Popular philosophy Books

Book SynopsisHow to Find Love explains why we have the 'types' we do - and how our early experiences give us scripts of how and whom we can love. The book provides a crucial set of ideas to help us make safer, more imaginative and more effective choices in love.

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Book SynopsisAn original and comprehensive look at what it is we seek when we set off on an adventure abroad - and at how we can travel better, so that our experiences overseas become truly transformative and memorable. Going travelling is one of the few things we undertake in a direct attempt to make ourselves happy - and frequently, in fascinating ways, we fail. We get bored, cross, anxious or lonely. It isn't surprising: our societies act as if going travelling were simple, just a case of handing over the right sum of money. But a satisfying journey isn't something we can simply buy: it's the result of an art that has to be learnt. This is the guide: not to any one destination but to travel in general. It talks to us, among other things, about how we should choose a place to go, what we might do when we get there, how we should make good moments stick in our minds and why hotel rooms can be such liberating places... In a succession of genial essays, we become students of an unexpected but vital topic: how to understand and more fully enjoy (what should be) some of the finest experiences of our lives. What people are saying about How to Travel: "How to Travel helped me narrow down where I want to travel to, why I want to travel there, and who I want to travel with. The blank pages included gave me room to respond to the questions posed in the essays, which made the reading experience that much more enjoyable. I highly recommend this book to anyone who dreams of experiencing a culture or world outside of their own but can't decide on a place." Larysa "A lovely collection of thought provoking short essays with note pages for jotting down things like 'useful foreign phrases' or to 'give drawing a go'. This book is very well presented with interesting quotes, images and photographs on different coloured pages on quality paper. It therefore has a nice feel and is really easy to read, no complex theories here. However, each piece on different aspects of travel is written well and makes you think which has real value...So enjoyable, and a perfect gift for someone preparing to travel." Sue "In classic School of Life form, the content is compellingly presented in an uncommon way, playful while authoritative." Rick "Has little pockets and fill in spaces that are so useful." Joana

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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 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 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 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 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 SynopsisA guide to new ambitions in work, relationships and learning, by our most inspired thinker on society and community.Scintillating . . . prophetic . . . engaging - Financial TimesA masterpiece - The TimesWhat is worth knowing? What does it mean to be alive? Where can one find nourishment for the mind? What is the great adventure of our time? What is a wasted life? What can the poor tell the rich? What could the rich tell the poor? How many ways of committing suicide are there? How can prejudices be overcome? How else can one think about the future, apart from trying to predict it or worrying about it? Is ridicule the most effective form of non-violent protest? How does one acquire a sense of humour? What stops people feeling completely at home in their own country? How many nations can one love at the same time? Why do so many people feel unappreciated, unlTrade ReviewScintillating . . . prophetic . . . engaging. * Financial Times. *A masterpiece. * The Times. *A challenge and a success . . . He is particularly good and funny on work and the apparently catastrophic affair we are having with management science. * Literary Review. *Without question the wisest book of the year . . . at once learned and delightful . . . a cure for the prevailing gloom, always on the side of joy, openness, enquiry and freedom . . . The guide we need to the art of living. * Le Grand Journal, Canal+, Paris. *One of the best books of the year. An erudite and mouth-watering manifesto for a new art of living. * Le Point Magazine, Paris. *Captivates by its brilliance and profundity. * El Mundo, Madrid. *Delightful and endlessly fascinating. * Jewish Chronicle. *Theodore Zeldin, philosopher and author of many books, including "An Intimate History of Humanity" has many new ideas that can truly set you thinking . . . New mantras for this age. * The Hindu, India. *A truly wonderful book. Even the contents gave me shivers of excitement. If your wish is to be alive then read this book. * Richard Watson, scenario planner and future trends author. *A priceless gem, a book that remains in the heart and mind like few others...incredibly inspiring . . . I would almost compare it to Montaigne and his Essays... often ironical, never banal . . . accessible to anyone, should absolutely be read, reread and studied in depth. * V. Petricciulo, Scientific adviser, European Research Council. *When readers start asking themselves the questions it poses, they find themselves living differently. A transformative book, full of wisdom that can be enjoyed by anyone from teenagers to centenarians. * Margaret Heffernan, CEO, entrepreneur, author, TV producer. *This book is unique in providing new frames to guide us in discovering how we want to live our lives. * Ron Emerson, Chairman, British Business Bank. *Essential reading. I am glad I read it now, but it's one I wish I could have encountered as a teenager . . . I argued with this book, I lived it . . . An enriching journey that will last a lifetime. * Sion Hamilton, Head of Retail, Foyles. *

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Book SynopsisOur knowledge comes primarily from experience - what our senses tell us. But is experience really what it seems?The experimental breakthroughs in 17th-century science of Kepler, Galileo and Newton informed the great British empiricist tradition, which accepts a 'common-sense' view of the world - and yet concludes that all we can ever know are 'ideas'.In Introducing Empiricism: A Graphic Guide, Dave Robinson - with the aid of Bill Mayblin's brilliant illustrations - outlines the arguments of Locke, Berkeley, Hume, J.S. Mill, Bertrand Russell and the last British empiricist, A.J. Ayer. They also explore criticisms of empiricism in the work of Kant, Wittgenstein, Karl Popper and others, providing a unique overview of this compelling area of philosophy.

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Book SynopsisAn informative and accessible guide to all of the great philosophers’ best-known theories, explained through their most famous quotes.We may have heard of Socrates, Plato, Descartes and Nietzsche, but what did they believe? What were their famous aphorisms? And what did these actually mean?This Book Will Make You Think: Philosophical Quotes and What They Mean explains as simply as possible the ideas behind the world's most highly regarded philosophers, examining their beliefs and presenting choice quotes that succinctly distil their most famous theories, such as:‘No man’s knowledge here can go beyond his experience.’ Locke‘If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.’ Voltaire‘Whereof one cannot speak thereof one must be silent.’ WittgensteinWritten in an accessible and informative style, this book will help readers get to grips with the complex concepts of philosophy through the ages, and help match the theories to the names.Trade ReviewInformative and accessible * The Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPenetrating and sophisticated. -- James Ryerson * New York Times Book Review *Mere Civility is centered in the years after the Reformation, when the emergence of myriad Protestant sects splintered communities across Western Europe. That splintering was magnified, just as in our own time, by the explosion of a new means of communication—the printing press—which allowed people who had never before had a public voice to spread their ideas far and wide. Invectives and broadsides were the order of the day, as members of different religious denominations fought for each other’s souls, and incivility became a central concern of political thought. I doubt that for most readers of Mere Civility, this account of social disarray in the Reformation years is a huge surprise. But by keeping a tight focus on the concept of civility, Bejan manages to make that old story feel new—or at least to draw new lessons from it, lessons that are particularly interesting within the context of contemporary political theory… [Mere Civility] does not purport to solve the problems of incivility, but it unknots them, making the nature of the problems—both in general and in this time of numbing nostalgia—more evident. Would that more of us might learn to look into the past with such gravity and humility. We might end up with a more (or mere) civil society, yet. -- Susan McWilliams * Los Angeles Review of Books *A deeply admirable book: original, persuasive, witty, and eloquent. It is also admirably, bracingly, skeptical, in the best sense: the kind of liberal skepticism that we associate in political theory with Judith Shklar, Bernard Williams, and George Kateb. -- Jacob T. Levy * Review of Politics *Bejan’s important book is beautifully written, cogently argued, and provocative. It foregrounds the matter of ‘civility’ with astute historical analysis of touchstone texts in political thought. -- Jeffrey Collins, Queens UniversityMere Civility is a terrific book—learned, vigorous, and challenging. Bejan makes Roger Williams the hero of this story and the thinker who provides a principled justification for America’s exceptional permissiveness toward ‘uncivil’ speech. Justifying the American status quo isn’t easy. Doing it with arguments that are often surprising is even harder. -- Alison McQueen, Stanford UniversityThis carefully argued and documented volume documents three early modern understandings of civility, offering that of Rhode Island’s founder, Roger Williams, as a fitting response to our perceived crisis of civility. -- J. H. Fritz * Choice *Impressive. -- Scott Yenor * Claremont Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisAnother rapid-fire selection of short, stimulating and entertaining capsules of philosophy from the master of the genre. This time Baggini applies his philosophical scalpel to famous sayings, proverbs and pieces of homespun wisdom. Should you really do as the Romans do when in Rome and practise what you preach? Is the grass always in fact greener on the other side of the fence, and is there ever smoke without fire? Is beauty always in the eye of the beholder and is it actually better to be safe than sorry? Baggini's approach is as witty and deeply thought-provoking as ever.Trade ReviewBaggini is good and witty on our contemporary misuse of proverbs -- Steve Poole * Guardian *An entertaining and engaging look at the everyday phrases and aphorisms embedded in our language. Baggini explores the real meaning behind 100 familiar sayings and questions whether the wisdom is still relevant today ... This book encourages you to choose your words wisely and suggests that "a little learning" is not a dangerous thing * Psychologies *Baggini makes some compelling arguments -- Will Metcalfe * Big Issue in the North *The always enjoyable author of The Pig That Wants To Be Eaten applies his "philosophical scalpel" to famous sayings, proverbs and homespun wisdom -- Caroline Sanderson * Bookseller *

