Popular philosophy Books

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) *

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Book SynopsisTHE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERFrom the timeless wisdom of ancient Greece through to Christianity, the Enlightenment, existentialism and postmodernism, A Brief History of Thought brilliantly and accessibly explains the enduring teachings of philosophy - including its profound relevance in today's world as well as its essential role in achieving happiness and living a meaningful life.This lively journey through the great thinkers challenges every one of us to learn to think for ourselves and asks us the most important question of all: how can we live better?Trade ReviewThis is a vital book -- MATTHEW B. CRAWFORD, author of SHOP CLASS AS SOULCRAFTFor everyone from the man in the street to the man in the Acropolis - a fine introduction to philosophy and its fundamental relevance to living a meaningful life -- DANIEL KLEIN and THOMAS CATHCART, authors of PLATO AND A PLATYPUS WALK INTO A BARA philosophical survival kit, in which the reader will find brilliant ideas to help them think better and live better * * L'Express * *A lucid and committed book * * New Humanist * *This superb primer proves that philosophy belongs at the centre of life * * Publishers Weekly (starred review) * *No dry academic, Ferry restores to philosophy a compelling urgency * * Booklist (starred review) * *

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Book SynopsisThis fascinating book charts the relationship between Mark Rowlands, a rootless philosopher, and Brenin, his extraordinarily well-travelled wolf. More than just an exotic pet, Brenin exerted an immense influence on Rowlands as both a person, and, strangely enough, as a philosopher, leading him to re-evaluate his attitude to love, happiness, nature and death. By turns funny (what do you do when your wolf eats your air-conditioning unit?) and poignant, this life-affirming classic of popular philosophy will make you reappraise what it means to be human.Trade ReviewThis year's most original and instructive work of popular philosophy ... a remarkable portrait of the bond that can exist between a human being and a beast ... [Rowlands is] a rare contemporary philosopher who is able to learn from everything he experiences in life, not just books and academic journals. That is what makes The Philosopher and the Wolf so refreshing * Financial Times *An extraordinary memoir * Daily Mail *A powerfully subversive critique of the unexamined assumption that shape the way most philosophers - along with most people - think about animals and themselves * Literary Review *Nothing short of human existence, survival and our relationship to all other creatures is examined here and it's all written in a beautifully elegiac way. The heart-strings will be pulled and the mind stimulated * City AM *The Philosopher and the Wolf has been one of the most intense reading experiences of my life. There is hardly a sentence in the book that did not engage me, stop me, make me think. It is a profound and beautiful book -- Jeffrey MassonAn absolute stunner of a book. Impossible not to be moved by the painfully personal narrative and the depth of reflection. Just enthralling and unputdownable -- Professor Andrew Linzey * Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics *Mark Rowlands has given us that rarest of things - a book that takes the reader beyond the human world, while exploring the deepest human emotions. This moving account of the life he lived with an adopted wolf will be recognized as a seminal work of philosophy that forces us to re-evaluate our view of the human animal -- John GrayThe Philosopher and the Wolf is a wonderful book. It's rare that a professor lets his hair down and weaves sentiment, heart, and love into deeper and supposedly more objective academic issues. Mark Rowlands does just this and I will be sharing his book widely -- Marc Bekoff, author of WILD JUSTICE: THE MORAL LIVES OF ANIMALSRarely has a single animal inspired such deep reflections on morality, mortality, and misanthropy ... a human memoir that reads like a tormented love affair with its animal star -- Frans de Waal, author of OUR INNER APEExtraordinary work of popular philosophy in which the author of Everything I Know I Learned From TV describes what he learned about life, the universe and everything while living with an adopted wolf, Brenin, at his side * The Bookseller *This book is about ... the fundamental questions of love, happiness, morality and human existence -- Lucy Hope * Big Issue in the North *A remarkably touching tale of nature, humanity and the potential for each to transform the other -- James Crabtree * New Humanist *An unusual little book ... It is perhaps best described as the autobiography of an idea, or rather a set of related ideas, about the relationship between human and non-human animals -- Jonathan Derbyshire * Guardian *A powerfully subversive critique of the unexamined assumptions that shape the way most philosophers - along with most people - think about animals and themselves -- John Gray * Literary Review *Rowlands' clarity of thought and his honesty ... are what make one's hitching a ride on this journey a mostly intriguing and seamless ride -- Tom Adair * Scotland on Sunday *A meditation on what it means to be lupine and how it reflects the human -- Janice Galloway * Scotsman *The book takes varyingly interesting diversions into philosophical territory ... Rowlands does a good job (with the help of Nietzsche) of questioning our attitude towards death -- Keith Ridgway * Daily Telegraph *Rowland's memoir is life-affirming, engrossing, thoughtful and moving ... The Philosopher and the Wolf could become a philosophical cult classic -- Mark Vernon * Times Literary Supplement *Rowlands communicates his ideas in a way that is humorous, compelling and moving ... [he] succeeds remarkably well in engaging the reader. Largely this is because of the emotional intensity of the narrative -- James Carney * Sunday Business Post (Ireland) *This fascinating and stimulating story of integrating a full-blooded wolf into the life of a philosophy professor veers between the profound and the hilarious. In turns touching and poignant ... this chronicle will make you think deeply about our relationship with domestic animals and about our responsibilities for them -- Roger Fletcher * Morning Star *An exceptionally moving saga * Times Higher Education Supplement *Moving and unsettling memoir * London Review of Books *An extraordinary, moving book -- Sarah Broadhurst * Bookseller *Thoroughly touching ... deeply moving -- Lianne Steinberg * Big Issue in the North *By turns moving and funny ... offers every reason to look again at how we view other animals ... Rowlands writes with real power of a profoundly intense and rewarding relationship -- Nick Churchill * Daily Echo *It is a remarkable book * Andover Advertiser *This moving and often unsettling memoir tells the story ... of how Rowlands's philosophy was transformed by this extended, intimate encounter with the wild * London Review of Books *Funny, engrossing ... heartbreaking ... enchanting and often disturbing ... and almost always beautifully written * The Age (Melbourne) *Rowlands is a passionate chronicler as he casts nets of meaning over the animal. But it is the wolf itself that leaps most vigorously off the page, eluding all fallible cages of human thought, captivating the reader -- Anita Sethi * Independent on Sunday *An amusing, yet profound story that is both thought-provoking and informative -- Helen Peacocke * Oxford Times *This book is a rare treat ... an unexpectedly provocative exploration of what it means to be human ... [Rowlands] writes with great humour and warmth as he maps out lessons learned on the nature of love, loss and human weakness -- Aimee Shalan * Guardian *A profound and searching meditation ... Rowlands writes with rare rigour and elegance. Held together by an exciting and often extremely moving narrative, this is one of the most thought-stirring and life-affirming books of philosophy that I know -- John Gray * Prospect *A ripping yarn for anyone who loves animals -- Fiona Dalzell * Veterinary Times *Goes to places no ordinary book about philosophy would dare to go ... a unique and precious book -- Jon Fordham * Sublime *A memoir of a professor who raised a wolf cub. He weaves fabulous details about training the animal into the philosophy of human life. A wolf lives in a very honest and straightforward way. There's something to be learned from that -- Amanda Donohue * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisThe feminist book they tried to ban in FranceA delightful book' Roxane GayWomen, especially feminists and lesbians, have long been accused of hating men. Our instinct is to deny it at all costs. (After all, women have been burnt at the stake for admitting to less.)But what if mistrusting men, disliking men and yes, maybe even hating men is, in fact, a useful response to sexism? What if such a response offers a way out of oppression, a means of resistance? What if it even offers a path to joy, solidarity and sisterhood?In this sparkling essay, as mischievous and provocative as it is urgent and serious, Pauline Harmange interrogates modern attitudes to feminism and makes a rallying cry for women to find a greater love for each other and themselves.Trade Review‘A good book, written from a burning heart but with a cool head’ The Times ‘Rousing … a call to liberation. Her writing is full of hope, unwavering in its trust of other women and their abilities’ Independent ‘An exhilarating essay to be read in one sitting’ Libération ‘Written in wise prose, devoid of excess or rage, I Hate Men explores the terrain of contemporary feminism, its arguments in keeping with those of writers like Rebecca Solnit, as well as the movement's key ideas: patriarchy, the mental load, #MeToo and solidarity’ L’Obs

