violations of Professional Standards; 8 Human Participants and Animal Subjects in Research; 9 Laboratory Safety in Research; 10 Sharing of Research Results; 11 Authorship and the Allocation of Credit; 12 Intellectual Property; 13 Competing Interests, Commitments, and Values; 14 The Researcher in Society; 15 Appendix: Discussion of Case Studies; 16 Additional Resources

Read more less

Book SynopsisCalled The Black Pope by many of his followers, Anton La Vey began the road to High Priesthood of the Church of Satan when he was only 16 years old and an organ player in a carnival...On Saturday night I would see men lusting after halfnaked girls dancing at the carnival, and on Sunday morning when I was playing the organ for tent-show evangelists at the other end of the carnival lot, I would see these same men sitting in the pews with their wives and children, asking God to forgive them and purge them of carnal desires. And the next Saturday night they''d be back at The carnival or some other place of indulgence.I knew then that the Christian Church thrives on hypocrisy, and that man''s carnal nature will out!From that time early in his life his path was clear. Finally, on the last night of April, 1966?Walpurgisnacht,the most important festival of the believers in witchcraft?LaVey shaved his head in the tradition of Ancient executioners and announced the formation of The Church Of Satan. He had seen the need for a church that would recapture man''s body and his carnal desires as objects of celebration.Since worship of fleshly things produces pleasure, he said, there would then be a temple of glorious indulgence . . .

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''It is possible for man to snatch the world from the darkness of absurdity''How should we think and act in the world? These writings on the human condition by one of the twentieth century''s great philosophers explore the absurdity of our notions of good and evil, and show instead how we make our own destiny simply by being.One of twenty new books in the bestselling Penguin Great Ideas series. This new selection showcases a diverse list of thinkers who have helped shape our world today, from anarchists to stoics, feminists to prophets, satirists to Zen Buddhists.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis''About things that are within our power and those that are not.''Epictetus''s Discourses have been the most widely read and influential of all writings of Stoic philosophy, from antiquity onwards. They set out the core ethical principles of Stoicism in a form designed to help people put them into practice and to use them as a basis for leading a good human life. Epictetus was a teacher, and a freed slave, whose discourses have a vivid informality, animated by anecdotes and dialogue. Forceful, direct, and challenging, their central message is that the basis of happiness is up to us, and that we all have the capacity, through sustained reflection and hard work, of achieving this goal. They still speak eloquently to modern readers seeking meaning in their own lives.This is the only complete modern translation of the Discourses, together with the Handbook or manual of key themes, and surviving fragments. Robin Hard''s accurate and accessible translation is accompanied by Christopher Gill''s full introduction and comprehensive notes.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Reviewlively translation ... [Epictetus] remains relevant for anyone who refuses to go with the flow. * Chris Hirst, Independent *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsAn Introduction by Christopher Janaway vii About Christopher Janaway xxxi About Tom Butler-Bowdon xxxi Beyond Good and Evil 1

Read more less

Book Synopsis*A NEW YORKER, ESQUIRE, HISTORY TODAY AND THE CONVERSATION BOOK OF THE YEAR*The best case I've read for putting an upper limit on the accumulation of wealth' Richard Wilkinson'One of the most talked-about books to the moment Limitarianism floats the heretical idea that fixing society isn't just about saving the poorest from destitution, but about putting a cap on how much the richest are able to own' SpectatorNo-one deserves to be a millionaire. Not even you. We all notice when the poor get poorer: when there are more rough sleepers and food bank queues start to grow. But if the rich become richer, there is nothing much to see in public and, for most of us, daily life doesn't change. Or at least, not immediately. In this astonishing, eye-opening intervention, world-leading philosopher and economist Ingrid Robeyns exposes the true extent of our wealth problem, which has spent the past fifty years silently spiralling out of control. In moral, political, economic, social, environmental and psychological terms, she shows, extreme wealth is not only unjustifiable but harmful to us all - the rich included. In place of our current system, Robeyns offers a breathtakingly clear alternative: limitarianism. The answer to so many of the problems posed by neoliberal capitalism - and the opportunity for a vastly better world - lies in placing a hard limit on the wealth that any one person can accumulate. Because nobody deserves to be a millionaire. Not even you. *Shortlisted for the Socrates Philosophy Prize*

Read more less

Book Synopsis''The noblest and most lovable of the great philosophers ... ethically he is supreme'' Bertrand RussellPublished shortly after his death in 1677, the Ethics is Spinoza''s greatest work - a fully cohesive philosophical system that strives to provide a picture of reality and to comprehend the meaning of an ethical life. It defines in turn the nature of God, the mind, human bondage to the emotions and the power of understanding - moving from a consideration of the eternal, to speculate upon humanity''s place in the natural order and the path to attainable happiness. A work of elegant simplicity, the Ethics is a brilliantly insightful consideration of the possibility of redemption through philosophical reflection.Translated by Edwin Curley with an Introduction by Stuart HampshireTrade ReviewThe noblest and most lovable of the great philosophers ... ethically he is supreme. (Bertrand Russell)"