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Book Synopsis'Why is there a world rather than nothing at all?' remains the most curious and most enduring of all metaphysical mysteries. Moving away from the narrower paths of Christopher Hitchens, Roger Penrose and Stephen Hawking, the celebrated essayist Jim Holt now enters this fascinating debate with his broad, lively and deeply informed narrative that traces all our efforts to grasp the origins of the universe. With sly humour and a highly original personal approach Holt takes on the role of cosmological detective. Suggesting that we might have been too narrow in limiting our suspects to God and the Big Bang, he tracks down, among others, an eccentric Oxford philosopher, a Nobel Laureate physicist, a French Buddhist monk, and John Updike just before he died, to pursue this cosmic puzzle from every angle. As he pieces together a solution - while offering useful insights into time, consciousness, and eternity - he sheds fascinating new light on the meaning of existence. A New York Times bestseller on first publication, this new paperback edition provides a much-needed new take on history's greatest conundrum, in the vein of previous bestsellers like Michael Brooks' 13 Things that Don't Make Sense.Trade ReviewWhy Does The Word Exist? is more fun than a book this serious has any right to be. Holt has written a metaphysical page-turner and a triumph of intellectual liveliness. -- Rebecca Goldstein, author of 36 Arguments for the Existence of GodThere is no more entertaining, sure-footed, and witty guide to the big questions that we must all ponder than Jim Holt. Join him * Daily Beast *Praise for Stop Me If You've Heard This: 'Sweet, witty and intelligent ... I only wish that, unlike a good joke, it was longer. -- William Leith * Guardian *If Jim Holt's deft and consuming "Why Does the World Exist?: An Existential Detective Story" has anything to tell us, it's that such a comment is less about literary riffing than deep philosophy. * LA Times *Holt brings both complexity and clarity to his subject ... it does what real science writing should: It helps us feel the fullness of the problem. * Vulture *There is no more entertaining, sure-footed, and witty guide to the big questions that we must all ponder than Jim Holt. Join him. * The Daily Beast *It's philosophy of a high level, pursued in an unusual and personal manner, and it's a pleasure to follow along with the author as he tells a fascinating and thought-provoking story. -- Peter Woit, Department of Mathamatics, ColumbiaHumorous yet deeply profound * New Scientist *There's no denying the pleasures to be had from tagging along as Holt soars away into the heavens of our cosmic enigmas ... a wonderful book * Daily Express *An elegant and witty writer...I can imagine few more enjoyable ways of thinking than to read this book -- Sarah Bakewell, author of How to LiveWhat is special about Why Does the World Exist? is that Holt and the experts he talks to apply humour, good sense and a dose of incredulity and wonder to the problem * Independent *An eclectic mix of theology, cutting-edge science (of the cosmological and particle-physics variety) and extremely abstract philosophising, rendered (mostly) accessible by Mr Holt's facility with analogies and clear, witty language * Economist *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[How to Grieve] offers an engaging read . . . and will certainly make this fascinating text easily accessible."---Catherine Steel, Classics for All"The relevance of grief is perennial, and this text has certainly stood the test of time." * Paradigm Explorer *

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Book Synopsis Isaac Asimov’s Foundation is the most influential science-fiction epic of all time. Published as a series of books and short stories from the 1940s to the 1980s, the series has impacted most subsequent science fiction, and influenced sciences like sociology, statistics, and psychology. The story has now been made into a highly acclaimed TV serial (Foundation), on Apple TV, the second season now shooting in Prague. The story begins 45,000 years in the future, and spans centuries in which a vast and successful interstellar human empire is unknowingly headed for total collapse. Using an advanced mathematical technique called psycho-history, a brilliant scientist, Hari Seldon, predicts the collapse and establishes a “foundation” to bring about the resurrection of human civilization many generations in the future.Asimov’s Foundation and Philosophy is a collection of twenty-four chapter by philosophers exploring the philosophical issues and puzzles raised by this epic story. Topics include whether one individual can make a big difference in history, the ethics of manipulating large populations of people to bring about a desirable future result, the Dao of non-action, the impact of education on future generations, whether human affairs are governed by predictable cycles, whether attempts to plan for the future must be thwarted by free will, the futility of empire-building, the ethics of cloning human beings, and the use of logic in analyzing human behavior.Joshua Heter teaches philosophy at Jefferson College, Missouri, and is co-editor of Better Call Saul and Philosophy: I Think Therefore I Scam (2022).Josef Thomas Simpson is an academic coach and part-time lecturer. He contributed chapters to Westworld and Philosophy: Mind Equals Blown (2019) and Orphan Black and Philosophy: Grand Theft DNA (2016).Trade ReviewIsaac Asimov (January 2, 1920 - April 6, 1992) was an American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. During his lifetime, Asimov was considered one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke. A prolific writer, he wrote or edited more than 500 books. He also wrote an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. Best known for his hard science fiction, Asimov also wrote mysteries and fantasy, as well as much non-fiction. (Wikipedia) Simply stated, novelist Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy is arguably the most influential science-fiction epic of all time. Published as a series of books and short stories from the 1940s to the 1980s, the series has impacted most subsequent science fiction, and influenced sciences like sociology, statistics, and psychology. The story has now been made into a highly acclaimed TV serial (Foundation), on Apple TV, the second season now shooting in Prague. The story begins 45,000 years in the future, and spans centuries in which a vast and successful interstellar human empire is unknowingly headed for total collapse. Using an advanced mathematical technique called psycho-history, a brilliant scientist, Hari Seldon, predicts the collapse and establishes a "foundation" to bring about the resurrection of human civilization many generations in the future. Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy is a collection of twenty-four chapter by philosophers exploring the philosophical issues and puzzles raised by this epic story. Topics include whether one individual can make a big difference in history, the ethics of manipulating large populations of people to bring about a desirable future result, the Dao of non-action, the impact of education on future generations, whether human affairs are governed by predictable cycles, whether attempts to plan for the future must be thwarted by free will, the futility of empire-building, the ethics of cloning human beings, and the use of logic in analyzing human behavior. Critique: Of special appeal to the legions of Isaac Asimov fans, and deftly co-edited by the team of Joshua Heter and Josef Thomas Simpson, "Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy" is a compendium of twenty-three erudite and inherently interesting articles on the impact of the Foundation series on popular culture, introducing the concept of 'psychohistory'. Enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of an eight page Bibliography, a four page listing of the contributors and their credentials (The Encyclopedists), and a three page Index, "Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy" is a significant and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Popular Culture & Philosophy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99). Editorial Note #1: Joshua Heter (https://philpeople.org/profiles/joshua-heter) teaches philosophy at Jefferson College, Missouri, and is co-editor of Better Call Saul and Philosophy: I Think Therefore I Scam (2022). Editorial Note #2: Josef Thomas Simpson (https://philpeople.org/profiles/josef-thomas-simpson) is an academic coach and part-time lecturer. He contributed chapters to Westworld and Philosophy: Mind Equals Blown (2019) and Orphan Black and Philosophy: Grand Theft DNA (2016).

