Popular philosophy Books

Book SynopsisWhat is a good life, and how is it related to a happy one? What are virtues, and how do they affect the nature of friendships? Ethicists Gregory Beabout and Mike Hannis describe various approaches, ancient and modern, to those timeless questions: "What kind of person am I?" and "What should I do?"

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Book SynopsisA guide to developing the art of finding serenity by understanding the sources of our anxiety and frustrations. Almost all of us wish we could be calmer; it is one of the distinctive longings of the modern age. Across history people have sought adventure and excitement, however a new priority for many of us is a desire to be more tranquil. This is a book designed to support us in our endeavours to remain calm against all the adversities life throws at us. A calm state of mind is not a divine gift, we can alter our responses to everyday things and educate ourselves in the art of remaining calm, not through slow breathing or special teas, but through thinking. This is a book that explores the causes of our greatest stresses and anxieties and gives us a succession of highly persuasive, beautiful and sometimes dryly comic arguments with which to defend ourselves against panic and confusion. Part of a new essential paperback series from The School of Life, covering a range of emotional lessons needed in order to lead fulfilled and happy lives.Trade ReviewReader Reviews: 'A thought-provoking and intelligent book ... Full of ideas to reflect upon and introduce into our world for a calmer life' 'Beautifully written and incredibly comforting. The writing itself makes you feel calm, and it seems to instil a seed of hope in you that you really can lead a more calm and peaceful life'

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Book SynopsisA guide to confronting modern social situations with confidence and grace.

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Book SynopsisPhilosophy of Mind: A Very Short Introduction probes some of the great philosophical questions about the mind: What is the relationship between mind and matter? Can science unravel the mystery of consciousness? How can our thoughts represent things in the world? Are computers genuinely intelligent? In the book, Barbara Gail Montero highlights key thought experiments used by philosophers to explore the nature of mind and how mind and body relate to each other (the mind-body problem). She leads readers through the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed solutions to the mind-body problem and explores the philosophical conundrums associated with sensation, perception, cognition, and emotion. While keeping an eye on the contemporary philosophical debate, Montero also considers the cross-cultural roots of philosophy of mind, and its connections to psychology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and physics. 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 ReviewThis little gem offers a succinct, thorough introduction to the central topics in philosophy of mind...providing insight into all the major positions and arguments, this is an excellent foundational book. * J. A. Kegley, CHOICE *Table of ContentsPreface 1: The mind-body problem 2: Dualism 3: Other minds 4: Physicalism 5: Intentionality 6: Consciousness 7: Animals, aliens, and machines 8: Dissolving the mind-body problem Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of Forbes' Must-Read Brain Books of 2019""Finalist for the PROSE Award in Philosophy, Association of American Publishers"

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Book SynopsisA book for all ages, a book for all time. The Sunday Times and New York Times Number 1 bestselling book that inspired the BAFTA and Oscar-winning animated film.Enter the world of Charlie's four unlikely friends, discover their story and their most important life lessons. The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse have been shared millions of times online. They've also been recreated by children in schools and hung on hospital walls. They sometimes even appear on lamp posts and on cafe and bookshop windows. Here, you will find them together in this book of Charlie's most-loved drawings, adventuring into the Wild and exploring the thoughts and feelings that unite us all.'A wonderful work of art and a wonderful window into the human heart' Richard CurtisTrade ReviewWise words -- James CordenCharlie Mackesy's mesmerizing debut combines the simplicity of 'The Giving Tree', magic of 'The Velveteen Rabbit' and the curiosity of 'Paddington' -- Elisabeth Egan * The New York Times *Simply, the world needs Charlie's work right now. -- Miranda HartLove, friendship and kindness - this book speaks a universal language. -- Bear GryllsA wonderful work of art and a wonderful window into the human heart. -- Richard CurtisPure Joy * London Evening Standard *The world that I am required to inhabit is this one. But the world that I long to inhabit is the one that Charlie Mackesy has created. -- Elizabeth GilbertThose in need of peace will find it between the covers of this elegant picture bookfor adults and children * The New York Times *You will not be able to buy a more beautiful book for Christmas for somebody you love -- Chris EvansSimply, the world needs Charlie's work right now. -- Miranda Hart