Read more less

Book Synopsis''When silence or tricks of language contribute to maintaining an abuse that must be reformed or a suffering that can be relieved, then there is no other solution but to speak out''Written when execution by guillotine was still legal in France, Albert Camus'' devastating attack on the ''obscene exhibition'' of capital punishment remains one of the most powerful, persuasive arguments ever made against the death penalty.One of twenty new books in the bestselling Penguin Great Ideas series. This new selection showcases a diverse list of thinkers who have helped shape our world today, from anarchists to stoics, feminists to prophets, satirists to Zen Buddhists.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.The discourses of the great Stoic philosopher Epictetus are regarded as some of the most influential teachings of the ancient world. Born into slavery and sent into exile before setting up a school of philosophy, Epictetus delivered a series of lectures where he argued that true happiness comes only when we learn to distinguish what is within our power and what is beyond our personal control.Using George Long's 1890 translation, this edition includes a selection of Epictetus' key principles, as well as a manual of his core philosophy, the Encheiridion. With clarity, conviction and timeless wisdom that is as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago, these teachings navigate the complexities of the human condition and offer rational guidance for the turmoil of modern life.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Existentialist thought [...] is an effort to reconcile the objective and the subjective, the absolute and the relative, the timeless and the historical.' Simone de BeauvoirIn the aftermath of the Second World War, a group of intellectuals gathered to discuss urgent questions of existence, commitment, racism, colonialism, and feminism. Their ideas would continue to shape those debates throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This anthology gathers the key texts of existentialism, and their major intellectual influences, along with works previously neglected in overviews and anthologies of the movement. Incorporating the writings of Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre and Frantz Fanon, alongside selections from Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud and Martin Heidegger. Edited and introduced by Jonathan Webber, Professor of Philosophy at Cardiff University.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMichael Sandel''s Justice: What''s the Right Thing to Do? invites readers of all ages and political persuasions on a journey of moral reflection, and shows how reasoned debate can illuminate our lives.Is it always wrong to lie?Should there be limits to personal freedom?Can killing sometimes be justified?Is the free market fair?What is the right thing to do?Questions like these are at the heart of our lives. In this acclaimed book Michael Sandel - BBC Reith Lecturer and the Harvard professor whose ''Justice'' course has become world famous - gives us a lively and accessible introduction to the intersection of politics and philosophy. He helps us think our way through such hotly contested issues as equal rights, democracy, euthanasia, abortion and same-sex marriage, as well as the ethical dilemmas we face every day.''One of the most popular teachers in the world'' - Observer''Enormously refreshing ... Michael Sandel Trade ReviewOne of the world's most interesting political philosophers * Guardian *Justice is a lucid and compelling analysis of our current moral dilemmas, which argues for a new commitment to citizenship and the common good * Shirley Williams *In the beautifully concise explanations of American philosopher Michael Sandel, I see great insight into our current predicaments. If any political reckoning is on its way . . . then perhaps it might come from the philosophy department of Harvard * Madeleine Bunting *Michael Sandel, perhaps the most prominent college professor in America,...practices the best kind of academic populism, managing to simplify John Stuart Mill and John Rawls without being simplistic. But Sandel is best at what he calls bringing 'moral clarity to the alternatives we confront as democratic citizens'.... He ends up clarifying a basic political divide - not between left and right, but between those who recognize nothing greater than individual rights and choices, and those who affirm a 'politics of the common good,' rooted in moral beliefs that can't be ignored -- Michael Gerson * Washington Post *Michael Sandel transforms moral philosophy by putting it at the heart of civic debate....Sandel's insistence on the inescapably ethical character of political debate is enormously refreshing -- Edward Skidelsky * New Statesman *A spellbinding philosopher.... For Michael Sandel, justice is not a spectator sport.... He is calling for nothing less than a reinvigoration of citizenship -- Samuel Moyn * The Nation *An ambitious and an appealing idea. Intriguingly, I find myself persuaded that it might well be worth a try * Lisa Jardine, The Times *More than exhilarating; exciting in its ability to persuade this student/reader, time and again, that the principle now being invoked-on this page, in this chapter-is the one to deliver the sufficiently inclusive guide to the making of a decent life -- Vivien Gornick * Boston Review *Sandel explains theories of justice...with clarity and immediacy; the ideas of Aristotle, Jeremy Bentham, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, Robert Nozick and John Rawls have rarely, if ever, been set out as accessibly... In terms we can all understand, Justice confronts us with the concepts that lurk, so often unacknowledged, beneath our conflicts -- Jonathan Rauch * New York Times *This book is absolutely indispensable for anyone who wants to be a good citizen. It shows how to balance competing values, a talent our nation desperately needs nowadays -- Walter Isaacson, author of 'Benjamin Franklin: An American Life'Sandel dazzles in this sweeping survey of hot topics.... Erudite, conversational and deeply humane, this is truly transformative reading * Publishers Weekly, starred review *Hard cases may make bad laws, but in Michael Sandel's hands they produce some cool philosophy.... Justice is a timely plea for us to desist from political bickering and see if we can have a sensible discussion about what sort of society we really want to live in -- Jonathan Ree * The Observer *A road map for negotiating modern moral dilemmas... For those seeking a short course through moral philosophy from a witty writer, fast on his feet, and nimble with his pen, this thin volume is difficult to beat -- Kevin J. Hamilton * Seattle Times *There have been various attempts over the decades to bury moral philosophy -- to dismiss convictions about right and wrong as cultural prejudices, or secretions of the brain, or matters so personal they shouldn't even affect our private lives. But moral questions always return, as puzzles and as tragedies. Would we push a hefty man onto a railroad track to save the lives of five others? Should Petty Officer 1st Class Marcus Luttrell, in June of 2005, have executed a group of Afghan goatherds who, having stumbled on his position, might inform the enemy about his unit? (Luttrell let them go, the Taliban attacked, and three of his comrades died.) These examples and others -- price-gouging after Hurricane Katrina, affirmative action, gay marriage -- are all grist for the teaching of Michael Sandel, perhaps the most prominent college professor in America. His popular class at Harvard -- Moral Reasoning 22: Justice -- attracts about a sixth of all undergraduates. For those lacking $49,000 a year in tuition and board, he has written Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? which has been further translated into a PBS series and a Web site, JusticeHarvard.org -- Michael Gerson * Wall Street Journal *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Don''t hope that events will turn out the way you want, welcome events in whichever way they happen''How can we cope when life''s events seem beyond our control? These words of consolation and inspiration from the three great Stoic philosophers - Epictetus, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius - offer ancient wisdom on how to face life''s adversities and live well in the world.One of twenty new books in the bestselling Penguin Great Ideas series. This new selection showcases a diverse list of thinkers who have helped shape our world today, from anarchists to stoics, feminists to prophets, satirists to Zen Buddhists.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAncient Chinese culture has a been a rich source of wisdom for many millennia. Chinese Wisdom provides a concise insight into the ideas of great Chinese thinkers, arranged thematically. Living in the 5th century BCE, great teacher Confucius laid the foundations for an outlook and way of life that focused on correct behaviour, humaneness and respect for one?s elders, precepts that are deeply embedded across East Asian countries to this day. His disciple, Meng Ke, outlined new ideas for rulers which provided the basis of Chinese political culture for many centuries afterwards. Laozi, the founder of Taoism and author of the Tao Te Ching, wrote about the Tao, or the Way ? the correct way of living attainable to all and which links all things. Sun Tzu?s Art of War provides advice on how to overcome and outwit an opponent (the basic tenets of which are often applied to business strategy today), while Zhu Xi taught the advantages of meditation as a method for self-knowledge and self-cultivation. Beautifully produced in traditional Chinese binding, *Chinese Wisdom* offers more than 80 succinct quotes from Chinese thinkers through the ages, on topics as wide- ranging as filial piety, love, clear thinking, work, business, war and family. A compact volume for anyone interested in ancient Chinese thought Features more than 80 quotes from great Chinese thinkers, such as Sun Tzu, Laozi, Zhi Xi and Confucius A beautifully packaged gift made using traditional Chinese book-binding techniques