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed critic Sianne Ngai theorizes the gimmick as an aesthetic category reflecting the fundamental laws of capitalism. Gimmicks make promises of saving labor and increasing value that we distrust but also find attractive. Exploring the use of this form, Ngai shows how its aesthetic dissatisfactions reflect deeper anxieties about capitalism.Trade ReviewA culmination of Ngai’s work as a critic…Ngai makes the case that the gimmick, whose value we regularly disparage, is of tremendous critical value. The gimmick, she contends, is the capitalist form par excellence…Ngai’s study lies somewhere between critical theory and Sontag’s best work. -- Andrew Koenig * Los Angeles Review of Books *One of the most creative humanities scholars working today…Ngai sets off on another mind-blowing exploration, this time drawing a line between our own judgements of productivity, as well as considering what entertainment is worth to us. My god, it’s so good. -- Olivia Rutigliano * Literary Hub *Theory of the Gimmick is a masterpiece—a culmination of the dazzling project begun in Sianne Ngai’s Ugly Feelings and elaborated in Our Aesthetic Categories, both celebrated books that have anchored affect theory to a strong account of tone and form. It is a major advance in aesthetic theory, and Marxist theory in particular, one that could help us all get over our Frankfurt melancholy and down to the garrulous work of actually naming the dynamics that produce art and artistic judgment under capitalism. -- Christopher Nealon, author of The Matter of CapitalThe gimmick draws out our unease about capitalism’s seductions, deflating their lofty appeals with the suddenness of a punch line. It is an aesthetic category that dunks on capitalism’s too-good-to-be-true promises by dunking on itself…It is undeniable that part of what makes Ngai’s analyses of aesthetic categories so appealing—so appealing as to even appear to raise the esteem of the object under analysis—is simply her capacity to speak about them brilliantly. -- Jane Hu * Bookforum *In its extraordinary analysis of the gimmick as a compromised expression of what Walter Benjamin or Fredric Jameson have labeled the age of “late capitalism,” Ngai’s book—much like her previous book publications—is a stellar critique and rethinking of Continental aesthetic theory. …Ngai’s work will not and must not be bypassed by future theories of aesthetics and consumer capitalism, not least in American studies. -- Dustin Breitenwischer * Amerikastudien *Ngai exposes capitalism’s tricks in her mind-blowing study of the time- and labor-saving devices we call gimmicks. -- Katrina Forrester * New Statesman *Ngai tracks the gimmick through a number of guises: stage props, wigs, stainless-steel banana slicers, temp agencies, fraudulent photographs, subprime loans, technological doodads, the novel of ideas…[She] has slowly been building a reputation as one of America’s most original and penetrating cultural theorists. -- Charlie Tyson * Chronicle of Higher Education *Ngai is a keen analyst of overlooked or denigrated categories in art and life…Moves quickly from the fantastical contraptions of Rube Goldberg to the philosophical machinery in Kant or Marx that might explain their appeal…Highly original in theme and suggestive in approach. -- Brian Dillon * 4Columns *Ngai has done so much to illuminate. -- David Trotter * London Review of Books *Ngai’s penetrating and at times humorous work feels uncommonly generous at a deeply polarized moment when emotions run high and much theory and criticism has taken on an increasingly grave, moralizing tone…Explores across a remarkably broad range of works of art, film, and literature the ‘gimmick,’ a simultaneously attractive and repulsive form that links the aesthetic to the economic. -- Matthew Rana * Kunstkritikk *It is the simplicity and vernacular quality of Sianne Ngai’s central concept that elevates this book to a classic in the making. Ngai’s most important contribution to Marxist cultural and economic theory comes from her insight that—like the judgment of the beautiful for Kant—the gimmick is a subjective category, neither cognitive nor ethical, but historical through and through. The gimmick is a way to bring together the theory of the commodity with Kant’s category of judgment. Through Ngai, we are able to vernacularize Marx and to understand the most basic but enigmatic proposition: that truth and appearance are identical in the commodity. -- Timothy Bewes, author of Reification: Or, The Anxiety of Late CapitalismBooks of this ambition and accomplishment are rare! Theory of the Gimmick continues the work of Walter Benjamin, Theodor Adorno, and others in seriously putting together aesthetic theory and Marxist theories of capital. In an impossibly erudite, wide-ranging, and theoretically sophisticated argument, Ngai gives us a unique insight into the relationship between labor, time, and value in a capitalist economy. This book is a major event in American intellectual life. -- Jonathan Flatley, author of Affective Mapping: Melancholia and the Politics of ModernismThe whole book suggests that critique is an occasion for delight, as the explication of how the gimmicks Ngai finds everywhere from Henry James to a toy box reveal the inner workings of capital is accomplished with a joyful relentlessness. The book is a page turner. -- Theo Davis * American Literary History *[A] groundbreaking argument. * Choice *[Theory of the Gimmick] firstly offers an eminently usable theory of the gimmick, and secondly offers a series of masterful extensions of that theory in practically unrepeatable analyses of texts…where we witness, in addition to Ngai the theorist, Ngai the virtually peerless reader. -- Astrid Lorange * Sydney Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisMaterialism asserts that the universe and everything within it, including ourselves, is a deterministic machine, trapped until the end of time on the rigid tracks of inviolable laws. Only the mechanisms of physics - forces, electrical charges, and so on - are consequential; nothing else matters. Experiences, such as the taste of honey, feelings, thoughts, choices: everything concerning the mind is an illusion, or is at best a useless and absurd epiphenomenon. This accessible and engagingly-written book is a serious philosophical work, giving solid reasons for rejecting materialism, and proposing an alternative metaphysical framework that is fully consistent with science. In the sensuous cosmos, our essence is that we experience the world in all its exquisite, sensual beauty and unbearable suffering. We actively participate as rational agents with authentic freedom. The future of our planet is not fully determined. Collectively we have it in our power to make it heaven (or hell), as we wish. We are a community of spiritual beings, living alongside other beings, animate and inanimate. Everything that exists is fully spiritual. We may perceive each other as physical bodies but, at our most intimate, we know that we are 'such stuff as dreams are made on.'Trade ReviewPeter Ells describes pain and suffering in a personal, humane context, much more realistically than in terms of dry abstractions, as is usual in such works. This book is a valuable counterweight to the prevailing physicalist assumptions, and it criticises especially those materialists who assert that what cannot be measured numerically cannot exist for their nihilistic effects on our culture. The book shows that it is premature to jettison our everyday assumptions of the reality of our human experiences, thoughts, sorrows and joys, and of our agency and libertarian free will. I recommend and would welcome the publication of this book. (Herminio Martins, Emeritus Fellow, St Antony's College, University of Oxford)

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Book SynopsisPhilosophy, the “love of wisdom”, is the product of our endless fascination and curiosity about the world – the child of wonder. Through it, we seek to answer the most fundamental of questions: How do we know what we know? Does God exist? What is beauty? How should we live our lives? What am I? In this exhilarating tour, Peter Cave navigates all the main topics of philosophy with verve and clarity. Using witty and whimsical examples, including stoical sofas and Reg, the “regular” human, who just happens to carry his brain in a rucksack, Cave provides a welcome antidote to the dry textbook while covering everything from political philosophy to points of logic. Interspersed with helpful textboxes and underlining the enduring relevance of philosophy to us all, there is no better introduction for the aspiring sage.Trade Review"Perfect. I wish this book had been my introduction to philosophy. It raises all the essential philosophical questions, issues, and problems in a lively, engaging, and accessible way." * William Irwin - Professor of Philosophy, King's College Pennsylvania and Editor of The Blackwell *"There is no better introduction to the subject than this. It covers a wide range of issues with clarity, with wit, but also with profundity." * Paul Snowdon - Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, UCL *“Lucid and finely crafted. Engagingly presented, and admirably concise, it can be relied on to engage the interest of beginning students and general readers alike.” * John Cottingham - President of the British Society for the Philosophy of Religion and Professor Emer *"An excellent introduction. Careful, reflective, clear, and entertaining." * Timothy Chappell - Professor of Philosophy, The Open University *

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Book SynopsisWhen trying to deal with our current troubles and anxieties, it can be deeply irritating to be asked to consider our childhoods. They happened so long ago; we can probably barely remember, let alone relate to, the little person we once were. But one of the most powerful explanations for why we may, as adults, be struggling, is that we were denied the opportunity to fully be ourselves in our earliest years. Perhaps we were over-disciplined and cowed, not allowed to be wilful or difficult – and so learnt to tell white lies and people-please. Or perhaps our caregivers were preoccupied or fragile and so we had to assume the role of parent, burying our true needs and desires deep underground. When we thoroughly examine our upbringings, the larger implications for our adult selves are clear to see. Once we understand the roots from which our flaws stem, we can set about correcting the harmful behaviours we mistakenly believe to be innate. This book is a guide to better understanding our younger selves in order to shape who we wish to be in the future. It explores to what extent we can pin our actions in the present to our experiences in the past, and how we might then break free from the learnt patterns of our childhoods.