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Give the gift of inspiration: an essential guide to living wisely and well, no matter what challenges the world throws at you - from Alain de Botton, the bestselling author of The Consolations of Philosophy, The Art of Travel and The Course of LoveThis is a book about everything you were never taught at school. It''s about how to understand your emotions, find and sustain love, succeed in your career, fail well and overcome shame and guilt. It''s also about letting go of the myth of a perfect life in order to achieve genuine emotional maturity. Written in a hugely accessible, warm and humane style, The School of Life is the ultimate guide to the emotionally fulfilled lives we all long for - and deserve. This book brings together ten years of essential and transformative research on emotional intelligence, with practical topics including: - how to understand yourself- how to master the dilemmas of relationships- how to become more effective at work - how to endure failure- how to grow more serene and resilient Praise for Alain de Botton:''What he has managed to do is remarkable: to help us think better so that we may live better lives'' Irish Times''A serious and optimistic set of practical ideas that could improve and alter the way we live'' Jeanette Winterson, The Times''Alain de Botton likes to take big, complex subjects and write about them with thoughtful and deceptive innocence'' ObserverTrade Review[Alain] de Botton's injunction to understand ourselves could not matter more. * The Times *It is an amazing book. Beautifully written . . . a beautiful book that you should have in your home * Chris Evans *

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Book SynopsisThe follow-up to the BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week Other MindsA Times and Sunday Times Book of the YearA Waterstones Best Book of 2020The scuba-diving philosopher explores the origins of animal consciousness.Dip below the ocean's surface and you are soon confronted by forms of life that could not seem more foreign to our own: sea sponges, soft corals and flower-like worms, whose rooted bodies and intricate geometry are more reminiscent of plant life than anything recognisably animal. Yet these creatures are our cousins. As fellow members of the animal kingdom the Metazoa they can teach us about the evolutionary origins of not only our bodies, but also our minds.In his acclaimed book, Other Minds, Peter Godfrey-Smith explored the mind of the octopus the closest thing to an intelligent alien on Earth. In Metazoa, he expands his inquiry to animals at large, investigating the evolution of experience with the assistance of far-flung species. Godfrey-Smith shows that the appearance of the Trade ReviewA Times and Sunday Times Book of the Year A BBC Science Focus Book of the Month ‘This gentle approach won a wide readership for Godfrey-Smith’s last book and deserves to do the same for this. But perhaps his exploratory style is well-suited, not just to the general reader, but to the problem of consciousness itself’ Times Literary Supplement ‘Enthralling … A rather winning combination of not once ever making readers feel as if they are being lectured to; rather, it is the sensation of joining a wise, ever-patient friend on a time-traveling tour of the cognitive experiences of animals … Metazoa brings an extraordinary and astute look at our own mind’s essential link to the animal world’ Aimee Nezhukumatathil, New York Times ‘A profound scientific drama, in which the lives of quite un-human creatures illuminate deep mysteries about the nature of sentience, and what it means to possess a mind … In Metazoa, the scuba-diving historian and philosopher of science tackles these questions with eloquent boldness … As in Other Minds, Mr Godfrey-Smith recounts close encounters with marine fauna, gleaned from years of diving off the Australian coast. These have an electric immediacy … Evocative [and] gripping’ Barbara Kiser, Wall Street Journal ‘Peter Godfrey-Smith's new book Metazoa is, like his last one, not only deeply interesting but beautifully written. Also, it finally taught me how to pronounce "cnidarian" properly’ Philip Ball ‘Peter Godfrey-Smith writes and thinks like no one else that I know of. He’s well immersed in the science of life, a deep-diver into the philosophical implications of the factual world – and a writer so skillful he can give a reader chills. Metazoa is his deepest dive to date on what life is’ Carl Safina, author of Becoming Wild

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Book SynopsisThe companion book to the BAFTA and Oscar winning animated short film.A journey, in search of home...This beautifully made hardback celebrates the work of over 100 animators across two years of production - with Charlie's distinctive illustrations brought to life in full colour with hand-drawn traditional animation and accompanying hand-written script."I made a film with some friends about a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse - their journey together and the boy's search for home. I hope this book gives you courage and makes you feel loved." Love Charlie x

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

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

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Elegant. . . . Fontaine calls Cicero’s ‘On the Ideal Orator’ a ‘masterpiece’ and Quintilian’s ‘The Education of the Orator’ ‘a master textbook on public speaking.’ Neither is an understatement."---Joseph Epstein, Wall Street Journal"Michael Fontaine’s lively new translation of Cicero’s ancient text on humor, How to Tell a Joke, amuses as well as instructs."---Linda B. Glaser, Cornell Chronicle"[How to Tell a Joke] will make you happier, it will make you better read, and, I’m pretty confident, it will make you laugh."---Ben Potter, Classical Wisdom"Wonderful translations. . . . [Fontaine’s] translations make the Latin very accessible to the modern reader who might not have any skill in translation at all. This modern translation also makes the language of Cicero and Quintilian come alive to the reader. . . .it gives you a glimpse of the Roman sense of humour, barbs, quips and the workings of extraordinary jurists in a court playing to a captive audience. . . . [A] wonderful book."---Dr. LF Ivings, Journal of Classics Teaching