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Book SynopsisWhat do we think about when we think about football? Football is about so many things: memory, history, place, social class, gender (especially masculinity, but increasingly femininity too), family identity, tribal identity, national identity, the nature of groups. It is essentially collaborative, even socialist, yet it exists in a sump of greed, corruption, capitalism and autocracy. Philosopher Simon Critchley attempts to make sense of it all, and to establish a system of aesthetics - even poetics - to show what is beautiful in the beautiful game. He explores, too, how the experience of watching football opens a particular dimension in time; how its magic wards off oblivion; how its dramas play out national identity and non-identity; how we spectators, watching football with tragic pensiveness, participate in the play. And of course, as a football fan, he writes about his heroes and villains: about Zidane and Cruyff, Clough and Revie, Shankly and Klopp.Trade ReviewA quick and agile book: a kind of metaphysic of the football match, done by the Messi of modern philosophy -- Shahidha Bari * Times Higher Education *Simon Critchley is a figure of quite startling brilliance, and I can never guess what he'll do next, only that it is sure to sustain and nourish my appetite for his voice. -- Jonathan LethemSimon Critchley beguiles as he illuminates. -- David MitchellA beautiful book about the beautiful game ... the World Cup is coming - fans should start reading. -- John Kaag, author of American Philosophy: A Love Story

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Book SynopsisThe #1 bestselling inspirational classic from the internationally known spiritual leader; a source of solace and hope for over 4 million readers.Since its original publication in 1981, When Bad Things Happen to Good People has brought solace and hope to millions. In the preface to this edition, Rabbi Kushner relates the heartwarming responses he has received over the years from people who have found inspiration and comfort within these pages.When Harold Kushner’s three-year-old son was diagnosed with a degenerative disease that meant the boy would only live until his early teens, he was faced with one of life’s most difficult questions: Why, God? Years later, Rabbi Kushner wrote this straightforward, elegant contemplation of the doubts and fears that arise when tragedy strikes. In these pages, Kushner shares his wisdom as a rabbi, a parent, a reader, and a human being. Often imitated but never superseded, When Bad Things Happen to Good People is a classic that offers clear thinking and consolation in times of sorrow.Trade ReviewWhen Bad Things Happen to Good People offers a moving and humane approach to understanding life’s windstorms. * Elisabeth Kübler-Ross *Whether religious or not, this book will speak because it touches–profoundly, but simply–on questions no parent and no person can avoid. * Harvey Cox, Harvard Divinity School *A touching, heartwarming book for those of us who must contend with suffering, and that, of course, is all of us. * Andrew M. Greeley *This is a book all humanity needs. It will help you understand the painful vicissitudes of this life and enable you to stand up to them creatively. * Norman Vincent Peale *

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Book SynopsisAn introduction to Viktor E. Frankl's system of thought, from the author of the iconic Holocaust memoir Man's Search for Meaning.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewLike Twain and Wilde before him, Taleb eats paradoxes for breakfast... The aphorism is Taleb to a tee. It showcases his wit and learning, and provides ways to fillet his enemies. All his usual suspects are present to be corrected: bankers, fools, politicians, journalists... Present, too, are his heroes: the curious, the intellectually anarchistic, the idle philosopher -- James Kidd * Independent on Sunday *[A] quirky, entertaining collection of aphorisms, covering everything from the web to the injuriousness of doing too much work... a wry, often hila­rious glimpse -- Robert Collins * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThis book is no less than a guide to the whole of Western philosophy--the ideas that have undergirded our civilization for two-and-a-half thousand years. Anthony Kenny tells the story of philosophy from ancient Greece through the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment into the modern world. He introduces us to the great thinkers and their ideas, starting with Plato, Aristotle, and the other founders of Western thought. In the second part of the book he takes us through a thousand years of medieval philosophy, and shows us the rich intellectual legacy of Christian thinkers like Augustine, Aquinas, and Ockham. Moving into the early modern period, we explore the great works of Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, Leibniz, Spinoza, Hume, and Kant, which remain essential reading today. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Hegel, Mill, Nietzsche, Freud, and Wittgenstein again transformed the way we see the world. Running though the book are certain themes which have been constant concerns of philosophy since its early beginnings: the fundamental questions of what exists and how we can know about it; the nature of humanity, the mind, truth, and meaning; the place of God in the universe; how we should live and how society should be ordered. Anthony Kenny traces the development of these themes through the centuries: we see how the questions asked and answers offered by the great philosophers of the past remain vividly alive today. Anyone interested in ideas and their history will find this a fascinating and stimulating read.Trade ReviewThis is an excellent update on the original. The main advantage of this much fatter version is the direct contact with primary sources that it gives to students ... I have nominated this as the main textbook for the course I teach * Ben Pugh, Cliff College *Table of ContentsPART I: ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY; PART II: MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY; PART III: THE RISE OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY; PART IV: PHILOSOPHY IN THE MODERN WORLD

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Book SynopsisBeloved and contemplated by philosophers, architects, writers, and literary theorists alike, this book examines the places in which we place our conscious and unconscious thoughts and guides us through a stream of cerebral meditations on poetry, art, and the blooming of consciousness itself.Trade ReviewPraise for Gaston Bachelard:"[Bachelard] is neither a self-confessed and tortured atheist like Satre, nor, like Chardin, a heretic combining a belief in God with a proficiency in modern science. But, within the French context, he is almost as important as they are because he has a pseudo-religious force, without taking a stand on religion. To define him as briefly as possible – he is a philosopher, with a professional training in the sciences, who devoted most of the second phase of his career to promoting that aspect of human nature which often seems most inimical to science: the poetic imagination ..."– J.G. Weightman, The New York Times Review of Books"[Bachelard] reminds me of skilled chess players who take the biggest pieces with pawns."-Michel Foucault (trans.)Praise for Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves:"Any hope or fear that the experimental novel was an aberration of the twentieth century is dashed by the appearance of Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves, the first major experimental novel of the new millennium. And it's a monster. Dazzling."-Washington Post Book World"An intricate, erudite, and deeply frightening book." - The Wall Street Journal

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Book SynopsisThe Intimate Resistance is a keen, deeply beautiful reflection on the human condition. The author explains how we ourselves can warm, protect and guide those around us. “The intimate resistance is the name for an experience belonging to a state of proximity; a state cannot be visited in one day, but rather habitually. Today, to remain in this state is by no means simple. Proximity cannot be measured in metres or centimetres. Its opposite is not distance, but rather the ubiquitous monotony of a world dominated by technology. What is clear is that day to day and home life are essential ways of experiencing proximity.”Trade Review“Against our compulsive immediateness and hyperconnectivity, against permanent public exposition and dispersion, Esquirol proposes the pausing, talking clearing, proximity, difference, reflection, the reinvention of the gaze, the return to thought.” Josep Massot, La Vanguardia “It’s one of those books that will never go out of fashion and I dare say that his reflections will serve as a reference for future generations.” Lluís Foix, El Punt Avui “A captivating essay that focusses on stimulating, intentional reflection. And, very importantly, it is magnificently written. Don’t miss it.” Guillem Pufarré, El Temps “A philosophical essay, as deep as it is entertaining, that promotes fundamental values.” Josep Maria Ripoll, Serra d’Or