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Book SynopsisAn essential guide to navigating the complexities of professional relationships. Our colleagues can be the sources of our greatest joys and triumphs: they compensate for our weaknesses, enlarge our strengths and aggregate our energies. However, working successfully around others is neither intuitive nor simple: it requires us to communicate effectively, to understand our own minds and blind spots, to master our emotions and to see the world through others’ perspectives. This book compresses our learning into a series of lessons on workplace psychology. The result is nothing less than an essential guide to more profitable, harmonious and happier organisations.

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Book Synopsis'Has the power to change your life through conversation' - Roxie Nafousi'Josh's openness, relatability, and honesty has singled him out as a voice of today, worthy of global amplification' - Lily CollinsOur lives are filled with conversations - from internal chats, surface level chats, dreaded chats to the deep and meaningful chats - but when was the last time you had a 'great chat'?During his childhood, Josh was too afraid to speak because of his speech impediment. In his adulthood, it was uncovering the power of conversation that transformed his life. As a celebrity interviewer, Josh has talked with people of every background, mood and personality, and had them open up like never before. Josh believes there's an art and a science to a good chat and understanding it can unlock a whole world of connection.Great Chat includes seven key lessons that will help you have more meaning

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Book SynopsisWe all have the power to transform our lives from the inside out by simply slowing down.Resting is one of the most impactful practices we can adopt for self-compassion, emotional well-being, collective care, and environmental repair. When we take a few moments each day to pause, we are reclaiming the innate wisdom within our bodies and within the natural world: the wisdom of rest.Permission to Rest is a timely manifesto and compassionate call to action. It is an invitation for you to pause, look inward, learn to feel your own rhythms, and value rest as a deeply healing, empowering, and spiritual way of life. This book is a revolutionary reminder that we have the power to transform our lives, our communities, and our planet from the inside out. It comes at a time when many of us are urgently being called to do so.Trade Review‘Ashley Neese is such a special teacher—and you can feel her calming, beautiful presence throughout these pages. She’s exactly the person you want to show you how to truly rest.’ Gwyneth Paltrow, founder and CEO of goop ‘In my telehealth functional medicine clinic, I see all the time the negative impact chronic stress can have on a person’s physical health. And as a self-proclaimed JOMO (joy of missing out) enthusiast, Neese’s book shows us why slowing down is so important and exactly how to do so in a way that facilitates true rest and growth. It’s the guide we didn’t know we so desperately needed.’ Dr. Will Cole, functional medicine expert, and author of New York Times bestseller, Intuitive Fasting and Gut Feelings ‘Ashley’s approach to rest is a natural extension to her approach to breathwork, it's a simple invitation to invite more softness into your life – whenever you're ready.’ Erica Chidi, Co-founder and CEO of LOOM

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Book SynopsisHow do you begin to understand the concept of nothing? Where does it begin and where does it end?From the zeros of the mathematician to the void of the philosophers, from Shakespeare to the empty set, from the ether to the quantum vacuum, from being and nothingness to creatio ex nihilo, there is much ado about nothing at the heart of things. Recent exciting discoveries in astronomy are shown to shed new light on the nature of the vacuum and its dramatic effect upon the explanation of the Universe. This remarkable book ranges over every nook and cranny of nothingness to reveal how the human mind has had to make something of nothing in every field of human enquiry.Trade ReviewThe startling story of the West's intellectual struggle with the concept of zero is told with admirable elegance and clarity * New Statesman *When it comes to explaining the trickiest ideas John Barrow goes the extra mile which helps you to understand when going on * Guardian *An entertaining and informative account of how the zero came into being in ancient civilisations such as the Babylonian and Egyptian...I am happy to report that nothing is full of interesting reading * New Scientist *

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Book SynopsisThis important book is about truth, and the enemies of truth, and the wars that are fought between them. As Simon Blackburn says in his introduction, the ground is complicated, strewn with abandoned fortresses and trenches, fought over by shifting alliances. Truth is an essential sure-footed guide through the territory, from classical to modern times. It looks at relativism and absolutism, toleration and belief, objectivity and knowledge, science and pseudo-science, and the moral and political implications, as well as the nuances, of all these.

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Book SynopsisIn The Quest for Meaning: Developing a Philosophy of Pluralism, Tariq Ramadan embarks on a journey to uncover the profound truths that bind us together. In a world so full of different beliefs and viewpoints, how can we find peace in our shared humanity? Acclaimed thinker and philosopher Tariq Ramadan explores universal ideas such as love, respect, truth and tolerance, and examines questions such as how can men and women relate to each other? What is the true nature of equality? What does ''civilization'' really mean? In doing so, he opens our minds to a new view of humanity. Whether we are Christian or Buddhist, Jewish or Muslim, secularist or believer, he reveals that all traditions of thought spring from the same place, and guides us to see past what divides us and discover the beauty of what we have in common. This book has resonance for all of us, showing why, eventually, all different spiritual paths lead to the human heart.Trade ReviewTariq Ramadan is a Muslim Martin Luther * Washington Post *One of the most important innovators for the twenty-first century * Time *The work of Tariq Ramadan will take its place in the annals of Islamic thought * Le Monde Diplomatique *