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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 SynopsisMost of us long to be a little calmer: too many of our days are lost to agitation and worry, stress and discord. Yet we know that we are at our best when we can manage not to panic and take challenges in our stride. Fortunately, a calm state of mind is not a divine gift. Even those of us starting from a more agitated position can systematically understand and lay claim to it. Too many books on this subject simply explain what it would be like to be calm. This is a workbook that takes us through the practical steps required to actually become calm. It is filled with exercises and prompts that deliver the self-understanding and self-compassion on which true serenity depends. Furthermore, the book invites us to build calming routines into our daily lives so that what we learn can stick with us and change us for the long term. Based on years of The School of Life’s work in the area of anxiety and calm, this is a landmark workbook guaranteed to bring about the calmer state of mind we long for and deserve.

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Book SynopsisIn this rare peak into the personal life of the author of numerous bestselling novels, gain an understanding of David Foster Wallace and how he became the man that he was.Only once did David Foster Wallace give a public talk on his views on life, during a commencement address given in 2005 at Kenyon College. The speech is reprinted for the first time in book form in This is Water. How does one keep from going through their comfortable, prosperous adult life unconsciously? How do we get ourselves out of the foreground of our thoughts and achieve compassion? The speech captures Wallace''s electric intellect as well as his grace in attention to others. After his death, it became a treasured piece of writing reprinted in The Wall Street Journal and the London Times, commented on endlessly in blogs, and emailed from friend to friend.Writing with his one-of-a-kind blend of causal humor, exacting intellect, and practical philosophy, David Foster Wallace probes the challenges of daily living and offers advice that renews us with every reading.

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

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Book SynopsisThe inspirational sequel to 12 RULES FOR LIFE, which has sold over 10 million copies around the world - now in paperbackIn 12 Rules for Life, acclaimed public thinker and clinical psychologist Jordan B. Peterson offered an antidote to the chaos in our lives: eternal truths applied to modern anxieties. His insights have helped millions of readers and resonated powerfully around the world.Now in this long-awaited sequel, Peterson goes further, showing that part of life''s meaning comes from reaching out into the domain beyond what we know, and adapting to an ever-transforming world. While an excess of chaos threatens us with uncertainty, an excess of order leads to a lack of curiosity and creative vitality. Beyond Order therefore calls on us to balance the two fundamental principles of reality - order and chaos - and reveals the profound meaning that can be found on the path that divides them.In times of instability and suffering, Peterson Trade ReviewThe advice in Beyond Order reflects some new and painful awareness of mortality. But it was always Peterson's intimate, self-revealing style that made his life advice so powerful, so energising, and so hard to reduce to politics * Telegraph *A sui generis kind of personal trainer for the soul.... It's a good thing that there's space on the self-help shelves for a book as bracingly pessimistic as this one... Peterson offers an invaluable reminder that we're finite and inherently imperfect -- Oliver Burkeman * Guardian (Book of the Week) *Life-changingly inspirational * The Times *Full of sensible, humane advice, and shows he is still very much on top... The book is a validation of his own role; as he observes, being able to articulate what many people instinctively feel but can't articulate is a valuable role for a public intellectual -- Melanie McDonagh * Evening Standard *In telling us that life is suffering (as all major religions do) and that the goal is to find meaning rather than happiness, he does have something to say. ... wisdom combined with good advice. Peterson is at his best when telling stories of his clinical practice - he comes across as an empathetic non-judgmental listener -- Suzanne Moore * Telegraph *More trenchant life advice from the bestselling author of 12 Rules for Life... bound to be a bestseller * The Times *Reliably thought-provoking, often engrossing ... Peterson has a sharp eye for the vagaries of human nature, and he can be a compelling storyteller, especially when narrating his own experiences and those he has observed from life. There is a fair amount of wisdom in Beyond Order, of the kind that used to be called common sense -- Jenny McCartney * UnHerd *Part quest, part adventure, part lecture and part polemic... There's masses of passion, masses of wisdom and a deep, deep yearning for us all to seek the beauty, truth and meaning Peterson has sometimes glimpsed and is desperate for us to find. He has had tens of thousands of letters from people who say he has helped them to find it. How many writers can say they have done that? -- Christina Patterson * Sunday Times *[Peterson is] enlightening as a clinical psychologist... Peterson's rules are an attempt to locate people within society, to acknowledge the systems and structures that have long existed and, instead of seeking to tear them down, encourage his readers to find their most functional position within them -- Andrew Anthony * Observer *Beyond Order showcases Peterson's extraordinary gift for storytelling, as well as for extrapolating complex psychological themes and deriving lessons and meaning from them in ways lay readers can understand... A delight to read... Peterson is a world class communicator... Beyond Order is a compelling and ultimately life-affirming read for anyone willing to challenge their own ideas and face up to the untapped potential in their lives -- Greg Jameson * Entertainment Focus *Gratitude, he says, is "something in which you can discover part of the antidote to the abyss and the darkness". As I read this last line, I found myself saying "amen". And I realised what Jordan Peterson really is. He has suffered more than most of us. He has seen the abyss. And he has emerged from it not a top public intellectual but a highly driven, intelligent, complex and deservedly successful preacher -- Lucy Kellaway * Financial Times *[Beyond Order] has psychological value and if you want homespun common sense that is mixed with the wisdom of the ages then this is the book for you. The 12 new rules are clearly laid out with a mix of literature, mythology, philosophy, religion and psychology used to support the significance of each... It's worth reading to equip you to live a more purposeful and a more meaningful life -- Stella O’Malley * Irish Independent *'With Beyond Order, Jordan Peterson has given us an astonishingly illuminating look at the human condition. Rule by rule, he digs into the cornerstones of our psyche and culture as he seeks to explain why we behave the way we do' -- Hannah Gal * Quillette *Peterson is a deep thinker with tremendous powers of articulation and a captivating sense of wonder. A master storyteller, he draws on a multitude of sources, including his personal life, clinical practice and long marriage to enlighten readers about the fundamentals of human behavior and our civilization. Beyond Order is a call for action and self-improvement. It is a mind-blowing journey where the lessons learnt are lessons for life * The Jerusalem Post *