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHighly controversial when it was first published in 1981, Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue has since established itself as a landmark work in contemporary moral philosophy. In this book, MacIntyre sought to address a crisis in moral language that he traced back to a European Enlightenment that had made the formulation of moral principles increasingly difficult. In the search for a way out of this impasse, MacIntyre returns to an earlier strand of ethical thinking, that of Aristotle, who emphasised the importance of 'virtue' to the ethical life. More than thirty years after its original publication, After Virtue remains a work that is impossible to ignore for anyone interested in our understanding of ethics and morality today.Table of ContentsPrologue to the Third Edition \ Preface \ 1. A Disquieting Suggestion \ 2. The Nature of Moral Agreement Today and the Claims of Emotivism \ 3. Emotivism: Social Content and Social Context \ 4. The Predecessor Culture and the Enlightenment Project of Justifying Morality \ 5. Why the Enlightenment Project of Justifying Morality Had to Fail \ 6. Some Consequences of the Failure of the Enlightenment Project \ 7. ‘Fact', Explanation and Expertise \ 8. The Character of Generalizations in Social Science and their Lack of Predictive Power \ 9. Nietzsche or Aristotle? \ 10. The Virtues in Heroic Societies \ 11. The Virtues at Athens \ 12. Aristotle's Account of the Virtues \ 13. Medieval Aspects and Occasions \ 14. The Nature of the Virtues \ 15. The Virtues, The Unity of a Human Life and the Concept of a Tradition \ 16. From the Virtues to Virtue and After Virtue \ 17. Justice as a Virtue: Changing Conceptions \ 18. After Virtue: Nietzsche or Aristotle, Trotsky and St Benedict \ 19. Postscript \ Bibliography \ Index.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTranslated by Thomas Common. With an Introduction by Nicholas Davey. This astonishing series of aphorisms, put into the mouth of the Persian sage Zarathustra, or Zoroaster, contains the kernel of Nietzsche’s thought. ‘God is dead’, he tells us. Christianity is decadent, leading mankind into a slave morality concerned not with this life, but with the next. Nietzsche emphasises the Übermensch, or Superman, whose will to power makes him the creator of a new heroic mentality. The intensely felt ideas are expressed in prose-poetry of indefinable beauty. Though misused by the German National Socialist party as a spurious justification of their creed, the book also had a profound influence on early twentieth-century writers such as Shaw, Mann, Gide, Lawrence and Sartre.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Everyone should read Down Girl. It should be distributed in schools and every board room, athletic department and legislative space'' - Soraya ChemalyA transformative book on how misogyny works from a hugely influential thinkerMisogyny is a hot topic, yet it''s often misunderstood. What is misogyny exactly? Who deserves to be called a misogynist? How does misogyny contrast with sexism, and why is it prone to persist - or increase - even when sexist gender roles are waning? In Down Girl moral philosopher Kate Manne argues that misogyny should not be understood primarily in terms of the hatred or hostility some men feel toward all or most women. Rather, it is primarily about controlling, policing, punishing and exiling the bad women who challenge male dominance. And it is compatible with rewarding the good ones and singling out other women to serve as warnings to those who are out of order.An incredibly forensic analysis of the logic of misogyny from a brilliant thinker, Down Girl is essential reading for the #MeToo era.Trade ReviewAn important and compelling analysis of a phenomenon that's everywhere. Out of Manne's thoughtful analysis, of not just much-debated high-profile events but also everyday experiences, emerge insight after insight into the what, why, when, and how of misogyny -- Cordelia Fine * Big Issue *Fiercely argued and timely -- Paul Bloom * New Yorker *Manne's book is a forensic and clever analysis which provides the cogs and wheels of how the system of patriarchal policing works, in our minds, as well as in our world. . . Down Girl offers a sharply cut prism through which to view our everyday experience -- Afua Hirsch * Times Literary Supplement *Everyone should read Down Girl. It should be distributed in schools and every board room, athletic department and legislative space -- Soraya Chemaly, author of Rage Becomes HerThe moment is ripe for a reckoning, and Manne offers the language and theory I've found myself grasping for. . . She combines the hyper-articulateness of a philosopher and the energy and humor of a down-to-earth millennial, which is electrifying -- Regan Penaluna * Guernica Magazine *A must-read. . . should be in every feminist's library. . . Down Girl is destined to become a feminist literary classic alongside the likes of The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf or Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique -- Jennifer Taylor Skinner * The Electorette *Really excellent. . . timely and intellectually rigorous -- Nigel WarburtonKate Manne does a jaw-droppingly brilliant job of explaining gender and power dynamics which have always been purposefully muddied, but which shape how and to whom sympathy and presumptions of full humanity accrue. . . Perceptive, bold, stylishly written and bracingly clear eyed, Down Girl is one of the best books I have ever read on gender and power; I will never stop learning from it -- Rebecca Traister, author of Good and MadAn exciting next-generation feminist philosopher -- Elizabeth AndersonDown Girl is excruciatingly well-timed, providing a theoretical framework for a phenomenon baring itself before us, perverse and pervasive. . . It reminds us that while revealing individual misogynists is hard, uprooting misogyny is much harder -- Carlos Lozada * Washington Post *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisCharles Handy is one of the giants of contemporary thought. His books on management including Understanding Organizations and Gods of Management have changed the way we view business. His work on broader issues and trends such as Beyond Certainty and The Second Curve has changed the way we view society. In his new book, Handy, looking back over a rich and varied life, shares the lessons he has learned along the way. What things really matter? What daily worries should we learn to treat as unimportant? How do we become more accepting of ourselves and of those around us? How do we discover purpose in our everyday existence? Clear-eyed and optimistic by turns, he sets out the questions that everyone needs to ask themselves in the course of their lives, and points us in the direction of the answers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEverywhere we hear of decline, of a world that was better before the influence of modernity. While some lament Western culture’s slide into relativism and nihilism and others celebrate the trend as a liberating sort of progress, Taylor calls on us to face the moral and political crises of our time, and to make the most of modernity’s challenges.Trade ReviewThe great merit of Taylor’s brief, non-technical, powerful book…is the vigour with which he restates the point which Hegel (and later Dewey) urged against Rousseau and Kant: that we are only individuals in so far as we are social… Being authentic, being faithful to ourselves, is being faithful to something which was produced in collaboration with a lot of other people… The core of Taylor’s argument is a vigorous and entirely successful criticism of two intertwined bad ideas: that you are wonderful just because you are you, and that ‘respect for difference’ requires you to respect every human being, and every human culture—no matter how vicious or stupid. -- Richard Rorty * London Review of Books *Charles Taylor is a philosopher of broad reach and many talents, but his most striking talent is a gift for interpreting different traditions, cultures and philosophies to one another… [This book is] full of good things. -- Alan Ryan * New York Times Book Review *Taylor’s crystalline insights rescue us from the plague on both houses in the debate over modernity and its discontents. -- Joseph Coates * Chicago Tribune *Reading Taylor’s unexpected but always perceptive judgments on modernity, one becomes forcefully aware of the critical potential of that old philosophical injunction ‘know thyself’. This little book points to the importance of public reflection and debate about who we are. It also forcefully draws attention to their absence from our public culture. -- Ben Rogers * The Guardian *Charles Taylor’s Ethics of Authenticity is a concise, clear discussion reexamining these and closely related ‘malaises’ of modernity while focusing on meaning, its importance in our lives, and why our attempts to find our identities matter—whether these identities be personal, social, political, aesthetic, or scientific. He affirms the moral ground underlying modern individualism, but challenges us to go beyond relativism to pluralism. -- Paul Roebuck * Ethics, Place and Environment *These lectures provide not only an inviting summary of [Taylor’s] recent thought but also, in many ways, a more revealing statement of his underlying convictions. Taylor’s own voice comes through clearly in this book—the voice of a philosophically reflective and hermeneutically rooted cultural critic. -- Joel Anderson * Philosophy and Social Criticism *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Do not act as if you had ten thousand years to live ... while you have life in you, while you still can, make yourself good.''The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) is a private notebook of philosophical reflections, written by a Roman emperor probably on military campaign in Germany. In short, highly charged comments, Marcus draws on Stoic philosophy to confront challenges that he felt acutely, but which are also shared by all human beings - the looming presence of death, making sense of one''s social role and projects, the moral significance of the universe. They bring us closer to the personality of the emperor, who is often disillusioned with his own status and with human activities in general; they are both an historical document and a remarkable spiritual diary.This translation by Robin Hard brings out the eloquence and universality of Marcus'' thoughts. The introduction and notes by Christopher Gill place the Meditations firmly in the ancient philosophical context. A