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Book SynopsisIn Why Grow Up, the latest volume in the Philosophy in Transit series, world-renowned philosopher Susan Neiman looks at growing up as an ideal with urgent relevance todayBecoming an adult today can seem a grim prospect. As you grow up, you are told to renounce most of the hopes and dreams of your youth, and resign yourself to a life that will be a pale dilution of the adventurous, important and enjoyable life you once expected. But who wants to do any of that? No wonder we live in a culture of rampant immaturity, argues internationally-renowned philosopher Susan Neiman, when maturity looks so boring.In Why Grow Up, Neiman explores the forces that are arrayed against maturity, and shows how philosophy can help us want to grow up. Travel, both literally and as a metaphor, has been seen as a crucial step to coming of age by thinkers as diverse as Kant, Rousseau, Hume and Simone de Beauvoir. Neiman discusses childhood, adolescence, sex, and culture,Trade ReviewAn excellent work ... Parts are as thought-provoking as reading Kant himself - and a damned sight easier * Independent *Exemplary ... Genuinely subversive -- A. O. Scott * New York Times *A spirited defence of the aspiration to maturity. As Neiman sagely observes, by clinging impotently to youth, we impoverish youth and maturity alike . . . Neiman is an impassioned and lucid expositor of some very recondite concepts, with that rare ability . . . to convey the continued relevance and urgency of philosophy for our distracted times -- Josh Cohen * Guardian *[Neiman] is not only a fine analyst but an acute stylist too, both scintillating and self-disciplined - a very rare thing in a philosopher -- Jonathan Ree * Times Literary Supplement *This elegant and accessible book is the philosophical kick up the arse my generation desperately needs -- Tom Slater * Spiked *To the barricades, armed with reason: Susan Neiman makes the case for toppling society's infantilism. Plumbing the depths of philosophy, she has written the most important book of the hour -- Katrin Schuhmacher * MDR Figaro *Neiman makes the case not only for thinking but for political engagement. Her passion eliminates any sort of pedantry -- Birgit Schmidt * Tagesanzeiger *The way Neiman interprets the Kantian idea of growing up - that of a never-ending task - has something subversive, and that's almost enough to make one young again -- Peter Praschl * Die Welt *Neiman's view on using philosophy to guide ourselves into adulthood is a wonderful example of how the writings of past philosophers can be applied to our current lives. Her writing is accessible for those without a background in philosophy, and her book is a pleasant introduction to those unfamiliar with Kant and Rousseau -- Scott Duimstra * Library Journal *[A] small book of big ideas -- Kate Tuttle * Boston Globe *Beautiful and luminous -- James WoodPhilosophy doesn't get much better than this ... Neiman's sense of humour is a plus, but her greatest strength is her ability to distill centuries of thought to their essence, provoking her readers along the way. Neiman convincingly makes the case that growing up is not tantamount to "inevitable decline," and that the hard work to make maturity fulfilling is worth the effort * Publishers Weekly *Philosopher Susan Neiman restores some measure of sanity to the discussion of age, infantilism, "growing up," and all of its attendant fussing. Hopefully this considered, often brilliant book will shape the discourse on maturity for the foreseeable future -- Jonathan Sturgeon * Flavorwire *Neiman's view on using philosophy to guide ourselves into adulthood is a wonderful example of how the writings of past philosophers can be applied to our current lives. Her writing is accessible for those without a background in philosophy, and her book is a pleasant introduction to those unfamiliar with Kant and Rousseau -- Scott Duimstra * Library Journal *Neiman's book is a pleasure to read because she writes well and thinks lucidly and because her values are invigorating -- Vivian Gornick * Boston Review *This is the most positive description of adulthood I have ever encountered. One that is about strength and thought, not about the sage bodycon or even the houses and children. We can get there. Are you ready yet? -- Anna Fielding * Emerald Street *Stirring stuff . . . [Neiman is] impassioned and thorough, alive with curiosity, devilishly well read, fairminded, and funny. Her writing is strongest when she employs her good humour and graciousness . . . The philosophers' calls to grow up, and grow up well, are frequent, and in Neiman's hands surprising and moving -- Katie Haegele * Philly.com *Star philosopher Susan Neiman makes a stand for maturity, and that is refreshing * de Volkskrant *Wonderful . . . Surely a small treasure every bit as interesting as Bertrand Russell's gem What is Philosophy? * Wichita Eagle *Neiman knows how to keep philosophy fresh and contemporary * De Standaard *Neiman comes as a welcome relief in the confusing sea of thinkers. Her language is natural and familiar and her style simple and smooth. She has a keen insight into the history of thought ... She makes us see Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant in a completely new light ... This is a book on parenting as much as it is a book about rereading Enlightenment. Philosophy has for once become readable and more importantly, enjoyable. Recommended for anyone interested in human life * Prabuddha Bharata *

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Book SynopsisOver the last forty years the philosophy of biology has emerged as an important sub-discipline of the philosophy of science. Covering some of science''s most divisive topics, such as philosophical issues in genetics, it also encompasses areas where modern biology has increasingly impinged on traditional philosophical questions, such as free will, essentialism, and nature vs nurture.In this Very Short Introduction Samir Okasha outlines the core issues with which contemporary philosophy of biology is engaged. Offering a whistle-stop tour of the history of biology, he explores key ideas and paradigm shifts throughout the centuries, including areas such as the theory of evolution by natural selection; the concepts of function and design; biological individuality; and the debate over adaptationism. Throughout Okasha makes clear the relevance of biology for understanding human beings, human society, and our place in the natural world, and the importance of engaging with these issues.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 ReviewOkasha writes beautifully and clearly, presenting and discussing the major contemporary ideas about evolution,adaptation, the species concept, genes, and evolutionary psychology in humans ... I venture to suggest that it should be mandatory reading for anyone contemplating -or having- a degree in biology. * Conservation Biology *Okasha's book will prove to be a very useful resource for introducing undergraduate students to the elements of philosophy of biology. * Joeri Witteveen and Sara Green, Metascience *In this accessible, beautifully and clearly written book, Samir Okasha presents some of the major topics in the Philosophy of Biology. The book illuminates the intimate relations between the science and the philosophy of biology, and is an excellent and solid basis for exploring the new theoretical frameworks and controversies that are emerging in this vibrant field. * Professor Eva Jablonka, Tel Aviv University *In this excellent addition to the Very Short Introduction series, Samir Okasha offers a lucid and concise account of one of the most vital fields in contemporary philosophy. This will be the best starting point for anyone interested in exploring philosophical reflection on the biological sciences. * Philip Kitcher, Columbia University *Table of Contents1: Why philosophy of biology? 2: Evolution and natural selection 3: Teleology, function, and purpose 4: Species and classification 5: Biological individuality 6: Genes 7: Biology, culture, and society Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisThroughout history scepticism and the urge to question accepted truths has been a powerful force for change and growth. Today, as we are bombarded by adverts, scientific studies praising the latest superfoods, and political rhetoric, a healthy amount of scepticism is widely encouraged. But when is such scepticism legitimate - for example, as a driver of new ideas - and when is it problematic? And what role might adopting a sceptical outlook play in leading an intellectually virtuous life?In this Very Short Introduction Duncan Pritchard explores both the advantages of scepticism, in challenging outdated notions, and also how it can have unhelpful social consequences, in generating distrust. He considers the role of scepticism at the source of contemporary social and political movements such as climate change denial, post-truth politics, and fake news. Pritchard also examines the philosophical arguments for a radical form of scepticism which maintains that knowledge is impossible, and explores some of the main responses to these arguments. Finally, he considers the part scepticism might play in applying better thinking and learning to achieve a more meaningful life. 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 Contents1: What is scepticism? 2: Is knowledge impossible? 3: Defending knowledge 4: Scepticism as a way of life Further reading Index

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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 readTrade Reviewmagesterial work ... a monumental achievement both in terms of history and thematic analysis * Network - Newsletter of the Scientific and Medical Network *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 SynopsisTrust is indispensable, yet it can be dangerous. Without trusting others, we cannot function in society, or even stay alive for very long, but being overly-trustful can be a bad strategy too. Trust is pragmatic, but it also has a moral dimension: trustworthiness is a virtue, and well-placed trust benefits us all. In this Very Short Introduction, Katherine Hawley explores the key ideas about trust and distrust. Considerings questions such as ''Why do we value trust?'' and Why do we want to be trusted rather than distrusted?'', Hawley raises issues about the importance of trust in both the personal and public spheres, including family and relationships as well as politics and society. 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 ContentsPROLOGUE: TRUST AND DISTRUST AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE; AFTERWORD: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING TRUSTWORTHY; REFERENCES; FURTHER READING

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Book SynopsisI Am Right, You Are Wrong is THE classic work about choice in business and in life from world-renowned writer and philosopher Edward de Bono.Most of our everyday decision-making tends to be confrontational. Whether in large meetings, one-to-one or even in our own heads, opposite view points are pitted against each other. Ultimately, there must be a winner and a loser.In I Am Right,You Are Wrong, lateral-thinking guru Edward de Bono challenges this ''rock logic'' of rigid categories and point-scoring arguments which is both destructive and exhausting.Instead he reveals how we can all be winners. Clearer perception is the key to constructive thinking and more open-minded creativity.In overturning conventional wisdom, Edward de Bono will help you to become a better thinker and decision maker.''An inspiring man with brilliant ideas. De Bono never ceases to amaze with his clarity of thought'' Sir Richard BransonTrade ReviewAn inspiring man with brilliant ideas. De Bono never ceases to amaze with his clarity of thought. -- Richard Branson

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Book Synopsis''In Japan we have an expression, ''Float like Cloud, Flow like Water''. Its meaning is: to live free and unconstrained''In this short introduction to Zen Buddhism, a practising Japanese monk shares the many lessons he has learned from life inside a temple.With charm and humour, he guides us through everything from meditation to tea-drinking ceremonies, the meaning of koans to preparing Zen food. Accompanied by the author''s own illustrations, this book invites you to change your perception through the wisdom of monastic life.