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring The tradition of ancient philosophy is a long, rich and varied one. Julia Annas gives a succinct account of ancient Greco-Roman philosophy, emphasizing its freshness and variety of themes, and its approach of lively discussion and argument. Getting away from the presentation of ancient philosophy as a succession of Great Thinkers, the book gives readers a sense of the freshness and liveliness of ancient philosophy, and of its wide variety of themes and styles.This new edition has been fully updated to reflect updates in the field, with new illustrations and up to date further reading to allow further exploration of the field. The text has been expanded and modernized to be more comprehensive and accessible to the general reader, as well as exploring the relation of the tradition of ancient Greco-Roman philosophy to other traditions and to us.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: How to live a happy life 2: Humans and beasts: understanding ourselves 3: Reason, knowledge and scepticism 4: Logic and reality 5: When did it begin? (and what is it anyway?)

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Book SynopsisAlthough there are many kinds of love, erotic love has been celebrated in art and poetry as life''s most rewarding and exalting experience, worth living and dying for and bringing out the best in ourselves. And yet it has excused, and even been thought to justify, the most reprehensible crimes. Why should this be? This Very Short Introduction explores this and other puzzling questions. Do we love someone for their virtue, their beauty, or their moral or other qualities? Are love''s characteristic desires altruistic or selfish? Are there duties of love? What do the sciences - neuroscience, evolutionary and social psychology, and anthropology - tell us about love?Many of the answers we give to such questions are determined not so much by the facts of human nature as by the ideology of love. Ronald de Sousa considers some of the many paradoxes raised by love, looking at the different kinds of love - affections, affiliation, philia, storage, agape, but focusses on eros, or romantic love. He considers whether our conventional beliefs about love and sex are deeply irrational and argues that alternative conceptions of love and sex, although hard to formulate and live by, may be worth striving for. 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. Puzzles ; 2. Perspectives ; 3. Desire ; 4. Reasons ; 5. Science ; 6. Utopia ; Further reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisMeera Lee Patel''s first guided journal, Start Where You Are, inspired thousands of readers through a rare combination of stunning watercolour art and thoughtful, empowering prompts and quotations. Made Out of Stars will pick up the journey once more, encouraging readers to recognize and embrace what makes them truly special. A booster shot of self-care when you need it most, this beautiful, intimate book will be a touchstone for anyone looking to better understand themselves so they can clear out the noise and be who they are.