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat existential threats does humanity face? And how can we secure our future? ‘The Precipice is a powerful book . . . Ord’s love for humanity and hope for its future is infectious’ Spectator ‘Ord’s analysis of the science is exemplary . . . Thrillingly written’ Sunday Times We live during the most important era of human history. In the twentieth century, we developed the means to destroy ourselves – without developing the moral framework to ensure we won't. This is the Precipice, and how we respond to it will be the most crucial decision of our time. Oxford moral philosopher Toby Ord explores the risks to humanity's future, from the familiar man-made threats of climate change and nuclear war, to the potentially greater, more unfamiliar threats from engineered pandemics and advanced artificial intelligence. With clear and rigorous thinking, Ord calculates the various risk levels, and shows how our own time fits within the larger story of human history. We can say with certainty that the novel coronavirus does not pose such a risk. But could the next pandemic? And what can we do, in our present moment, to face the risks head on? A major work that brings together the disciplines of physics, biology, earth and computer science, history, anthropology, statistics, international relations, political science and moral philosophy, The Precipice is a call for a new understanding of our age: a major reorientation in the way we see the world, our history, and the role we play in it.Trade ReviewToby Ord is today’s Carl Sagan. Clear and inspiring, this book leaves us hopeful for a flourishing human future -- Christine Peterson, co-founder of the Foresight InstituteA powerfully argued book that alerts us to what is perhaps the most important – and yet also most neglected – problem we will ever face -- Peter Singer, author of 'Animal Liberation' and 'The Life You Can Save'The Precipice separates science from hype and will remain the definitive work on existential risk for a long time to come -- Max Tegmark, author of 'Life 3.0' and 'Our Mathematical Universe'A fascinating and persuasive guide to the most important topic of all: how our species will survive the risks we pose to our continued existence -- Stuart Russell, author of 'Human Compatible' and 'Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach'This book is a wake-up call to the existential threats of nuclear and biological weapons and the urgent need for action. A must-read that galvanises us to play a role in addressing these risks -- Angela Kane, former UN High Representative for Disarmament AffairsHumanity has never been more vulnerable – there’s now a one-in-six chance that civilisation won’t make it to the end of the century, argues a highly influential philosopher . . . Ord’s analysis of the science is exemplary . . . Thrillingly written * Sunday Times *Many people have recently found that they want to read books offering the grandest perspectives possible on human existence, such as Sapiens . . . Toby Ord’s new book is a startling and rigorous contribution to this genre that deserves to be just as widely read * Evening Standard *Splendid . . . The Precipice is a powerful book, written with a philosopher’s eye . . . Ord’s love for humanity and hope for its future is infectious * Spectator *Urgent and vaguely prophetic . . . In a year in which our everyday lives were upended by the unexpected (or rather the expected yet neglected), The Precipice is a good way to put everything in perspective -- Books of the Year * WIRED *The Precipice is a fascinating book, one that showcases both the knowledge of its author and his humanity * Axios *A book that seems made for the present moment * New Yorker *A story of the greatest risks to humanity’s future, from the climate crisis and nuclear war to pandemics and artificial intelligence -- Highlights for 2020 * Guardian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow do we live ethical lives alongside others? A fascinating, mind-expanding exploration of our moral universe We have always lived with ethically significant others, whether they are the pets we keep, the gods we believe in or the machines we are endowing with life. How should we treat them as our world changes? In Animals, Robots, Gods, acclaimed anthropologist Webb Keane provides a new vision of ethics, defined less by our minds, religion or society, and more by our interactions with those around us. Drawing on ground-breaking research by fieldworkers around the world, he explores the underpinnings of our moral universe. Along the way we investigate the ethical dilemmas of South Asian animal rights activists, Balinese cockfighters, Japanese robot fanciers -- even macho cowboys. We meet a hunter in the Yukon who explains his prey generously gives itself up to him; a cancer sufferer in Thailand who sees his tumour as a reincarnated ox; a computer that gets you to confess your anxieties as if you were on the psychiatrist's couch. With charm, wit and insight, Keane offers us a better understanding of our doubts and certainties, showing how centuries of conversations between us and non-humans inform our conceptions of morality, and will continue to guide us in the age of AI and beyond.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn insight into moral skepticism of the 20th century. The author argues that our every-day moral codes are an ''error theory'' based on the presumption of moral facts which, he persuasively argues, don''t exist. His refutation of such facts is based on their metaphysical ''queerness'' and the observation of cultural relativity.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMany people regard Hegel''s work as obscure and extremely difficult, yet his importance and influence are universally acknowledged. Professor Singer eliminates any excuse for remaining ignorant of the outlines of Hegel''sphilosophy by providing a broad discussion of his ideas and an account of his major works. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition an excellent introduction to Hegel's thought... Hegel is neatly placed in historical context; the formal waltz of dialectic and the dialectic master and slave are economically illumined; Singer's use of analogy is at times inspired.' * Sunday Times *Table of Contents1. Hegel's times and life ; 2. History with a purpose ; 3. Freedom and community ; 4. The odyssey of the mind ; 5. Logic and dialectics ; 6. Aftermath ; Notes on sources, further reading, index