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Book SynopsisWhether you are struggling with self-doubt or lacking purpose, these 76 short motivational lessons from the multiple world-record holder, Josh Patterson, will give you the boost you need.When Josh set out to break the world record and run 76 marathons around the UK's 76 cities in 76 days he knew it would be a test of determination and resilience, but he hadn''t realised that his past struggles would provide the real strength he needed to cross the finish line. Having suffered with depression and come close to suicide in the past, Josh ran to raise money for the Samaritans and as he ran through the wind and rain, sometimes with crowds of supporters, sometimes alone, he often drew upon the memories of his darkest days to spur him on, knowing that there were happier times ahead. This is a collection of the 76 powerful lessons that fuelled Josh to reach the finish line and will inspire you to reach yours, whatever that might look like including:Me

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Book SynopsisMichael Puett is Professor of Chinese History at Harvard and has lectured widely at the world's leading universities. His course in Chinese philosophy is among the most popular at Harvard and in 2013 he was awarded a Harvard College Professorship for excellence in undergraduate teaching. This is his first trade book. Christine Gross-Loh has written for the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic and the Huffington Post. She has a PhD in East Asian history from Harvard and is the author of Parenting without Borders.Trade ReviewI couldn't wait for this. Brilliant. This is where it's at now . . . so fascinating * Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2 *I can't think of anyone who wouldn't benefit from reading The Path, from my youngest son to the future President of the USA. It's accessible, realistic and far from being an ordinary self-help book. It gives immediate reassurance that this chaotic life can be mastered and it challenges you to strive for better -- Patrick Neale * Bookseller *Very good. Based on Puett's popular class at Harvard, it's a great introduction to Eastern philosophy, which I always chide myself for not studying enough -- Ryan HolidayThe Path is very interesting . . . makes you want to read further -- Nigel WarburtonThe Path is in part a pleasing debunking of fashionable self-help disciplines . . . I can testify that Puett is one of the nicest people - if not the nicest person - I have ever interviewed: attentive, generous and patient -- Tim Dowling * Guardian *I have been talking about it to everyone. It's brilliant, mesmerizing, profound - and deeply contrarian. It points the way to a life of genuine fulfillment and meaning -- Amy Chua, author of 'Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother'Can you turn a Chinese theory class into a smart self-help book? US academic Michael Puett did. Puett's book encourages us to chuck away our stiff, encrusted western notions, and to adopt a more fluid, less didactic approach to life. The Path is not your classic self-help book, and not just because it dismantles the self. It doesn't serve up an easy set of how-to activities ... you are also advised that any changes you make will be slow, incremental, the result of constant daily work ... To talk to Puett is to view our western tradition through an entirely different lens * Sunday Times *I couldn't wait for this. Brilliant. This is where it's at now ... so fascinating * Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2 *A new book from a cult Harvard professor turns contemporary thinking around happiness on its head...There can't be many cult professors. Especially ones that lecture Chinese philosophy to undergraduates. But Professor Michael Puett of Harvard is one of them. Via word of mouth, his courses became full. And now he's written a book, with co-author and journalist Christine Gross-Loh, based on his course. The Path looks at the teachings of ancient Chinese philosophers and explains how we can apply these largely forgotten teachings to our everyday lives. Granted, it sounds like a tough read. It sounds specialist and niche and intimidating. It sounds all of those things. But it is none of those things. It's a big ask in under 200 pages. But there's something wonderfully simple and refreshing about the ideas. There is a simplicity to this book: all we have is ourselves, let's try and make things better -- Marisa Bate * The Pool *His course has become the most popular on campus, even with those studying other subjects, and that's because he talks about how to have a good life, and using ancient Chinese philosophy challenges all our modern assumptions about what it takes to flourish in life -- Sarah Montague * Today programme *A worthy introduction to thinkers rarely taught in British universities -- Matthew Syed * The Times *It's on my night stand -- Gwyneth PaltrowOffer[s] interesting alternatives to some of our modern ideas of self and society ... worth the cover price * Financial Times *Ideas in this book ... authentically contradict modern common sense ... Noting the current fad for mindfulness, the authors point out that Buddhism in the west "has often been distorted as a way of looking within and embracing the self". Such navel-gazing, they and the Chinese sages agree, may be a kind of imprisonment -- Steven Poole * Guardian *A very accessible and inspiring piece of work ... Anyone willing to put the work in might find that this book really can change your life * The Sentinel *This book is a revelation, a practical way through a fractured, distracting world. I thought I knew these philosophers - and I was wrong. Rigorous, concise, deeply informed, The Path retires our facile shorthand about ideas "from the East" and presents a powerful intellectual case to engage, to care, and to remember -- Evan OsnosThis is a book that turns the notion of help - and the self, for that matter - on its head. Puett and Gross-Loh bring seemingly esoteric concepts down to Earth, where we can see them more clearly. The result is a philosophy book grounded in the here and now, and brimming with nuggets of insight. No fortune-cookie this, The Path serves up a buffet of meaty life lessons. I found myself reading and re-reading sections, letting the wisdom steep like a good cup of tea -- Eric WeinerThe Path will not only change your life - -it will change the way you see history and the world. From its wondrously fresh take on Confucius to its quietly profound read of just what it is the great sages have to say to us, this book exemplifies all that can come of the radical openness of Chinese philosophy. Read it and be transformed -- Gish Jen, author of Tiger Writing and The Love WifeThe Path illuminates a little-known spiritual and intellectual landscape: the rich body of Chinese thought that, starting more than two millennia ago, charted new approaches to living a meaningful life. But Puett goes a lot further, creatively applying this ancient thought to the dilemmas of modern life. The result is a fresh recipe for harnessing our natural energies and emotions to strengthen social connection and build islands of order amid the chaos that sometimes surrounds us -- Robert Wright, author of The Language of GodPuett's dynamism translates well from his classroom theater onto the page, and his provocative, radical re-envisioning of everyday living through Chinese philosophy opens wide the 'possibilities for thinking afresh about ourselves and about our future.' With its ... spirited, convincing vision, revolutionary new insights can be gleaned from this book on how to approach life's multifarious situations with both heart and head * Kirkus Reviews *If you're looking to get out of a rut, or rise above the doom and gloom of our present global situation, Puett's channeled knowledge from the Chinese masters will be a wake-up call. We sometimes forget that our problems are as old as civilization, and maybe the answers have always been hidden in plain sight. * Publishers Weekly Staff Pick *The Laozi actually offers a much more expansive-and revolutionary-vision of innovation [than The Art of War. It] questions the very idea that we should try to come up with innovative strategies within a defined, predictable arena, whether that is the battlefield or dinner table, the boardroom or the steel industry. Instead, the Laozi assumes a world in constant flux and motion. Those who aspire to innovate are better off seeing the world through a Laozian, not Sunzian, lens * Fortune *A very accessible work * i *There's a lot in it...fascinating. [It] is challenging the conventions of Western philosophy -- Philippa Thomas * BBC World *Thought-provoking and stimulating work. The authors carry an admirable modesty -- Paddy Kehoe * RTÉ *Puett's book is designed to make the reader think, and it fulfils that objective. He presents complex philosophies lucidly -- Krishnan Srinivasan, former Indian Foreign Secretary * The Statesman *The Importance of Breaking Free of ... Yourself * LinkedIn post viewed over 0.5 million times *Welcome and unusual. Its genesis rests in the enormous teaching success of Puett, a professor of Chinese history at Harvard. His freshman survey course on Chinese philosophy now ranks as the most popular humanities class on the campus, requiring the august venue of Sanders Theatre to accommodate its 700-plus regulars. The result? A remarkable combination of self-help guide and iconoclastic take on ancient Chinese wisdom * Chronicle of Higher Education *