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Book Synopsis'There to fill the Sapiens-size hole in your life' Observer A groundbreaking global overview of philosophy, travelling the world to provide a wide-ranging map of human thought One of the great unexplained wonders of history is that philosophy flowered entirely separately in China, India and Ancient Greece at more or less the same time. These writings would have a profound impact on the development of distinctive cultures in different parts of the world. In How the World Thinks Julian Baggini sets out to expand our horizons, exploring the philosophies of Japan, India, China and the Muslim world, as well as the lesser-known oral traditions of Africa and Australia's first peoples. Interviewing thinkers from around the globe, Baggini asks questions such as: why is the West is more individualistic than the East? What makes secularism a less powerful force in the Islamic world than in Europe? And how has China resisted pressures for greater political freedom? Baggini shows that by gaining greater knowledge of how others think we take the first step to a greater understanding of ourselves. 'Terrific. The intellectual and spiritual generosity of this book makes it an essential text for our fractious and dangerously divided era' Richard Holloway, author of Stories We Tell Ourselves 'This bold fascinating book seeks to inhabit other philosophical traditions, with humility but without patronisingly exempting them from the critique he applies to ours... Deft [and] rigorous' Jane O'Grady, Financial TimesTrade ReviewThis bold fascinating book seeks to inhabit other philosophical traditions, with humility but without patronisingly exempting them from the critique he applies to ours... Deft [and] rigorous -- Jane O'Grady * Financial Times *There to fill the Sapiens-size hole in your life * Observer *Terrific. The intellectual and spiritual generosity of this book makes it an essential text for our fractious and dangerously divided era -- Richard HollowaySuch scope, and such lucid, lightly worn learning. Enlightening, perspective-shifting, mind-expanding - a superb tour through world philosophies with an erudite and friendly guide -- Sarah BakewellTimely and important...this is his best [book] to date... Enthralling... This ingenious and open-hearted book is about the art of living well, something the West's philosophy has often neglected -- Stuart Kelly * Scotland on Sunday *Fascinating and unexpected... a dazzling kaleidoscope... [Baggini] has a true gift for making the difficult accessible in lapidary prose... Worth reading and re-reading -- Marina Vaizey * Arts Desk *What I loved about Julian Baggini's How the World Thinks: A Global History of Philosophy was its spiritual and intellectual generosity, and the author's ability to engage sympathetically with philosophical traditions that do not conform to his own preferred rationalist approach -- Book of the Year selected by Richard Holloway * Tablet *If you've ever wondered why the West tends to reward individual success, why some religions prioritise speech and some silence, or what lessons can be drawn by comparing Vincent Van Gogh and Michael Winner, this is a book for you * History Revealed *One of the great philosophical popularisers of his age... Baggini summarises and explicates with the greatest precision, compression and élan -- Christopher Bray * Tablet *One of the great unexplained wonders of human history is that written philosophy flowered entirely separately in China, India and Ancient Greece at more or less the same time. These early philosophies have had a profound impact on the development of distinctive cultures in different parts of the world. Baggini also looks at the differences between east and west and different religions * Four Shires Magazine *Ground-breaking -- Sarah Dennis * Oxford Times *Eye-opening * Prospect *[For] a broader audience with no philosophical training... Baggini [...] is cheerful and wide-eyed, moving from one big idea to another like a food lover at an opulent buffet * TLS *Highly readable * Times Higher Education *A brilliantly accessible coalescence of thought and belief from around the world...A triumph of comparative philosophy with widespread relevance for the way we live today -- Book of the Month * Waterstones *There is also a need for books that explain non-Western philosophical traditions to the interested non-specialist. Julian Baggini's How The World Thinks is an excellent example of this genre * TLS *

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Book SynopsisHere Scruton explains the connection between good wine and serious thought with a heady mix of humour and philosophy.We are familiar with the medical opinion that a daily glass of wine is good for the health and also the rival opinion that any more than a glass or two will set us on the road to ruin.Whether or not good for the body, Scruton argues, wine, drunk in the right frame of mind, is definitely good for the soul. And there is no better accompaniment to wine than philosophy. By thinking with wine, you can learn not only to drink in thoughts but to think in draughts.This good-humoured book offers an antidote to the pretentious clap-trap that is written about wine today and a profound apology for the drink on which civilisation has been founded.In vino veritas.Trade ReviewIf you are searching for an interesting gift for the wine buff in your life, this will last a lot longer than another bottle of wine ... The greatest joy of this book is the appendix where [Scruton] suggests what wines to drink with different philosophers' works. It is irreverent and funny, but at the same time, wise. * The Bookbag *By turns challenging, enjoyable, thought-provoking * Times Literary Supplement *[Scruton's] indisputable passion for wine will send you off to your next glass better informed and more thoughtful than before. * Metro *[Scruton] writes deliciously ... this book is a marvellous read - provocative, spicy, balanced and brimful of wise words ... it is hugely recommendable. * The Oldie *A good-natured and witty exploration of the wine-drinking phenomenon, from its place in Christian worship to a sojourn down at the local bar. * Good Book Guide *I have never met Roger Scruton, though I would like to ... Scruton's book is for people who are already wine lovers and want to link their pleasure to a greater world outside * The Spectator *They don't come much more knowledgeable than Roger Scruton ... light-hearted but thought-provoking * Bath Life *He is by turns interesting, fatuous, informative, cranky, outrageous, rhetorically self-indulgent, and insightful...For general readers, and especially Monty Python fans, this book is great fun. Summing Up: Recommended. -- R.T. Lee * CHOICE *[Scruton is] clearly a man of remarkable energy, art and scope ... [An] entertaining experience. * The Australian *Scruton liberally dispenses nuggets of wisdom throughout his book and very effectively uses personal narratives to make his case... the patient reader and drinker has much to glean by following the author's gustatory and thought-provoking journey in the world of wine. * The European Legacy, Volume 16, Number 5 *A novel approach...there are nuggets of wisdom and insight. * The Herald *[An] elegant defense of wine and its place in society ... offers a window into an unusually original, subtle, and independent mind: the mind of a gifted philosopher ... all wine lovers should feel compelled to read him. * The World of Fine Wine *The third chapter is one of the finest expressions of reverence to French wines I have ever read - perfect for curling up with in front of the fire, with a large glass of claret. * The Scotsman *[Scruton] is no slouch when it comes to wine ... the first part of the book combines a memoir of his development as a "wino" (his word) with some useful tips and factoids ... in the book's second part ... he is good on wine as the expression of a place and community, on the nuances of intoxication and on the social beneficence of buying rounds. * The Observer *Spendid ... partly a serious guide to the wines of France, Italy, and Spain and (if you must) the "New World", it is also very funny ... this is one of Scruton's most enjoyable books, uncorking much wisdom, and concluding with a wicked guide to the right drink to take while reading various philosophers. -- Steven Poole * The Guardian *Witty and philosophical. * The Daily Telegraph *[Written with] customary brio * Times Higher Education *Roger Scruton's 2009 memoir I Drink Therefore I Am: A Philosopher's Guide to Wine is a splendidly convivial fireside draught... A sweet hymn to Bacchus. * www.theguardian.com *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Drugs that are Tolerated and Forbidden 2. Alcohol and its Effects 3. The Ancients and Religious Rituals 4. Wine, Self Certainty and Philosophy 5. Paying Bacchus his Due 6. Wine and the Moral Vacuum 7. American Health Warnings 8. Wine as an Accompaniment to Thought 9. Wine as Something to Live By

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Book SynopsisThe book sets out a prospectus for a new form of civilization patterned at every level to serve and sustain the biosphere. Starting with the deep philosophical flaw at the core of modernity, namely that the cosmos is devoid of ends of its own, it posits, as an alternative axis for civilization, that the cosmos indeed actively seeks its own existence, and that its self-realization is moreover internally structured via an impulse, amongst finite things, towards co-generativity. Termed ‘Dao’ in ancient China and often coded as Law in Indigenous and First Nations cultures, this innate template is here taken as a first principle for economic production in contemporary societies: basic modes of economic production must transition from antagonistic to synergistic – to a specifically biological form of synergy which involves not merely the imitation of natural systems but active collaboration with them. The fact that this first principle is so philosophically alien to the Western mind-set while yet finding strong resonances with Chinese tradition, might encourage China, as an emerging great power, to lead the world in crafting a contemporary form of civilization that is true to Dao.Trade Review‘For many of us working in the field of regenerative practice, Freya Mathews is the most important environmental philosopher writing today. In this book she sets out profound insights that challenge existing praxis as well as describing the new ways of thinking that will be necessary to shape an ecological civilization. It is hard to conceive of a more urgent task for humanity, and this book is sure to be one of the most illuminating for those that want to lead on that journey’ — Michael Pawlyn, co-author of Flourish: Design Paradigms for our Planetary Emergency and author of Biomimicry in Architecture.‘Freya Mathews has given us The Dao of Civilization, an intellectually stunning work that opens new ways of coping with the existential crises of climate change by uncovering the ancient and untapped earth-based philosophies of ancient Chinese Daoism and Australian Aboriginal thought. Mathews persuades us, in her highly accessible and engaging style, that we are anything but helpless in our confrontation with a dramatically changing environment. This is a trailblazing work that will upend the way we think about the world and our place in it’ — Thomas Michael, School of Philosophy, Beijing Normal University; author of In the Shadows of the Dao: Laozi, the Sage, and the Daodejing.In this brief but richly multilayered volume, one of the deepest ecophilosophers of our age, Freya Mathews, integrates different strands of her work into a cogent whole. Mathews shows how mutually beneficial symbiosis, a fundamental principle of life’s great abundance, might also form the foundation of a different kind of civilisation—an ecological civilisation—that could enable humans to flourish synergistically with all life. Tying these insights into the core principles of Daoist philosophy, Mathews offers a tantalizing hint of how China could conceivably shed its allegiance to the extractivism of global capitalism and instead lead the world on a path to a life- affirming future— Jeremy Lent, author of The Patterning Instinct: a Cultural History of Humanity’s Search for Meaning and The Web of Meaning: Integrating Science and Traditional Wisdom.Freya Mathews addresses huge themes with intellectual boldness and writes with enviable clarity and lucidity. The Dao of Civilization articulates a philosophy and practice for a human civilization in harmony with the planet. Essential reading for anyone concerned with environmental philosophy and the human place on Earth— Peter Reason, Professor Emeritus of Action Research at Bath Spa University, UK.In this wonderfully written and deeply insightful book, ecophilosopher Freya Mathews shows us how profoundly feelingful relationships with land in a range of ancient and modern traditions – especially Law in Australian aboriginal culture, the Dao from ancient China and the more recent biosynergy approach, can help us navigate towards a world in which we humans can at last find our rightful and fruitful place within the living fabric of our animate earth. After reading this book, Freya’s latest masterwork, I found myself praying that citizens and leaders of all stripes and colours all over the world will take its message deeply to heart, for nothing less gives us a chance of avoiding the worst of the ecological and climate mayhem which are the products of our modern nature destroying ways of living —Dr Stephan Harding, Deep Ecology Research Fellow, Schumacher College, Dartington UK; author of Animate Earth.Table of ContentsPart I A Philosopher’s Letter to President Xi Jinping: on the Meaning of Greatness; Part II By the Law of the Living Cosmos: Shanghai Lectures on Ecological Civilization; Introduction; Lecture 1; Lecture 2; Lecture 3; Lecture 4 Epilogue; Acknowledgements; General Bibliography; Index