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn one of the most influential philosophical works ever writen, John Stuart Mill explores the risks and responsibilities of liberty. Examining the tyranny that can come both from government and from the herd-like opinion of the majority, Mill proposes a freedom to think, unite, and pursue our pleasures as the most important freedoms, as long as we cause no harm to others. GREAT IDEAS. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Baggini offers us a tempting smorgasbord of some of the most baffling, weird and occasionally downright creepy scenarios ever envisaged... enjoy these mind-boggling tales from the outer limit of thought' Guardian Is it right to eat a pig that wants to be eaten? Are you really reading this book cover, or are you in a simulation? If God is all-powerful, could he create a square circle? Here are 100 of the most intriguing thought experiments from the history of philosophy and ideas - questions to leave you inspired, informed and scratching your head, dumbfounded. A collection of short, accessible philosophical quandaries to stimulate, challenge and entertain. 'This book is like the Sudoku of moral philosophy: apply your mind to any of its "thought experiments" while stuck on the Tube, and quickly be transported out of rush-hour hell' New StatesmanTrade ReviewBaggini offers us a tempting smorgasbord of some of the most baffling, weird and occasionally downright creepy scenarios ever envisaged... enjoy these mind-boggling tales from the outer limit of thought * Guardian *This book is like the Sudoku of moral philosophy: apply your mind to any of its "thought experiments" while stuck on the Tube, and quickly be transported out of rush-hour hell * New Statesman *Thinking again is what this taut, incisive, bullet-hard book is dedicated to promoting * Sunday Times *An eloquent and engaging introduction to the major philosophical quandaries * Scotland on Sunday *An engaging read ... It's one to which I'll keep returning - whenever I feel like an argument and have nobody to argue with * Sunday Herald *An eloquent and engaging introduction to the major philosophical quandaries about identity, knowledge, morality and rationality.It is the best kind of popularising work: amusing enough to provide an easy way into difficult questions, but uncompromising in terms of the meanings deduced from the fables * Scotland on Sunday *Baggini frames various philosophical conundrums so that we focus on the nub of the matter without the extraneous considerations that complicate them in real life... helpfully cross- referenced and ideal for reading aloud * Metro (London) *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''So the only question is: do animals other than man suffer?''One of the great moral philosophers of the modern age, Peter Singer asks unflinching questions about how we should live our lives. The ideas collected in these writings, arguing that human tyranny over animals is a wrong comparable to racism and sexism, triggered the animal rights movement and gave impetus to the rise in vegan eating.One of twenty new books in the bestselling Penguin Great Ideas series. This new selection showcases a diverse list of thinkers who have helped shape our world today, from anarchists to stoics, feminists to prophets, satirists to Zen Buddhists.Trade ReviewThe argument is short, simple, and irrefutable; the supporting detail - what is done to animals in the course of turning them into food for human beings - is profoundly upsetting. Whoever is not persuaded by these essays of Peter Singer's does not have ears to hear. -- J. M. Coetzee