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Book SynopsisArguing for the benefits of boredom, this title dispels the myth that it's simply a childish emotion or an existential malaise like Jean-Paul Sartre's nausea. It shows how boredom is, in fact, one of our most common and constructive emotions and is an essential part of the human experience.Trade Review"As for his engaging new book, Toohey needn’t worry: Boredom, with its wise insights, is never boring."—Carmela Ciuraru, Boston Globe -- Carmela Ciuraru * Boston Globe *"Readers who are willing to meander from science to literature to art and other realms will find themselves engaged."—Nina C. Ayoub, The Chronicle Review -- Nina C. Ayoub * The Chronicle Review *“There are plenty of fine things here to keep a receptive mind alert.”—Alain de Botton, The Times -- Alain de Botton * The Times *“Few writers on boredom can match Peter Toohey when it comes to finding pleasure, excitement and even a perverse kind of glee in his subject.”—Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, The Daily Telegraph -- Robert Douglas-Fairhurst * The Daily Telegraph *"Mr. Toohey presents his case with verve."—Elizabeth Lowry, Wall Street Journal -- Elizabeth Lowry * Wall Street Journal *'Peter Toohey is a wonderful scholar, whose work on classical literature both instructs and delights.' - Darian Leader -- Darian Leader'Forget ennui: Peter Toohey makes the case that the simpler, everyday kind of boredom we all experience is far more important than the pretentious world-weariness of French philosophers. Being bored can be excruciating, but it can also spur people to the heights of creativity. Toohey succeeds in making boredom interesting.' - Dylan Evans, author of Emotion: The Science of Sentiment -- Dylan Evans'Who would have thought that boredom could be so stimulating?' - Michael Foley, author of The Age of Absurdity -- Michael Foley"A thoroughly enjoyable exploration of the history a maligned emotion, which according to the author, may actually be designed to help us flourish."—The Bookseller * The Bookseller *“[Toohey’s] crisp conversational prose is untainted by jargon or pretence. His arguments display impressive erudition: history, philosophy, psychology, neuroscience and aesthetics all get a guernsey. If good writing requires authorial boredom, Toohey was undoubtedly tortured by tedium while writing this sharp, humane and funny book.”—Damon Young, The Australian -- Damon Young * The Australian *“…quirky and contentious.”—Stuart Kelly, Scotland on Sunday -- Stuart Kelly * Scotland on Sunday *“Toohey has lots of exciting things to say about boredom.”—Craig Brown, The Mail on Sunday -- Craig Brown * The Mail on Sunday *“In Boredom: A Lively History Peter Toohey, a professor of classics, makes a strong case for boredom as a universal emotion, experienced by humans throughout history and throughout all cultures, with many practical and emotional benefits.”—Ian Sansom, The Guardian -- Ian Sansom * The Guardian *“…… [Toohey] writes breezily and entertainingly about one of the world’s most boring subjects: boredom itself.”—Tim Heald, The Tablet -- Tim Heald * The Tablet *"[Toohey] makes a persuasive case that there are even benefits to boredom, and at the very least this engaging read proffers a temporary antidote to the noonday demon."—Kelly McMasters, Newsday -- Newsday * Kelly McMasters *"Highly entertaining."—Gordon Pitz, PsycCRITIQUES -- Gordon Pitz * PsycCRITIQUES *“….a playful but scholarly study.”—Sunday Herald * Sunday Herald *“It’s a brave author who chooses boredom as the subject for a book. How to describe this least glamorous of emotions, or delve into its essential qualities, without concocting a truly dull tract? Peter Toohey’s method is to whip through the history, meaning and artistic representations of boredom at such a jaunty pace that there’s no time to be bored at all.”—Helen Zaltzman, The Observer -- Helen Zaltzman * The Observer *"A lively, eminently readable book."—S. Halling, Choice -- S. Halling * Choice *“Toohey’s book is a veritable boredom bible, plus it’s got some funny bits and lots of nice pictures.”—Chris Moss, Time Out -- Chris Moss * Time Out *“A fun and illuminating argument for the benefits of boredom.”—Angus Clarke, The Times -- Angus Clarke * The Times *

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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 SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling authors of THE LITTLE BOOK OF HUMANISMA humanist funeral allows us the freedom to remember and celebrate the life of someone in exactly the way we want to and - as the most popular alternative to a religious ceremony - put us more closely in touch with the precious nature of life.In a beautiful collection of insights from humanist celebrants, as well as quotes, poems and meditations from humanist writers and thinkers throughout history, THE LITTLE BOOK OF HUMANIST FUNERALS is the perfect introduction to the humanist approach to life and death.Trade ReviewWhat a treasure - inspiring, comforting, and brimming with the equanimity one longs for in coming to terms with a death -- Steven Pinker

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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 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 SynopsisA unique selection of the greatest thinkers from the fields of philosophy, political theory, sociology, art, architecture and literature, with enjoyable profiles of what they have to teach to us today.