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Book SynopsisA strong and growing intuition in society today is the idea that our thoughts create our own reality. Yet it seems obvious that, try as we might, our lives are not quite what we fantasize. Is the intuition thus wrong? Through a rational, methodic interpretation of meditative insights, the validity of which is substantiated with a compelling scientific literature review, the author constructs hypotheses that reconcile facts with intuition. Mesmerizing narratives of his expeditions into the unconscious suggest an amazing possibility: just as dreams are seemingly autonomous manifestations of our psyche, reality may be an externalized combination of the subconscious dreams of us all, mixed as they are projected onto the fabric of space-time. Perhaps the laws of physics are an emergent by-product of such synchronization of thoughts. Through computer simulations, the author explores the implications of these hypotheses, with conclusions uncannily reminiscent of observed phenomena.

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Book Synopsis''Grayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjects'' Steven Pinker''An enthusiastic thinker who embraces humour, common sense and lucidity'' Independent_______________From the eminent philosopher, an authoritative exploration of the great questions of how to live''There is a question everyone has to ask and answer - in fact, has to keep on asking and keep on answering. It is, ''How should I live my life?'' meaning, ''What values shall I live by? ''What sort of person should I be? What shall I aim for?'' The great majority of people do not ask this question, they merely answer it unthinkingly, by adopting conventional views of life and what matters in it...''From Stoics to existentialists, in philosophy and literature, discussion of the philosophy of life -- of love and death, of courage, fortitude and wisdom -- challenges us all to think about what kinds of life are truly worth living. In this summation of a lifetime thinking and writing about this great question, A. C. Grayling explores with clarity and depth the ideas that each of us must use in answering it for ourselves.Drawing on the lives, experiences and works of a fantastically eclectic range of thinkers -- taking in not only philosophers such as Confucius, Seneca and Nietzsche, but also authors from Shakespeare to Ursula LeGuin, and modern thinkers such as Martha Nussbaum and Bernard Williams - Philosophy and Life brings together wisdom from across eras and continents in a tour de force on the philosophy of being human in a complicated world.

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Book Synopsis60 cards to help us to better understand ourselves and how we are really feeling.

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Book SynopsisPay attention. As politics slides toward impulsivity, and outrage bests rationality, how can philosophy help us critically engage with real world problems? Question everything. Drawing on decades of work in philosophy including a huge range of interviews with contemporary philosophers, Julian Baggini sets out how philosophical thought can promote incisive thinking. Introducing everyday examples and contemporary political concerns - from climate change to implicit bias - How to Think Like a Philosopher is a revelatory exploration of the techniques, methods and principles that guide philosophy, and how they can be applied to our own lives. Seek clarity, not certainty. Covering canonical philosophers and focal movements, as well as introducing new voices in contemporary philosophy, this is both a short history of philosophy and an accessible, practical guide to good thinking. Through twelve key principles, Julian Baggini outlines a pathway to a more humane, balanced and rational approach to thinking, to politics, and to life.

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Book SynopsisWorried about purpose? Most people are. But no one has to be. Brené Brown meets Malcolm Gladwell in this ground-breaking self-improvement book that reveals how to make a mark and how to set goals in life without falling into the anxiety traps of conventional success principles books. The ultimate in purpose anxiety relief, and a map for anyone to find happiness.Purpose can change your life.Having a sense of purpose has been scientifically proven to help people find happiness, longevity, and health.But lots of us are also worried about purposepurpose anxiety has been estimated to affect as much as 91% of people.What's going on? And how do we do purpose the right wayto unlock all its many benefits, set goals in life, make a mark and journey from anxiety to legacy?This question set hospice doctor and writer Jordan Grumet on a quest, and The Purpose Code shares his remarkable findings to help you change your future forever. The result is a self-development book like no other.It turns out that we fundamentally misunderstand purpose and the role it plays in our lives. In fact, there are two different types of purpose. One will lead to anxiety and disillusionment; the other will lead to connection and lasting legacy.In The Purpose Code, Jordan will: Chart a course for you to reach happiness through understanding the deep human truths behind the concepts of Meaning and Purpose (including life review therapy and simple ways of healing generational trauma) Equip you with a practical and proven framework for unlocking your real purpose, and show you the life-changingly enjoyable way to climb to goals, regardless of your situation in life Arm you to differentiate between the two types of purpose when finding life purpose (and show you the hidden reasons why one is always more fulfilling than the other) Set you on the way to building a genuinely lasting impact long after you're gone.Finding happiness has never been about creating big audacious goals that we may or may not be able to achieve. True contentment comes from filling our lives with enriching activities that lead to connection and, ultimately, legacy. Swap grand but ultimately empty success books for this small goals book, and begin creating your true purpose today.