Read more less

Book SynopsisWestern societies today are coming unmoored in the face of earth-shaking ethical and cultural paradigm shift. At its core is the question of what it means to be human and how we are meant to live. The old answers are no longer accepted; a dizzying array of options are offered in their stead. Underpinning this smorgasbord of lifestyles is a thicket of unquestioned assumptions, such as the separation of gender from biological sex, which not so long ago would have been universally rejected as radical notions.In the spring of 2019, a group of Orthodox Christian scholars drawn from a wide variety of academic disciplines met together to offer responses to the moral crisis our generation faces, elaborating upon its various forms and facilitating a fuller understanding of some of its theological and philosophical foundations. In doing so they offer support to all those who question the claims that are so forcefully insisted upon today – a clarity that will aid them in standing up and resisting trends that have already shown to be the cause of great suffering and unhappiness.Among the contributors to this volume are NY Times bestselling author Rod Dreher, Frederica Matthewes-Green, Dr David Bradshaw, Fr Chad Hatfield, and Fr Peter Heers. Collectively, these scholars remind us that it is only through our participation in the life of Christ, God who became man, that we can find the healing of our humanity through the restoration in us of His image, in which we were formed at the beginning of time.Table of ContentsPart One - Prognoses: Chastity, Purity, Integrity The Beauty of Chastity, Prof. David Bradshaw The Splendor of Purity, Frederica Mathewes-Green The Gnosticism of Modernity and the Quest for Radical Autonomy, Prof. Bruce Seraphim Foltz Gnosis, Techne, Hedone(Erudition, Technology, Pleasure): Contemporary secular Anthropological Assumptions,Dr. Gaelan Gilbert Christian Bioethics: Challenging Secular Assumptions, Prof. Mark Cherry Hierarchy, Inequality, and the Mystery of Male and Female, Prof. Mary Ford The Mystery of Male and Female, Masculine and Feminine: Whys, Wherefores, and Warnings, Prof. Edith Humphrey Part Two - Remedies: Moral, Pastoral, and Social Acquiring an Orthodox Ethos, Archpriest Peter Heers ICXC NIKA: The Liberty ofTheosis, Dr. Alfred Kentigern Siewers Twenty-Six Foundations for Centering the Lives of our Youth in Purity, Chastity, and Integrity, Prof. David C. Ford Restoring Young Men to Manhood, Fr. Johannes Jacobse The Eucharist as Antidote to Secularism: Insights from a Twentieth-Century American Orthodox Perspective, Archpriest Chad Hatfield “Radechesis”: A Return to Radical Catechesis, Archpriest John Parker “The Benedict Option” and Orthodox Anthropology: A Summary, Rod Dreher “Benedict,” “Constantine,” and “Prophecy”—ThreeOptions in the Coming Storm, Archpriest Alexander Webster