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Book Synopsis''Perfect for fans of Marie Kondo'' Publishers WeeklyDISCOVER THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF LISTS IN THIS INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERThe humble list has the power to change your life. In its immediacy, its simplicity and its concise, contained form, the list enables us to organise, to save time and to approach facts with clarity. Yet why do we end up with interminable To Do Lists that are never completed?After decades living in Japan, Dominique Loreau has become a master in the art of de-cluttering and simplifying. Now, in L''art de la Liste - a huge bestseller in her native France and translated into English for the first time - she turns her attentions to better list-making, showing you how to organise them and use them intelligently. Taking you on a step-by-step journey to greater productivity, this practical, inspiring book influences every aspect of your life - from home, diet and beauty to mental health and self-awareness.To perfect the art of the list is to live simpler, richer and more organised lives.Trade ReviewPerfect for fans of Marie Kondo * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisEach book is summarised to convey a brief idea of what each one has to offer the interested reader, while a ''Speed Read'' for each book delivers a quick sense of what each book is like to read and a highly compressed summary of the main points of the book in question. The titles covered include thought-provoking classics on psychology, mindfulness, rationality, the brain, mathematical and economic thought and practical philosophy. The selection includes books about self-improvement as well as historically interesting accounts of how the mind works. Titles included go back as far as the Epictetus classic The Enchiridion and Bertrand Russell''s charming The ABC of Relativity, and proceed through classics such as Edward de Bono''s Lateral Thinking and into the digital era with titles such as The Shallows and Big Data. The books are arranged chronologically, which draws attention to some of the interesting juxtapositions and conn

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Book SynopsisOur lives today are oppressed by the demand that we live, feel and experience with ever greater intensity. From flavours and smells to sex, drugs and extreme sports, we are in constant pursuit of some new, unheard-of intensity. Tristan Garcia argues that such intensity rarely lives up to its promise, and always comes at a price.