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Book Synopsis''A wonderful page-turner about a fascinating idea that should affect the way every thinking person thinks about the world around him'' Michael LewisIn this brilliant and original book, Malcolm Gladwell explains and analyses the ''tipping point'', that magic moment when ideas, trends and social behaviour cross a threshold, tip and spread like wildfire. Taking a look behind the surface of many familiar occurrences in our everyday world, Gladwell explains the fascinating social dynamics that cause rapid change.''Hip and hopeful, THE TIPPING POINT is like the idea it describes: concise, elegant but packed with social power. A book for anyone who cares about how society works and how we can make it better'' George StephanopoulosTrade ReviewA wonderful page-turner about a fascinating idea that should affect the way every thinking person thinks about the world around himGenuinely fascinating and frequently startling . . . The kind of book from which you'll be regaling your friends with intriguing snippets for weeks to come * Scotland on Sunday *A wonderfully offbeat study of that little-understood phenomenon, the social epidemic * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisBruce Lee's daughter illuminates her father's most powerful life philosophies, and how we can apply his teachings to our daily lives'Empty your mind; be formless, shapeless like water'Bruce Lee is a cultural icon, world renowned for his martial arts and film legacy. But Lee was also a deeply philosophical thinker, believing that martial arts are more than just an exercise in physical discipline - they are a perfect metaphor for personal growth.In Be Water, My Friend, Shannon Lee shares previously untold stories from her father's life along with the concepts at the core of his teachings. Each chapter reveals a lesson from Bruce Lee, expanding on the foundation of his iconic 'be water' philosophy to reveal a path to an enlightened way of being.This is an inspirational call to action to consider our lives with new eyes and a testament to Lee's unique power to ignite our imaginations and transform our lives.'A slender, potent book twining her father's timeless philosophies of living with her own reflections' Maria PopovaTrade ReviewA slender, potent book twining her father's timeless philosophies of living with her own reflections -- Maria PopovaAn inspirational commemorative for Lee aficionados and those sharpening their personal-growth skills * Kirkus *This inspired guide will remind any reader that, while one cannot control external circumstance, how one responds is always a choice. * Publishers Weekly *An inspirational commemorative for Lee aficionados and those sharpening their personal-growth skills * Kirkus *This inspired guide will remind any reader that, while one cannot control external circumstance, how one responds is always a choice. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book Synopsis'A wonderful book. If you come across it, you must read it.' - John CleeseWhat does it mean for someone to be an a**hole? The answer is not obvious, despite the fact that we are often personally stuck dealing with people for whom there is no better name. Try as we might to avoid them, a**holes are found everywhere at work, at home, on the road, and in the public sphere. Encountering one causes great difficulty and personal strain, especially because we often cannot understand why exactly someone should be acting like that.A**hole management begins with a**hole understanding. In the spirit of the bestselling On Bullshit, James gives us the concepts to think or say why a**holes disturb us so, and explains why such people seem part of the human social condition, especially in an age of raging narcissism and unbridled capitalism. These concepts are also practically useful, as understanding the a**hole we are stuck with helps us think constructively about how to handle problems they present. We get a better sense of when the a**hole is best resisted, and when he is best ignored a better sense of what is, and what is not, worth fighting for.Trade ReviewA wonderful book. If you come across it you must read it. -- John CleeseSplendid. -- Oliver BurkemanCurrently in love with a book called 'A**holes: A Theory' -- Bette MidlerThe thrust of James' thesis is timely. Energetically argued and provoking...well worth the discomfort; not least for Aaron James's magnificent 'Letter to an A**hole', which ends the book. * Literary Review *This is a book that should appeal equally to the general reader and the philosophical specialist. James's analysis of a**hole capitalism is a tour de force of philosophically astute political analysis and criticism. His witty and accessible study draws on his lucid and brilliant accounts of the best in contemporary moral and political philosophy. -- Marshall Cohen, University Professor Emeritus, University of Southern CaliforniaAaron James provides us with a delightful philosophical romp through the world of a**holes. I was especially tickled by his analysis of different types: smug a**holes, royal royal a**holes, the presidential a**hole, corporate a**holes, the reckless a**holes, to name a few. -- Robert I. Sutton, Stanford Professor and author of the New York Times bestsellers The No A**hole Rule and Good Boss, Bad BossJames's research is both thorough and imaginative; his impressive source list ranges from obscure philosophy books to popular websites to Rudyard Kipling to Kanye West, hip-hop's greatest a**hole. The author s enthusiasm for the subject makes it possible to get through the book quickly.... There are moments of great insight and outright hilarity. * Kirkus Reviews *James's volume is equal parts philosophical meditation and historical survey, but its true value lies in his attempt to precisely define the term. -- Joe Keohane * New York Magazine *A delightful combination of the demotic and the technical... James gives us some practical advice for confronting a**holes, for maintaining self-respect and social position in a world full of them. * Harpers Magazine *

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Book SynopsisHere’s an accusation – Sherlock Holmes never deduced anything. When it comes to language, it all depends on what your definition of ‘is’ is. And one for the existentialists – you haven’t lived until you think about death all the time. Daniel Klein and Thomas Cathcart take philosophy to task with flair and gusto in this wise and hilarious treasure of a book. Lively, original, and powerfully informative, Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar... is an irreverent crash course through the great thinkers and traditions. It’s philosophy for everyone, from the curious layperson to the professor who’s seen it all. Klein and Cathcart have the knack of getting to the core of an issue in a crystal clear line, meaning there’s more room for jokes – good jokes, clever jokes, jokes that’ll have you laughing so hard the people nearby will shoot you strange looks. It’s the philosophy class you wish you’d had and finally, it all makes sense!Trade Review'A hoot'. * Times Literary Supplement *‘Cathcart and Klein know their stuff, and wear their learnedness lightly…I can’t help but love this book, and I have been quoting liberally from it.’ * Philosophy Now *‘What happens when you mix corny jokes, one-liners and vaudeville humour with some of life’s great lessons? You get an extraordinary read you’ll want to share with as many people as possible.’ * Orlando Sentinel *‘A hoot!’ * Chicago Sun-Times *

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Book SynopsisThis is a book that celebrates the most neglected but valuable emotion we can feel: melancholy. Melancholy isn’t depression or anger or bitterness, it’s a serene, accepting, gentle, wise and kindly response to the difficulties and occasional misery of being alive. It steers an ideal mid-way course between despair on the one hand and naïve optimism on the other. But melancholy is a well-kept secret. Those who feel the pull of melancholy moods tend to stay quiet about their tastes. We don’t often hear melancholy being celebrated or accorded the respect that it deserves. Melancholy languishes unexplored in a hyper-competitive, noisy, frantic age. And yet the emotion heartily deserves exploration, it is one that leads to reflection and thoughtfulness. This book carefully collects and interprets a selection of the most universally recognisable melancholy states of mind, and thereby renders us less confused by our precious yet elusive feelings. We hear, among other things, about the melancholy of Sunday evenings and the melancholy of adolescence, the melancholy of high summer and the melancholy of crushes. This book offers a varied portrait of melancholy and it’s range of emotions, leading the reader to both insight and self compassion.

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Book SynopsisThe Number One International bestseller'We need books like this one' - psychologist Steven PinkerAt last, stupidity explained! And by some of the world’s smartest people, among them Daniel Kahneman, Dan Ariely, Alison Gopnik, Howard Gardner, Antonio Damasio, Aaron James and Ryan Holiday.Stupidity is all around us, from the colleagues who won’t stop hitting ‘reply all’ to the former school friends posting conspiracy theories on Facebook. But in order to battle idiocy, we must first understand it. In The Psychology of Stupidity, some of the world’s leading psychologists and thinkers – including a Nobel Prize winner – will show you . . .· Why smart people sometimes believe in utter nonsense· How our lazy brains cause us to make the wrong decisions· Why trying to debate with fools is a trap· How media manipulation and Internet overstimulation makes us dumber· Why the stupidest people don’t think they’re stupidAs long as there have been humans there has been human stupidity, but with wit and wisdom these great thinkers can help us understand this persistent human affliction.Trade ReviewWe need books like this one -- Steven PinkerI was totally hooked. Everybody loves it. * La Grande Librairie *A very clever book. * Le Canard Enchaîné *Can you study stupidity? The answer is a resounding YES. * Le Quotidien *Entertaining and instructive. * France Inter *Clear and accessible to everyone * Lire *A comprehensive and witty inquiry into human folly in its myriad forms . . . [with a] wealth of insights . . . Urgent and transformative, this compendium will leave readers equally amused, appalled, and enlightened. * Publishers Weekly *Are people getting dumber, or does it just look that way? . . . A smart collection. * Kirkus Reviews *Remarkably comprehensive and accessible . . . The book has an easygoing, colloquial feel to it. . . . An illuminating look at a subject that is more complex than it might appear to be. * Booklist *Fascinating . . . From morons to idiots to *ssholes, they’re all here. * News24, South Africa *A blunt and sometimes hilarious examination of human error. * Business Day, South Africa *

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Book Synopsis'I never imagined that the wind would blow me here, to a kind of isolation I have never experienced... There is never anything out here but my shadow, that no one treads on any more'When Jade's partner leaves the barn that they moved into just weeks before, he leaves a dent in the wall and her life unravelled. Numbed from years in a destructive, abusive relationship, she faces an uncertain future and complete solitude. Slowly, with the help of Devon's salted cliffs and damp forested footpaths, Jade comes back to life and discovers the power of being alone.As Jade reacclimatizes, she considers what it means to live alone. Through conversations with other hermits across the world, Fitton sheds light on the myriad - and often misunderstood - ways of living alone: from monks to hikikomori, and the largely ignored female hermit. Jade questions whether hermitic living is possible in an era of constant communication and increased housing costs as she finds herself financially unstable and itinerant. She realises that home doesn't exist within walls, but within the landscape of her childhood home county.Lyrically written, this is an inspirational story of recovery, of finding home, and of celebrating solitude in the natural world.Trade ReviewA dreamy, beautiful book about the consolations of solitude. In Hermit, Jade wanders a sunlit, windswept, delicately drawn landscape of loss and longing, and in doing so finds the stillness at the centre of herself. Hopeful and open-hearted. -- Cal Flyn, author of 'Islands of Abandonment'A compelling, engrossing memoir that beautifully encapsulates the human experience (both the misery and the magic) of suddenly finding yourself rebuilding life from the ground up, alone. I loved it. * Emma Gannon *Hermit is a beautiful written debut memoir drawing on the hermetic tradition that shows the power of being alone. -- Katherine May, author of WinteringA book of spellbinding brilliance by a writer of rare talent. -- Tristan GooleyThis distinctive, alluring memoir, reminiscent of The Outrun by Amy Liptrot, relates how Fitton slowly learns to live alone and celebrate solitude in the natural world. * The Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisFrom the new pocket book series, featuring key ideas from The School of Life exploring self-knowledge.