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat Money Can''t Buy is the Top Ten Sunday Times Bestseller from ''the superstar philosopher'', Michael SandelShould we financially reward children for good marks? Is it ethical to pay people to donate organs? What about hiring mercenaries to fight our wars, outsourcing inmates to for-profit prisons or selling citizenship? In recent decades, market values have impinged on almost every aspect of life - medicine, education, government, law, even family life. We have drifted from having a market economy to being a market society. In What Money Can''t Buy Michael Sandel asks: Isn''t there something wrong with a world in which everything is for sale? And how do we protect the things that really matter?''Brilliant, easily readable, beautifully delivered and often funny ... an indispensable book'' David Aaronovitch, The Times''In a culture mesmerised by the market, Sandel''s is the indispensable voice of reason'' John Gray, New Statesman''Provocative and intellectually suggestive ... little less than a wake-up call'' Rowan Williams, Prospect''A star philosopher ... entertaining and provocative'' Diane Coyle, Independent ''Let''s hope that What Money Can''t Buy, by being so patient and accumulative in its argument and examples, marks a permanent shift in these debates'' John Lanchester, GuardianMichael J. Sandel is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government at Harvard University. His legendary ''Justice'' course is the first Harvard course made freely available online (www.JusticeHarvard.org) and on television. Hiss work has been translated into 15 languages and been the subject of television series in the U.K., the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Sweden, and the Middle East. He has delivered the Tanner Lectures at Oxford and been a visiting professor at the Sorbonne, Paris. In 2010, China Newsweek named him the most influential foreign figure of the year in China. Sandel was the 2009 BBC Reith Lecturer, and his most recent book Justice is an international bestseller.Trade ReviewOne of the most popular teachers in the world * Observer *Sandel is touching something deep in both Boston and Beijing -- Thomas Friedman * New York Times *The most influential foreign figure of the year * China's Newsweek *Few philosophers are compared to rock stars or TV celebrities, but that's the kind of popularity Michael Sandel enjoys in Japan * Japan Times *One of the world's most interesting political philosophers * Guardian *What Money Can't Buy selected by the Guardian as a literary highlight for 2012 * Guardian *America's best-known contemporary political philosopher ... the most famous professor in the world right now... the man is an academic rock star [but] instead of making it all serious and formidable, Sandel makes it light and easy to grasp -- Mitu Jayashankar * Forbes India *An exquisitely reasoned, skillfully written treatise on big issues of everyday life * Kirkus Reviews *Sandel is probably the world's most relevant living philosopher -- Michael Fitzgerald * Newsweek *Mr Sandel is pointing out [a] quite profound change in society -- Jonathan V Last * Wall Street Journal *Provocative and intellectually suggestive ... amply researched and presented with exemplary clarity, [it] is weighty indeed - little less than a wake-up call to recognise our desperate need to rediscover some intelligible way of talking about humanity -- Rowan Williams * Prospect *Brilliant, easily readable, beautifully delivered and often funny ... an indispensable book -- David Aaronovitch * Times *Entertaining and provocative -- Diane Coyle * Independent *Poring through Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel's new book ... I found myself over and over again turning pages and saying, "I had no idea." I had no idea that in the year 2000 ... "a Russian rocket emblazoned with a giant Pizza Hut logo carried advertising into outer space," or that in 2001, the British novelist Fay Weldon wrote a book commissioned by the jewelry company Bulgari ... I knew that stadiums are now named for corporations, but had no idea that now "even sliding into home is a corporate-sponsored event" ... I had no idea that in 2001 an elementary school in New Jersey became America's first public school "to sell naming rights to a corporate sponsor" -- Thomas Friedman * New York Times *A vivid illustration ... Let's hope that What Money Can't Buy, by being so patient and so accumulative in its argument and its examples, marks a permanent shift in these debates -- John Lanchester * Guardian *In a culture mesmerised by the market, Sandel's is the indispensable voice of reason ... if we ... bring basic values into political life in the way that Sandel suggests, at least we won't be stuck with the dreary market orthodoxies that he has so elegantly demolished -- John Gray * New Statesman *What Money Can't Buy is replete with examples of what money can, in fact, buy ... Sandel has a genius for showing why such changes are deeply important -- Martin Sandbu * Financial Times *Michael Sandel ... is currently the most effective communicator of ideas in English * Guardian *Sandel, the most famous teacher of philosophy in the world, has shown that it is possible to take philosophy into the public square without insulting the public's intelligence -- Michael Ignatieff * New Republic *A book that can persuade people that the rules of the economy don't just reflect our values, they help to determine them -- Ed Miliband * New Statesman *Fascinating exploration of the alarming encroachment of market philosophy on so many aspects of our lives -- Alexander McCall Smith * The Herald *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Roman statesman and philosopher Seneca (4 BCE-65 CE) recorded his moral philosophy and reflections on life as a highly original kind of correspondence. Letters on Ethics includes vivid descriptions of town and country life in Nero's Italy, discussions of poetry and oratory, and philosophical training for Seneca's friend Lucilius. This volume, the first complete English translation in nearly a century, makes the Letters more accessible than ever before. Written as much for a general audience as for Lucilius, these engaging letters offer advice on how to deal with everything from nosy neighbors to sickness, pain, and death. Seneca uses the informal format of the letter to present the central ideas of Stoicism, for centuries the most influential philosophical system in the Mediterranean world. His lively and at times humorous expositions have made the Letters his most popular work and an enduring classic. Including an introduction and explanatory notes by Margaret Graver and A. A. Long, this authoritative edition will captivate a new generation of readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA unique new volume illuminating the philosophy of the ancient Greek and Roman Cynics  The Greek Cynics owned no property and rejected fame and fortune, living almost entirely out of doors while surviving on wild plants and water from natural springs. They promoted ideals such as self-sufficiency, freedom, detachment, shamelessness, and toughness, and their philosophy penetrated not only Greek but also Roman civilization. This unique anthology draws together the writings on and by various Cynic philosophers, from founding figures Antisthenes and Diogenes of Sinope to Hipparchia, one of the few female philosophers in antiquity, and fourth-century Roman emperor Julian the apostate. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers t