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Book SynopsisThe pursuit of happiness is universal. Most of us would like to experience more joy and elation, but when we feel like we are falling short of this ideal, we can often feel downcast. We may even see ''darker'' emotional states, like anger and envy, as character defects or serious illnesses.In The Positive Power of Negative Emotions, Dr Tim Lomas reveals that these ''negative'' feelings are not only normal and natural, but may in fact serve as pathways to the very happiness and flourishing that we seek. Anger can signal that you''ve been treated unfairly and push you towards change. Guilt suggests that you have let yourself down, and drives you to be better. Envy can motivate you to improve yourself and your life. Boredom can be a gateway to creativity and self-transcendence. Loneliness allows your authentic voice to be heard, and teaches self-sufficiency. The Positive Power of Negative Emotions will be your guide to using your darker feelings toTrade ReviewThis book is far more than an argument for tolerating bad feelings. Drawing on philosophy, the arts, psychology and personal experience, Tim Lomas shows how sadness, anxiety, anger and the rest can be a path to growth. His surprisingly uplifting message is that learning to harness our negative emotions will expand our capacity for joy -- Oliver Burkeman, author of The AntidoteA truly inspirational new book * Daily Mail *Although we might not want to face our feelings of fear, sadness, and loneliness, these are the body's warning lights. In this useful and enjoyable book, Tim Lomas shows how our feelings give us the clues for how to make a better life. Learn to listen to your inner voice of wisdom -- Professor Stephen Joseph, author of Authentic: How to be yourself and why it matters

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Book SynopsisA gentle, nurturing guide that offers a question for each day of the year to provide readers with the tools to remember who they are, why they are here and how they can create a rich and meaningful life.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewKwame Anthony Appiah is a writer and thinker of remarkable range… Appiah writes very clearly, and much of this original and absorbing book will be of interest to general readers… Appiah has packed into this short book an impressive amount of original reflection on a number of topics… [A] rich and illuminating book. -- Thomas Nagel * New York Review of Books *Appiah is the rare public intellectual who is also a first-rate analytic philosopher, and the characteristic virtues associated with each of these identities are very much in evidence throughout the book. -- Thomas Kelly * Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *Following his practice of producing short, concise, well-written, thoughtful books of interest to a broad audience, Appiah again raises important questions. -- J. Gough * Choice *Appiah is absolutely right that the notion of idealization is both ripe and suitable for significant philosophical exploration. The subject has been central to political theory, epistemology, and philosophy of science. As If: Idealization and Ideals is the first book to explicitly combine and link all of the discussions in a very valuable—if controversial—contribution. -- Jason Stanley, Yale University

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Book SynopsisThe number one bestseller in France and Italy, from Françoise Héritier, The Sweetness of Life is a beautiful and poetic list of the everyday reasons that make life worth livingIf you assume an average life expectancy of 85 years, and deduct the hours we spend daily on sleeping, shopping, eating, working, tending to our relationships and on everything else that is obligatory, then how much time is left for the average person to enjoy those activities that are the sweetness of life? For Françoise Héritier, it is those activities, those moments that make up pure sensuality, the actual experience of humanity. These are the moments we all cherish: wild laughter, coffee in the sun, the bliss of fresh autumn evenings, running in warm rain, long conversations at twilight, kisses on the back of the neck, the moment when all nature falls silent, those times when you know that someone likes you, is looking at you and listening to you, cooking a complicated dish, feeling agile anTrade ReviewA series of perceptions, sensations, eddies, and happiness of writing that gives a real intensity to the existence . . . a true wonder -- Laure Adler

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Book SynopsisFollowing the huge success of THE MEANING OF THINGS and THE REASON OF THINGS, a third collection of bestselling essays from Britain''s top philosopher.''Human genius has done much, and promises much, in the way of removing the mystery from many things in our world; at the same time it recognises and honours the mystery in things too.''In this collection A.C. Grayling extends the range of his previous two books to show how much understanding people can gain about themselves and their world by reflecting on the lessons offered by science, the arts (including literature) and history. Covering subjects as diverse as Jane Austen''s EMMA, the Rosetta Stone, Shakespeare, the Holocaust, quantum physics, Galileo, and even alien abductions, A..C. Grayling''s latest collection is a rich source for reflection and contemplation over the mysteries of life.Trade Review"It is no disrespect to either author to describe AC Grayling's latest work as a thinking person's Schott's Miscellany." WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY "Anthony Grayling is a philosopher by trade but he's also a latter-day Renaissance Man, as this collection of his journalism shows." SUNDAY TELEGRAPH "Fast becoming Britain's philosopher of choice... Certainly more of substance and merit than a mountain of Paulo Coelho." THE HERALD "In covering the fields of art, history and science, Grayling's thoughts sweep over a vast landscape of knowledge, offering an alluring glimpse and encouraging greater study on the reader's part. How refreshing, ultimately, in this age of dumbing down, to be asked to learn and inform oneself without a hint of condescension." THE IRISH TIMES

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a detailed account for how aspiring sports bettors can use a Monte Carlo simulation to improve the quality, and hopefully profitability, of their betting, and in doing so unravels the mystery of probability and variance that lies at the heart of all gambling. ...Trade ReviewA comprehensive guide for how to make randomness work for you, rather than against you... This is ground-breaking work * Pinnacle *

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Book SynopsisNeed a rental person who does nothing?Shoji Morimoto provides a fascinating service to the lonely and socially anxious. After an old boss told him that he contributed nothing and that it made no difference whether he showed up to work or not, he wondered if a person who ‘does nothing’ could still have a place in the world. With a tweet, his Rental Person service was born.- Have a deep secret you desperately need to reveal, so deep that you can’t tell a friend or family member?- Have you spent a long time home alone, and want to know what it’s like to have somebody with you at your apartment?- Or for someone to simply think of you on a stressful day? Or wave to you as you leave the train station on a long journey?Morimoto is dependable, non-judgmental and committed to remaining a stranger throughout each request, and his encounters are revelatory about both Japanese society and human psychology.In Rental PersonTrade ReviewDistinctively Japanese musings on meaning and connection * Observer *A beguiling kind of picaresque * The Times *Lays bare the bathos and banality of contemporary life . . . Morimoto, though still elusive, emerges as a modern Bartleby, an inadvertent dissident, someone who has come to see his practice as being “about enjoying the absurdity of swimming against the tide of efficiency” * Guardian *An eccentric, charming book, showing how humans can connect in the strangest of circumstances * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisWhat is happiness? Does life have a meaning? If so, is that meaning available in an ordinary life? The philosopher Zena Hitz confronted these questions head-on when she spent several years living in a Christian religious community. Religious life -- the communal life chosen by monks, nuns, friars, and hermits -- has been a part of global Christianity since earliest times, but many of us struggle to understand what could drive a person to renounce wealth, sex, children, and ambition to live a life of prayer and sacrifice. Hitz''s lively and accessible book explores questions about faith, sacrifice, asceticism and happiness through philosophy, stories, and examples from religious life. Drawing on personal experience as well as film, literature, history, biography, and theology, it demystifies an important element of contemporary culture, and provides a picture of human flourishing and happiness which challenges and enriches modern-day life.Trade Review'We live in a time in which few people write about the lives of consecrated religious. In such a context, this book would have been a welcome contribution to the literature were it only half as intelligent and articulate as it actually is. But even if our bookstores were overflowing with commentaries on the religious life, 'A Philosopher Looks at the Religious Life' would stand out for its distinctive and thoughtful approach, the breadth of its learning, and its willingness to speak to those entirely unfamiliar with, perhaps even hostile to, so much of what constitutes the great and unfathomable mystery of this life.' Sister Carino Hodder, The Lamp'Hitz the philosopher does some of her best work here … [a] stirring and beautiful book.' James Matthew Wilson, National Review'Hitz's perceptive, humane study is an ideal guide for anyone who suddenly finds someone they know hearing the call, or, even more, hears it themselves.' Washington Examiner'As a philosopher, her view of religious life is thought-provoking and distinct; as a practicing Catholic, it avoids both abstraction and sentimentality.' The Lamp'As in any lively conversation, Hitz's book unfolds often freewheelingly and provocatively, resisting linear synopsis and predictable conclusions.' The Public Discourse'It is a book written from the heart and rooted in deep rumination on wide reading, careful observations, and first-hand experiences.' Current'Hitz invites her readers to question often unexamined assumptions about the comfort and security personal achievement can provide.' First ThingsTable of ContentsWhat is this book about?; Introduction: renunciation and happiness; 1. The call; 2. Blessed are the poor; 3. Intimacy with God; 4. The family of humanity; 5. Abandonment and freedom; Conclusion: The last things.