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEARA DAILY TELEGRAPH BEST MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEARA TELEGRAPH BEST MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEARA NEW STATESMAN BEST BOOK OF THE YEARFaith, Hope and Carnage is a book about Nick Cave's inner life.Created from over forty hours of intimate conversations with Seán O'Hagan, it is a profoundly thoughtful exploration, in Cave's own words, of what really drives his life and creativity.The book examines questions of faith, art, music, freedom, grief and love. It draws candidly on Cave's life, from his early childhood to the present day, his loves, his work ethic and his dramatic transformation in recent years.From a place of considered reflection, Faith, Hope and Carnage offers ladders of hope and inspiration from a true creative visionary.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary, uplifting book . . . This is a book you could dip into if you had no knowledge of Cave at all, just to find someone unafraid to ask all the big questions: what is grief? What is forgiveness? . . . Everyday carnage has brought forth a book of hope and freedom and life * * Daily Telegraph * *This beautiful book is a lament, a celebration, a howl, a secular prayer, a call to arms, a meditation & an exquisite articulation of the human condition. It will take your breath away -- RACHEL CLARKE * * Observer * *Illuminating . . . a great deal of beauty in Cave's descriptions of the "strange reckless power" that comes when the worst has happened . . . if it meets a need for Cave, it also feels like a gift to the reader * * Sunday Times * *An absolutely wonderful book. I don't think I've ever read so integrated and searching an engagement with how faith works, how creativity works, and how grief is bound up with both -- ROWAN WILLIAMSA masterpiece * * The Age * *Faith, Hope and Carnage redefines the potential potency of a memoir, creating a bold, brave and brilliant book that deserves to be read, reread and cherished as an illuminating reflection of how we haven't developed the vocabulary to adequately explore death and its aftermath * * Irish Times * *Ultimately enriching . . . suffused with love, teeming with ideas * * Guardian * *The most compelling book of the year - raw pain and struggle thought through and explored with rare courage * * New Statesman, Books of the Year * *Immensely eloquent and wise . . . a tender guide to the transformative potential of grief * * Telegraph, Best Music Books of 2022 * *Cave is one hell of a writer . . . An extraordinary, one-of-a-kind book . . . Cave is a miraculously fluent talker, incapable of a dull line. Many of the sentences have an aphoristic punch . . . It is impossible to overstate how unusual it is to find this depth of self-analysis and wisdom from a rock musician. Faith, Hope and Carnage makes most rock memoirs look like skips full of rusty anecdotes and grudges -- DORIAN LYNSKEY * * UnHerd * *

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Book SynopsisMichael Foley, the author of bestselling The Age of Absurdity, wants to understand why he doesn't appear to be experiencing as much 'fun' as everyone else . . .   And so, with characteristic wit and humour, Foley sets out to understand what fun really means, examining its heritage, its cultural significance and the various activities we associate with fun. He investigates pursuits such as dancing, sex, holidays, sport, gaming and comedy, and concludes that fun is not easy, simple and fixed, as many seem to believe, but elusive, complex and constantly changing. In fact, fun is a profoundly serious business. His findings will invigorate you with insights, quite possibly help you to understand why the post-post-modern is actually the pre-pre-modern and, at the very least, make you laugh at life.‘This book is such a wondrous kaleidoscope of rage, based on such a deep reading of all the sources, that I s

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Book SynopsisFrench culture is unique in that philosophy has played a significant role from the early-modern period onwards, intimately associated with political, religious, and literary debates, as well as with epistemological and scientific ones. While Latin was the language of learning there was a universal philosophical literature, but with the rise of vernacular literatures things changed and a distinctive national form of philosophy arose in France. This Very Short Introduction covers French philosophy from its origins in the sixteenth century up to the present, analysing it within its social, political, and cultural context. Beginning with psychology and epistemology, Stephen Gaukroger and Knox Peden then move onto the emergence of radical philosophy in the eighteenth century, before considering post-revolutionary philosophy in the nineteenth century, philosophy in the world wars, the radical thought of the 1960s, and finally French philosophy today. Throughout, they explore the dilemma sustained by the markedly national conception of French philosophy, and its history of speaking out on matters of universal concern. 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.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements 1: Introduction 2: The Origins of French Philosophy 3: Radical Philosophy: the Eighteenth Century 4: Post-Revolutionary Philosophy: the Nineteenth Century and the Third Republic 5: Philosophy in Wartime: Phenomenology and Existentialism 6: Restless Times: Structuralism and Post-Structuralism 7: French Philosophy Today: Competing Ambitions 8: Conclusion References and Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisFor over 2000 years, philosophy has been our best guide to the experience of being human, and the true nature of reality. From Aristotle, Plato, Epicurus, Confucius, Cicero and Heraclitus in ancient times to 17th century rationalists Descartes, Leibniz and Spinoza, from 20th-century greats Jean-Paul Sartre, Jean Baudrillard and Simone de Beauvoir to contemporary thinkers Michael Sandel, Peter Singer and Slavoj Zizek, 50 Philosophy Classics explores key writings that have shaped the discipline and had an impact on the real world. This is the thinking person''s guide to a uniquely powerful tool for opening our minds and helping us view the world. It synthesises the 50 greatest books ever written, distilling hundreds of ideas from across the centuries with insightful commentary, key quotes and biographical information on the authors.The revised edition will: include 7 new contemporary or timely classics such as Judith Butler''s Gender Trouble,

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAs an explorer Erling Kagge is world class; as a writer he is equally gifted. This breathtaking, inspiring little book teaches us how to find precious moments of silence - whether we are crossing the Antarctic, climbing Everest, or on the train at rush hour -- Sir Ranulph FiennesSilence braces a space within which we can hear ourselves think. Quietly, wisely, it makes a case for dumbing the din of modern life, and learning to listen again. Drawing on the experiences of Kagge's extraordinary life in wild places, this is a book of great concentration -- Robert MacfarlaneErling Kagge is a philosophical adventurer - or perhaps an adventurous philosopher * New York Times *A breathtakingly beautiful, quietly life-changing book by the Norwegian explorer Erling Kagge, that shows us how to find perfect silence in our daily lives - however busy we are * Publisher's description *Silence braces a space within which we can hear ourselves think. Quietly, wisely, it makes a case for dumbing the din of modern life, and learning to listen again. Drawing on the experiences of Kagge's extraordinary life in wild places, this is a book of great concentration -- Robert Macfarlane

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERFrom one of our greatest voices in modern philosophy, author of The Course of Love, The Consolations of Philosophy, Religion for Atheists and The School of Life - Alain de Botton sets out to understand our universal fear of failure - and how we might change it''De Botton''s gift is to prompt us to think about how we live and how we might change things'' The Times We all worry about what others think of us. We all long to succeed and fear failure. We all suffer - to a greater or lesser degree, usually privately and with embarrassment - from status anxiety. Alain de Botton gives a name to this universal condition and sets out to investigate both its origins and possible solutions. He looks at history, philosophy, economics, art and politics - and reveals the many ingenious ways that great minds have overcome their worries. The result is a book that is not only entertaining andTrade ReviewDe Botton analyses modern society with great charm, learning and humour. His remedies come as a welcome relief when most books offering solutions to the stresses of life recommend the lotus position * Daily Mail *Measured, amused, compassionate . . . de Botton is a surefooted discoverer of the pungent but less well-known quote * Daily Telegraph *A purveyor of serious but playful manuals for living * GQ *Turned me into a fan, for its range, insight, wit and sheer usefulness * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisHow to be Idle is Tom Hodgkinson''s brilliant guide to reclaiming your right to be idle''Well written, funny and with a scholarly knowledge of the literature of laziness, it is both a book to be enjoyed at leisure and to change lives'' Sunday TimesAs Oscar Wilde said, doing nothing is hard work. A burn-out work ethic has most of us in its thrall, and the idlers of this world have the odds stacked against them. But here, at last, is a book that can help. Hodgkinson presents us with a laid-back argument for a new contract between routine and chaos, an argument for experiencing life to the full and living in the moment. Ranging across a host of issues that affect the modern idler:-Sleep-Work-Pleasure and hedonism -Relationships-Bohemian living-Revolution Drawing on the writings of such well-known apologists for idleness as Oscar Wilde, Robert Louis Stevenson and Nietzsche, his message is clear: t

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Book SynopsisWith a new afterword by the authorIn her map to loss, losing and being lost, Rebecca Solnit explores the challenges of living with uncertainty. Meandering eclectically through memory and mortality, Hitchcock movies and heartbreak, Solnit''s beloved account of staying off the beaten path sheds glittering new light on the way we live now.