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Book SynopsisAn Introduction to Film Analysis is designed to introduce students to filmmaking techniques while also providing an invaluable guide to film interpretation. It takes readers step by step through:-the basic technical terms-shot-by-shot analyses of film sequences-set design, composition, editing, camera work, post-production, art direction and more-each chapter provides clear examples and full colour images from classic as well as contemporary filmsRyan and Lenos''s updated edition introduces students to the different kinds of lenses and their effects, the multiple possibilities of lighting, and the way post-production modifies images through such processes as saturation and desaturation. Students will learn to ask why the camera is placed where it is, why an edit occurs where it does, or why the set is designed in a certain way.The second section of the book focuses on critical analysis, introducing students to the various approaches to film, from psychology to history, wiTrade ReviewAn exceptionally clear and thorough account of the explicit and implicit ways that narrative cinema makes meaning for viewers. Filled with lucid writing and a profitably wide variety of examples, An Introduction to Film Analysis empowers students to analyze film technique from a range of diverse perspectives. * Kevin L. Ferguson, Associate Professor, Queens College, CUNY, USA *This step-by-step guide to film analysis by Ryan and Lenos is full of beautiful and instructive photography to make the art of moving images come alive on the page. It will entice students into a passion for film through its sophisticated and thorough discussions of a wide range of films, including historical classics, contemporary movies, independent films, and global cinema. This is a textbook that teaches by doing, modeling different approaches to film analysis through thorough and insightful case studies of a unique set of films, including The Silence of the Lambs, Mildred Pierce, Run, Lola, Run, and others. Worthy of special note, Ryan and Lenos provide accessible and productive tools for teachers, including student assignment instructions for specific clips from different films that invite students to develop and demonstrate their analytical skills. Through their many examples, the authors empower students to articulate not only how they react to a movie but also why, drawing clear lines between the cinematic vocabulary they are building with the work of meaning making. * Karen Petruska, Assistant Professor in Communication Studies, Gonzaga University, USA *Table of ContentsIntroduction Meaning in Movies Shot-by-Shot Analysis Writing About Film: The Art of Active Viewing Part 1: Technique and Meaning 1. Composition 2. Camera Work 3. Editing 4. Set Design 5. Lighting 6. Sound 7. Color 8. Narration 9. Structure, Character, Motif 10. Film Style: Realism and Expressionism Part 2: Critical Analysis 11. Historical Criticism 12. Structuralist Criticism 13. Psychological Criticism 14. Ideological Criticism 15. Gender Criticism 16. Ethnic Criticism 17. Post-Colonial / Transnational Criticism 18. Post-Structuralist Criticism 19. Political Criticism 20. Evolutionary Theory 21. Affect & Emotion Part 3: Sample Analyses 22. The Birds 23. The Shining 24. Vagabond 25. In the Mood for Love 26. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead Student Assignments Further Reading Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe pace of modern life is accelerating. To keep up, we must keep on moving and adapting – constantly striving for greater happiness and success. Or so we are told. But the demands of life in the fast lane come at a price: stress, fatigue and depression are at an all-time high, while our social interactions have become increasingly self-serving and opportunistic. How can we resist today's obsession with introspection and self-improvement? In this witty and bestselling book, Danish philosopher and psychologist Svend Brinkmann argues that we must not be afraid to reject the self-help mantra and 'stand firm'. The secret to a happier life lies not in finding your inner self but in coming to terms with yourself in order to coexist peacefully with others. By encouraging us to stand firm and get a foothold in life, this vibrant anti-self-help guide offers a compelling alternative to life coaching, positive thinking and the need always to say 'yes!'Trade Review"Deliciously provocative stuff: a subversive manifesto for white-collar passive resistance and a diatribe against the booming industry that has grown up around career advice."Financial Times"So rather than urging you to “think positive”, “listen to your feelings”, “trust your inner voice”, and other refrains of the self-help industry, Brinkmann advocates their opposite in seven steps, which include “Cut out the navel-gazing”; “Focus on the negative in your life”; “Suppress your feelings”; “Dwell on the past”; and “Sack your coach”. I must say, they work for me."Carol Midgely, The Times"In Stand Firm, Danish philosopher Svend Brinkmann projects a little blast of fresh air into the crowded pressure room of 'self-improvement'. With wit and perceptiveness he takes a swipe at the modern craze to do more, be more, be happier, be more productive. Paradoxically, this anti-self-help guide actually helps us to resist the mania." New Internationalist"Stand firm is a brilliant, funny, liberating and significant critique of the dominant and individualizing hamster wheel culture that we live in... Brinkmann's book is for the people - that is all, for all of us."Politiken"A satirical, but also very deep alternative to the current compulsion for self-developement."Berlingske Tidende"Every once in a while a book comes along that is both ironic and serious, both funny and challenging, both timely and wise. Stand Firm, with its seven steps toward living against our accelerated culture of neoliberal 'self-realization', is such a book. It should be on the bookshelf of every person concerned with the state of the world – or with the state of themselves"Todd May, Clemson University"Stand Firm is an exhilarating broadside against the intense modern pressure to do more, be more, to become happier and more productive, and to 'find yourself'. In championing Stoicism over the relentless and exhausting wild-goose chase of self-help, Svend Brinkmann - though he might not like the fact - has written a book that truly helps."Oliver Burkeman, The Guardian"This wonderfully funny and intelligent book not only exposes the foolishness of the self-help cult, but also offers a concrete and appealing alternative, reminding us that philosophy is as relevant for living our lives today as it has ever been."Carl Cederstrom, Stockholm Business School"As designs for life go, it may just be brilliantly outlandish enough to work."Irish Independent"With anti-self-help such as this, small wonder Denmark is the world's happiest county."Belfast Telepraph"Provocative and entertaining"Standpoint"Stand Firm by Svend Brinkmann is a welcome antidote to the therapeutic consensus which has dictated that we should strive for happiness and 'find ourselves', and insists that anything is possible if we put our minds to it."Patrick West, The Tablet"eloquent and pragmatic" - The Times Literary SupplementTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1. Cut out the navel-gazing 2. Focus on the negative in your life 3. Put on the No hat 4. Suppress your feelings 5. Sack your coach 6. Read a novel – not a self-help book or biography 7. Dwell on the past Notes