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Book SynopsisAll people desire to know. We want to not only know what has happened, but also why it happened, how it happened, whether it will happen again, whether it can be made to happen or not happen, and so on. In short, what we want are explanations. Asking and answering explanatory questions lies at the very heart of scientific practice. The primary aim of this book is to help readers understand how science explains the world. This book explores the nature and contours of scientific explanation, how such explanations are evaluated, as well as how they lead to knowledge and understanding. As well as providing an introduction to scientific explanation, it also tackles misconceptions and misunderstandings, while remaining accessible to a general audience with little or no prior philosophical training.Trade Review'This engaging book effectively introduces a wide range of philosophical ideas about scientific explanation in an accessible way. It's attentive to nuances but avoids getting bogged down in details and debates.' Angela Potochnik, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Public Engagement with Science, University of Cincinnati'Kevin McCain's excellent book zooms in on the role of explanation in science and links it with scientific understanding. McCain has the enviable gift to write a gentle introduction for the novice reader that also provides a fresh perspective that is interesting for the specialist. Overall, this book is an accessible and illuminating contribution to the literature on scientific explanation.' Olaf Dammann, Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University'In this concise and elegant book, McCain provides a superb overview of current thinking about the nature of explanation in science, correcting common misunderstandings and providing a clearly written, entertaining, and insightful guide to the enterprise of understanding the world.' Michael Strevens, Professor of Philosophy, New York University'Understanding How Science Explains the World is a very impressive achievement. It draws on and develops some of the most important philosophical views on the nature of explanation, while carefully engaging throughout with important examples from the history of science (including quite recent history, which takes into account scientific attempts to explain and understand COVID-19). Highly recommended.' Stephen R. Grimm, Professor of Philosophy, Fordham UniversityTable of Contents1. Why Explanation Matters in Science; 2. The General Nature of Explanation; 3. Specific Kinds of Explanations; 4. Explanation and Prediction; 5. Evaluating Explanations; 6. Explanatory Quality and Felt Understanding; 7. False Theories, But Accurate Explanations?; 8. From Explanation to Knowledge.

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Book SynopsisIt would be easy to dismiss the films of Douglas Sirk (1897-1987) as brilliant examples of mid-century melodrama with little to say to the contemporary world. Yet Robert Pippin argues that, far from being marginal pieces of sentimentality, Sirk''s films are rich with irony, insight and depth. Indeed Sirk''s films, often celebrated as classics of the genre, are attempts to subvert rather than conform to rules of conventional melodrama.The visual style, story and characters of films like All That Heaven Allows, Written on the Wind and Imitation of Life are explored to argue for Sirk as an incredibly nuanced moral thinker. Instead of imposing moralising judgements on his characters, Sirk presents them as people who do ''wrong'' things often without understanding why or how, creating a complex and unsettling ethics. Pippin argues that it this moral ambiguity and ironic richness enables Sirk to produce films that grapple with important themes such as race, class and gender witTrade ReviewWho needs Hegel, Heidegger,or Derrida when you’ve got Douglas Sirk? Once again, Robert B. Pippin shows that philosophy still has a lot to learn from the movies. In the bold colors and improbable plots of Sirk’s melodramas he finds important lessons not just about race, class, and gender, but also—and perhaps more importantly—about the limits of moral inquiry. * Martin Woessner, Associate Professor of History & Society, Center for Worker Education, The City College of New York (CUNY), USA *Professor Pippin’s book provides extraordinary and perceptive insights into Douglas Sirk’s Hollywood films. The book unravels a range of arguments with admirable clarity while paying attention to Sirk’s visual style, as well to as his uses of story and character. Pippin argues that characters in these films often perform actions in ways that are beyond their understanding. This provides these films with a very particular moral atmosphere in which good characters do ‘wrong’ things, but in ways that, for the most part, engage our sympathy and admiration. * Richard Rushton, Senior Lecturer in Film, Lancaster University, UK *In this wonderfully provocative study, Robert Pippin explores three of Sirk’s most famous American melodramas, finding in their excesses and irony a philosophical rigour. Ingeniously, Pippin explains how Sirk’s sumptuously pessimistic world forecloses, for the characters, any real possibility of love, mutuality and self-knowledge, despite the putative happy endings. For viewers willing to give Sirk’s films a “second” or “third thought”, however, Pippin teaches us to see past the surface of bourgeois morality and discover a more difficult but worthwhile reckoning with “the politics of American emotional life” and our own complicities with its sympathetic registers. * Jennifer Fay, Professor and Chair of Cinema & Media Arts and Professor of English, Vanderbilt University, USA *Table of Contentspreface acknowledgements Chapter One. Introduction: Irony as Subversion Chapter Two. Love and Class in All That Heaven Allows Chapter Three. Misplaced Moralism in Written on the Wind Chapter Four. Living Theater in Imitation of Life Conclusion bibliography index

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Book SynopsisPonder life''s biggest questions with this spectacular hardback to philosophy through its 100 key thinkers, beautifully illustrated in full-colour throughout. From the metaphysics of Plato to the nihilism of Nietzsche, this engaging and accessible book invites readers to contemplate the ideas of 100 key philosophers within the Western intellectual tradition. Covering philosophical, scientific, political and religious thought over a period of 2,500 years, Philosophy: 100 Essential Thinkers serves as an excellent guide to this history of philosophy and the progress that has been made in interpreting the world around us.These figures include:• Aristotle• Jean-Jacques Rousseau• Karl Marx• Simone de Beauvoir• Noam Chomsky• W.V.O QuineBy presenting details of their lives and the concerns and circumstances that motivated them, along with a range of full-colour illustrations, this book makes philos

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Book SynopsisCandlelight is hygge; the smell of freshly brewed coffee is hygge; the feel of crisp, clean bed linen is hygge; dinner with friends is hygge. ''Hygge'', pronounced ''hoo-ga'', is a Danish philosophy that roughly translates to ''cosiness''. But it is so much more than that. It''s a way of life that encourages us to be kinder to ourselves, to take pleasure in the modest, the mundane and the familiar. It is a celebration of the everyday, of sensual experiences rather then things. It''s an entire attitude to life that results in Denmark regularly being voted one of the happiest countries in the world. So, with two divorces behind her and her 50th birthday rapidly approaching, journalist Charlotte Abrahams ponders whether it''s hygge that''s been missing from her life. Is it a philosophy we can all embrace? In a society where lifestyle trends tend to centre on deprivation - be it no sugar, no gluten, no possessions - what does cherishing yourself actually mean? And will it make hTrade ReviewAbrahams' Hygge, Carvalho predicted, "could fill the Norwegian Wood hole for this Christmas". -- Bea Carvalho, Waterstones' non-fiction buyer * THE GUARDIAN *Writer Charlotte Abrahams was approaching 50 and feeling flustered. She had a busy life but the niggling feeling something was missing. Already familiar with hygge, she decided to make her research into the concept 'a bit more personal' and attempted to apply the philosophy of 'self-kindness' to her own life, ditching multi-tasking for mindfulness, making time for cake and lie-ins and cherishing the way these changes improved life. * THE SIMPLE THINGS *Charlotte Abrahams's thoughtful, very personal book. -- India Knight * SUNDAY TIMES *

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Book SynopsisThis book is the essential introduction to postmodernism and offers an indispensible guide to this sometimes demanding terrain. It is aimed at readers encountering theories of postmodernism for the first time, and places the subject in a wide context.Table of Contents : Preface 1: Postmodernisms 2: Arts of impurity 3: Arts of impurity - part two 4: The trouble with reality 5: Taking meaning apart 6: Identity crisis 7: Identity crisis - part two 8: Theorising the broken world : Index

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