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Book SynopsisIan Stewart (Author) Professor Ian Stewart is the author of many popular science books. He is the mathematics consultant for New Scientist and a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Warwick. He was awarded the Michael Faraday Prize for furthering the public understanding of science, and in 2001 became a Fellow of the Royal Society.Terry Pratchett (Author) Terry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood for services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any. www.terrypratchettbooks.comJack Cohen (Author) Dr Jack Cohen is an internationally-known reproductive biologist, and lives in Newent, Gloucestershire. Jack has a laboratory in his kitchen, helps couples get pregnant by referring them to colleagues, invents biologically realistic aliens for science fiction writers and, in his spare time, throws boomerangs. Jack, who has more letters to his name than can be repeated here, writes, lectures, talks and campaigns to promote public awareness of science, particularly biology. He is mostly retired.

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Book Synopsis“The best new book I’ve read.”—Richard Dawkins, New York Times Book ReviewTrade Review"An excellent introduction to Dennett’s body of thought." -- Boston Globe"One of the most original thinkers of our time." -- Michael Shermer - Science"Perhaps America’s most widely read (and debated) living philosopher. . . . [Intuition Pumps is] a lively primer on the radical answers Mr. Dennett has elaborated to the big questions in his nearly five decades in philosophy" -- New York Times"The sharpest, cleverest, most stylish prober of how issues of human consciousness interconnect today with evolutionary theory." -- Carlin Romano - Philadelphia Inquirer"A philosopher’s box of tools for the musing mind." -- Nature"“[Dennett] is a master at inventing tools for thought— metaphysical jokes, fables, parables, puzzles, and zany Monty-Python-like sketches that can help thinkers feel their way forward." -- Daily Beast

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Book SynopsisDoes it take faith to be a Jedi? Are droids capable of thought? Should Jar Jar Binks be held responsible for the rise of the Empire? Presenting entirely new essays, no aspect of the myth and magic of George Lucas's creation is left philosophically unexamined in The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy. The editors of the original Star Wars and Philosophy strike back in this Ultimate volume that encompasses the complete Star Wars universe Presents the most far-reaching examination of the philosophy behind Star Wars includes coverage of the entire film catalogue to date as well as the Expanded Universe of novels, comics, television series, games and toys Provides serious explorations into the deeper meaning of George Lucas's philosophically rich creation Topics explored include the moral code of bounty-hunter favourite Boba Fett, Stoicism and the Jedi Order, the nature of the Dark Side, Anakin and Achilles in a nTable of ContentsAcknowledgments: Legacy of the Force ix Introduction: “The Circle is Now Complete” 1 I The Philosophical Menace 5 1 The Platonic Paradox of Darth Plagueis: How Could a Sith Lord Be Wise? 7Terrance MacMullan 2 “You Are Asking Me to Be Rational”: Stoic Philosophy and the Jedi Order 20Matt Hummel 3 The Jedi Knights of Faith: Anakin, Luke, and Søren (Kierkegaard) 31William A. Lindenmuth 4 Anakin and Achilles: Scars of Nihilism 42Don Adams 5 Dark Times: The End of the Republic and the Beginning of Chinese Philosophy 53Kevin S. Decker II Attack of the Morals 65 6 Chasing Kevin Smith: Was It Immoral for the Rebel Alliance to Destroy Death Star II? 67Charles C. Camosy 7 The Ballad of Boba Fett: Mercenary Agency and Amoralism in War 79David LaRocca 8 How Guilty is Jar Jar Binks? 90Nicolas Michaud 9 “Know the Dark Side”: A Theodicy of the Force 100Jason T. Eberl III Revenge of the Alliance 115 10 “Like My Father before Me”: Loss and Redemption of Fatherhood in Star Wars 117Charles Taliaferro and Annika Beck 11 The Friends of a Jedi: Friendship, Family, and Civic Duty in a Galaxy at War 127Greg Littmann 12 Light Side, Dark Side, and Switching Sides: Loyalty and Betrayal in Star Wars 136Daniel Malloy 13 Guardians and Tyrants in the Republics of Star Wars and Plato 148Adam Barkman and Kyle Alkema IV A New Hermeneutic 159 14 Pregnant Padme and Slave Leia: ´ Star Wars’ Female Role Models 161Cole Bowman 15 Docile Bodies and a Viscous Force: Fear of the Flesh in Return of the Jedi 172Jennifer L. McMahon 16 Of Battle Droids and Zillo Beasts: Moral Status in the Star Wars Galaxy 183James M. Okapal V Metaphysics Strikes Back 193 17 Why the Force Must Have a Dark Side 195George A. Dunn 18 What is It Like to Be a Jedi? A Life in the Force 208Marek McGann 19 “Never Tell Me the Odds”: An Inquiry Concerning Jedi Understanding 219Andrew Zimmerman Jones VI Return of the Non-Human 229 20 Mindless Philosophers and Overweight Globs of Grease: Are Droids Capable of Thought? 231Dan Burkett 21 Can Chewie Speak? Wittgenstein and the Philosophy of Language 240Rhiannon Grant and Myfanwy Reynolds 22 Can the Zillo Beast Strike Back? Cloning, De-extinction, and the Species Problem 250Leonard Finkelman VII The Fandom Awakens 261 23 “In That Time . . . ” in a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Epic Myth-Understandings and Myth-Appropriation in Star Wars 263John Thompson 24 Star Wars, Emotions, and the Paradox of Fiction 274Lance Belluomini 25 The Mind of Blue Snaggletooth: The Intentional Stance, Vintage Star Wars Action Figures, and the Origins of Religion 287Dennis Knepp 26 Gospel, Gossip, and Ghent: How Should We Understand the New Star Wars? 296Roy T. Cook and Nathan Kellen Contributors: Troopers of the 501st Legion 308 Index 317

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Book SynopsisLove - unconditional, selfless, unchanging, sincere, and totally accepting - is worshipped today as the West's only universal religion. To challenge it is one of our few remaining taboos. The author does just that, dissecting our resilient ruling ideas of love and showing how they are the product of a long and powerful cultural heritage.Trade Review"May could just have achieved the seemingly impossible and produced a truly original philosophy of love... May is able to draw out what is true in each age’s perception of love, discard what is misleading, and synthesize the result into the most persuasive account of love’s nature I have ever read."—Financial Times"Rich, provocative and illuminating."—Jane O’Grady, Times Higher Education"Intellectually engaging . . . Provocative."—Charlotte Allen, The Wall Street Journal"May could just have achieved the seemingly impossible and produced a truly original philosophy of love... May is able to draw out what is true in each age’s perception of love, discard what is misleading, and synthesise the result into the most persuasive account of love’s nature I have ever read."—Financial Times"It’s a big question: what is love? May plunders Western poetry, philosophy and psychology to find answers, tracing our understanding from religious to romantic to ossified. Thought-provoking stuff."—Holly Kyte, Sunday Telegraph"This book deserves to rank with Denis de Rougemont’s classic Love in the Western World. Readers…will gain much from May’s well-crafted study."—Library Journal"[May’s] discussion…provides a coherent narrative that is aided by his illustrative writing."—Publishers Weekly"Almost intimidatingly erudite and wide-ranging… May asks why attitudes to love haven’t changed over the centuries when those things associated with it, like sex and marriage, have changed enormously. We still expect too much from it, a hangover from Romanticism, and must abandon the old opposites (love as self-sacrificing, love as self-pleasing) for a new theory of love."—Lesley McDowell, Sunday Herald "a challenging and thought-provoking study" — Good Book Guide"A powerfully demystifying critique . . . that aims to show what love can and cannot mean in our lives."—John Gray'A beautifully written and fascinating account of the cultural history of love. Simon May gives a vindication of love that is both deeply insightful and inspiring, and, whether you believe that God is love or that Love is god, you will find your portrait in this book and rejoice in it.' - Roger Scruton'May's enquiry into the nature of love is an amazing tour de force: surprising, provocative, refreshing and instructive by turns, it surpasses everything hitherto written on this subject in its scope and ambition.' - A.C. Grayling 'Simon May's Love is that rarest of achievements: scholarship as inspired illumination. Fluent, witty, humane, May explores Western concepts of love from the Torah to Romanticism and on to the “fascinating paradox” that the liberation of sex and marriage in our day coexists with retrograde, and at times destructive, notions of love. May offers a corrective, and the reasoning that takes us there is an utterly riveting adventure.' -Wendy Steiner, author of The Real Real Thing: The Model in the Mirror of Art