Read more less

Book SynopsisWe are living through a period of cultural climate change. We have outsourced morality to the markets on the one hand, and the state on the other. The markets have brought wealth to many, and the state has done much to contain the worst excesses of inequality, but neither is capable of bearing the moral weight of showing us how to live. This has had a profound impact on society and the way in which we interact with each other. Traditional values no longer hold, yet recent political swings show that modern ideals of tolerance have left many feeling rudderless and adrift. In this environment we see things fall apart in unexpected ways - toxic public discourse makes true societal progress almost unattainable, a more divisive society is fuelled by identity politics and extremism, and the rise of a victimhood mentality calls for 'safe spaces' but stifles debate. The influence of social media seems all-pervading and the breakdown of the family is only one result of the loss of social capital. Many fear what the future may hold. Delivering a devastatingly insightful critique of our modern condition, and assessing its roots and causes from the ancient Greeks through the Reformation and Enlightenment to the present day, Sacks argues that there is no liberty without morality, and no freedom without responsibility. If we care about the future of western civilisation, all of us must play our part in rebuilding our common moral foundation. Then we will discover afresh the life-transforming and counterintuitive truths that a nation is strong when it cares for the weak, and rich when it cares for the poor. Here is an inspiring vision of a world in which we can all find our place, and face the future without fear.Trade ReviewAwarded Book of the Year 2020 in the National Jewish Book AwardsLady Elaine Sacks commented: 'I know my late husband was very proud of Morality and would have been most honoured by this recognition from the Jewish Book Council. Though he had won many previous Jewish Book Awards, none of his books had been named as the Book of the Year. This shows the particular relevance of Morality in today's increasingly complex world. In the book, he aimed to show society a way forward, and one which prioritises the "We" over the "I" - something he passionately believed in throughout his life. Though he is much missed by our family and so many others, I am delighted the book has been recognised in this way.'His last book, Morality, while written before the spread of coronavirus, is highly relevant to today's situation. He would not have been silent were he still with us, and his voice is sadly missed. * The Times *Jonathan Sacks is one of the great moral thinkers of our time. His latest book, Morality, applies his powerful approach to the unprecedented challenges of our time - social, political, economic, and above all, cultural. May his words be heeded throughout the land. -- Robert D. Putnam Professor, Harvard University and author of Bowling Alone (2000) and The Upswing (2020)the work will stand as a worthy successor to, and, in many respects, summation of Sacks's impressive oeuvre * Jewish Chronicle *Sacks unpacks a whole litany of dystopian trends arising from our relentless preoccupation with me, me, me * Premier Christianity *Sacks presents an articulate and impassioned argument . . . He is a fine exegete of the Hebrew Scriptures, and his belief in the common good is profound. * Reform *The strength of Morality does not reside in Jonathan Sacks's discussion of political and philosophical theorists, but in those passages in which he speaks to us as rabbi and community leader. * TLS *'Sacks argues convincingly that this pursuit of the common good has been disappearing from the West, and has left us impoverished and damaged.' * Jewish Renaissance *The inheritor of a tradition with a long historical memory of loss, exile, death and mourning, Sacks has things to say that speak more directly to our present condition than anything in recent liberal thinking. * New Statesman *'Let Us Dream thus joins a growing body of Covid-era literature calling for a communitarian reset of liberal values and institutions... Morality by the late Jonathan Sacks have all traversed similar territory. The collective pro noun is back in fashion.' * Observer *And so this last book reads like a summation of his life's work - a propitiously timed gift and a starting point for discussion. * The Washington Post *

Read more less

Book SynopsisRepublic is the central work of the Western world''s most famous philosopher. Essentially an inquiry into morality, Republic also contains crucial arguments and insights into many other areas of philosophy. It is also a literary masterpiece: the philosophy is presented for the most part for the ordinary reader, who is carried along by the wit and intensity of the dialogue and by Plato''s unforgettable images of the human condition. This new, lucid translation by Robin Waterfield is complemented by full explanatory notes and an up-to-date critical introduction. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Reviewcertainly the best translation of the Republic available * Julia Annas *A fine new translation * The Observer *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat are the reasons for the decline of our culture? Theodore Dalrymple has spent a lifetime observing it close-up and personal as an inner-city GP and prison psychiatrist. In Nothing But Wickedness he looks at the things that make us behave the way we do, and all the subtle ways in which we delude ourselves and destroy our own culture.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDescribing Tolstoy''s crisis of depression and estrangement from the world, A Confession is an autobiographical work of exceptional emotional honesty. It describes his search for ''a practical religion not promising future bliss but giving bliss on earth''. Although the Confession led to his excommunication, it also resulted in a large following of Tolstoyan Christians springing up throughout Russia and Europe. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

Read more less