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Book SynopsisRethink your view of the world with The Teachings of Don Juan, the first book in Carlos Castaneda''s spiritual journey into the world of sorcery... The Teachings of don Juan is the story of Carlos Castaneda''s extraordinary experiences. In 1960 Carlos Castaneda was a graduate student when he met Don Juan, a Yaqui Indian feared and shunned by the ordinary folk of the American Southwest because of his unnatural powers. During the next five years don Juan''s arcana knowledge led Castaneda into a world of beauty and terror, ruled by concepts far beyond those of Western civilisation. Using medicinal herbs Castaneda lived through encounters with disembodied spirits, shamans in the form of huge wolves, and death in the shape of silver crows. Finally, after a night of utter terror in which he knew that his life was threatened by forces which he still cannot fully explain, he gave up his struggle to become a ''Man Of Knowledge''. ''It gives a different view of the world and challenges the ideas and beliefs that we have be taught, whilst also providing simple methods to changing the way we interact with the world on a day to day basis.'' - 5* Reader Review

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Book Synopsis''A fun, fascinating, and original book that will challenge you to become a better version of yourself''Daniel H. Pink, author of DriveWhat does it take to be truly happy? Should we pursue fame and fortune or the respect of our friends and family? How can we make the world a better place? Two hundred and fifty years ago, Adam Smith addressed these fundamental questions in his life-long project, The Theory of Modern Sentiments.Dwarfed by the success of Smith''s masterpiece The Wealth of Nations, The Theory of Modern Sentiments has been virtually forgotten. But when Russ Roberts finally picked up the epic tome, he realized he''d stumbled upon the greatest self-help book that almost no one has read.In How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life, Roberts reinvigorates the neglected classic to unearth a treasure trove of timeless, practical wisdom that cuts to the core of what it means to be human. It will challenge you to think about the way you treat others, the decisions you make in pursuit of happiness, and your place in the world.Trade ReviewRoberts whisks the reader through Smith's "hidden gem" and skilfully blends modern examples with Smith's original, leaving you wanting to tackle his masterpiece * Financial Times *[Adam Smith's] moral values are rather neglected ... Happily, Russ Roberts has digested, condensed and commented upon Smith's theories of the good life ... the pursuit of happiness is not the pursuit of money * The Times *A great book. Makes you feel better about life, humanity, and yourself. Like having a conversation and a scotch with Adam Smith, or even better, Russ Roberts -- Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of The Black Swan'Can economists teach us how to live a good life? When the economists in question are Adam Smith and Russ Roberts, the answer is a definitive yes. Roberts shines a fresh light on Smith's ideas about morality and human nature and finds they hold up remarkably well in the 21st century. A fun, fascinating, and original book that will challenge you to become a better version of yourself' -- Daniel H. Pink, author of DriveAdam Smith was not just an economist; he had penetrating insights into human nature that informed his rich, subtle, and rev­olutionary approach to moral philosophy. Russ Roberts combines a deep understanding of what Smith was on about with a fluent writing style to bring out the surprisingly modern implications of Smith's thinking -- Matt Ridley, author of The Rational Optimist'Russ Roberts has taken a brilliant but difficult classic - Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments - and written an engaging and inspiring meditation on virtue, friendship, and happiness. The result is a won­derful guide to living a good life' -- Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind

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Book SynopsisEpicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher and the founder of the school of philosophy called Epicureanism. Only a few fragments of his works remain, and much of what is known about his philosophy derives from later followers and commentators.Daniel Klein is author of Travels with Epicurus and coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar.

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Book Synopsis''This world is the will to power - and nothing besides!''One of the great minds of modernity, Friedrich Nietzsche smashed through the beliefs of his age. These writings, which did much to establish his reputation as a philosopher, offer some of his most powerful and troubling thoughts: on how the values of a new, aggressive elite will save a nihilistic, mediocre Europe, and, most famously, on the ''will to power'' - ideas that were seized upon and twisted by later readers. Taken from Nietzsche''s unpublished notebooks and assembled by his sister after his death, The Will to Power now appears with previous errors corrected.Translated by R. Kevin Hill and Michael A. Scarpitti with an Introduction and Notes by R. Kevin Hill

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Book SynopsisPeter Vardy's much acclaimed introduction to the study of ideas about God now revised and updated.A clear, well-written guide to philosophical thinking about God. Starting with the question of what it means to say we believe in God, and looking at the nature of truth, Peter Vardy goes on to examine ideas about God and their influence on Christian thinking.Peter Vardy takes the reader through the arguments, using amusing illustrations and analogies. He writes for the lay person or student, not assuming any specialist knowledge, and not imposing any particular view.This is about the best elementary textbook in the philosophy of God I have come across an extremely useful book.'Hugh Meynell, The TabletThis is a masterpiece of coherence. Step by step the reader is led clearly and humorously through the philosophical maze which confuses our thinking about God.'Linda Smith, Head of Religious Education, King's College, London

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Book SynopsisProvocative and enlightening, Richard Sennett''s The Craftsman is an exploration of craftsmanship - the desire to do a job well for its own sake - as a template for living. Most of us have to work. But is work just a means to an end? In trying to make a living, have we lost touch with the idea of making things well? Pure competition, Sennett shows, will never produce good work. Instead, the values of the craftsman, whether in a Stradivari violin workshop or a modern laboratory, can enrich our lives and change the way we anchor ourselves in the world around us. The past lives of crafts and craftsmen show us ways of working - using tools, acquiring skills, thinking about materials - which provide rewarding alternative ways for people to utilise their talents. We need to recognize this if motivations are to be understood and lives made as fulfilling as possible. ''Lively, engaging and pertinent ... a lifetime''s learning has gone into Trade Review'Richard Sennett is a prime observer of society ... one of his great strengths, the thing that makes his narrative so gripping, is the sheer range of his thinking and his brilliance in relating the past to the present' - Fiona MacCarthy, The Guardian 'A lifetime's learning has gone into this book ... Sennett writes beautifully' - Roger Scruton, Sunday Times

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Book Synopsis"Thacker's discourse on the intersection of horror and philosophy is utterly original and utterly captivating..." Thomas Ligotti, author of The Conspiracy Against the Human Race The world is increasingly unthinkable, a world of planetary disasters, emerging pandemics, and the looming threat of extinction. In this book Eugene Thacker suggests that we look to the genre of horror as offering a way of thinking about the unthinkable world. To confront this idea is to confront the limit of our ability to understand the world in which we live - a central motif of the horror genre. In the Dust of This Planet explores these relationships between philosophy and horror. In Thacker's hands, philosophy is not academic logic-chopping; instead, it is the thought of the limit of all thought, especially as it dovetails into occultism, demonology, and mysticism. Likewise, Thacker takes horror to mean something beyond the focus on gore and scare tactics, but as the under-appreciated genre of supernatural horror in fiction, film, comics, and music.Trade ReviewGlenn Beck (ex-Fox News) has done a segment on his show unpicking the "pop-nihilist" conspiracy from the book; posted on youtube.com/watch?v=2IW8OK4_1gQ -- Glenn Beck September 2014

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