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Book SynopsisThe election of an unabashedly patriarchal man as US President was a shock for many—despite decades of activism on gender inequalities and equal rights, how could it come to this? What is it about patriarchy that seems to make it so resilient and resistant to change? Undoubtedly it endures in part because some people benefit from the unequal advantages it confers. But is that enough to explain its stubborn persistence? In this highly original and persuasively argued book, Carol Gilligan and Naomi Snider put forward a different view: they argue that patriarchy persists because it serves a psychological function. By requiring us to sacrifice love for the sake of hierarchy, patriarchy protects us from the vulnerability of loving and becomes a defense against loss. Uncovering the powerful psychological mechanisms that underpin patriarchy, the authors show how forces beyond our awareness may be driving a politics that otherwise seems inexplicable.Trade Review“Taking on the long brewing battle between true democracy and the pervasive ‘ghost’ of patriarchy, this compact book exists in a category of its own. The voices of its authors are accessible, incisive and engaging—the perfect book to launch almost any conversation about our current messy psycho-political times.”Jill Gentile, author, Feminine Law: Freud, Free Speech, and the Voice of Desire “An original and powerful analysis of patriarchy; there is a freshness and vitality to the authors’ approach. Why Does Patriarchy Persist? should be compulsory reading in every discipline from law to literature, for it offers a framework in which numerous dilemmas, both practical and psychological, might be resolved.”Terri Apter, Newnham College, Cambridge"There are books that do what they set out to do: they make their points clearly, they argue something new, they uncover something for us. Carol Gilligan and Naomi Snider’s new book, Why Does Patriarchy Persist?, does more than that. It is a spark. It is something like a book-length speech act, both illocutionary and perlocutionary: in speaking, the authors bring their thesis into being, and with it a host of possibilities come alive within us. As we read, we believe intimately that what they say is so. We feel it and see it in our own lives; it cannot but leap up within us."The Public Seminar "Dr. Gilligan’s writing may frustrate because of its swirl of literary, personal and clinical anecdotes. There can be tangles and snarls of language. You might get lost in its allusions and references, particularly if you’re not up-to-date on your Sophocles, Old Testament tales or Woolf. But her voice on the page is as it is in real life: warm and inviting. Democracy, she said, is like love. It only works if everyone has a voice. Dr. Gilligan’s new book continues to try and universalize the intimate." New York TimesTable of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Introduction 1 Part 1 17 The Puzzle 17 The First Clue: An Association to Loss 25 Resistance 32 Loss 45 The Three Discoveries 72 A Summary 89 Part 2 91 Knowing This, Then What? 91 Finding Resonance, Repairing Ruptures 119 Leaving Patriarchy 121 Where Then Do We Stand? 134 Notes 146 Index 160

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Book Synopsis'This erudite and heartfelt survey reminds us that the need for consolation is timeless, as are the inspiring words and examples of those who walked this path before us.' - Toronto StarAs read on BBC Radio 4's 'Book of the Week', a timely, moving and profound exploration of how writers, composers and artists have searched for solace while facing loss, tragedy and crisis, from the historian and Booker Prize-shortlisted novelist Michael Ignatieff.When we lose someone we love, when we suffer loss or defeat, when catastrophe strikes – war, famine, pandemic – we go in search of consolation. Once the province of priests and philosophers, the language of consolation has largely vanished from our modern vocabulary, and the places where it was offered, houses of religion, are often empty. Rejecting the solace of ancient religious texts, humanity since the sixteenth century has increasingly placed its faith in science, ideology, and the therapeutic.How do we console each other and ourselves in an age of unbelief? In a series of portraits of writers, artists, and musicians searching for consolation – from the books of Job and Psalms to Albert Camus, Anna Akhmatova, and Primo Levi – writer and historian Michael Ignatieff shows how men and women in extremity have looked to each other across time to recover hope and resilience. Recreating the moments when great figures found the courage to confront their fate and the determination to continue unafraid, On Consolation takes those stories into the present, movingly contending that we can revive these traditions of consolation to meet the anguish and uncertainties of the twenty-first century.Trade ReviewIlluminating and moving, these wide-ranging portraits of men and women seeking answers in dark times - from the Book of Job to Montaigne, from Cicero to Akhmatova, and on to today's palliative care - appeal to us all, as a universal quest and an intimate personal testament. -- Jenny Uglow, author of Mr. Lear: A Life of Art and NonsenseAn extraordinary meditation on loss and mortality - drawing on all of Michael Ignatieff’s powers as a philosopher, a historian, a politician and a man. His portraits of figures such as Hume and Montaigne are sharp and dignified, troubling and consoling, thoughtful and deeply humane. -- Rory Stewart, author of The Places in BetweenReading this book is like taking a walk along a winding path with a dear friend and sharing life’s travails. But the friend keeps metamorphosing - into Montaigne or Marx or Mahler, Anna Akhmatova or Albert Camus. At the end, you feel enlivened, fortified, and somehow just a little wiser. This is a bold, brilliant, and yes, moving book. -- Lisa Appignanesi, author of Everyday Madness: On Grief, Anger, Loss and LoveIn an age when we are so much in need of solace, Michael Ignatieff went looking for it in texts and times whose assumptions are profoundly different from our own. The result is a secular reinterpretation of a landscape that has often seemed visible only through a religious lens: it is elegant, humane and intensely rewarding. -- Kwame Anthony Appiah, author of The Lies that Bind: Rethinking IdentityIt is at once illuminating, moving and consoling, to follow Michael Ignatieff as he searches for moments of consolation across the centuries. With resolute honesty Ignatieff follows the search into his own inner life, grappling, as we all must do, with failure, loss, and death. -- Stephen Greenblatt, author of The Swerve: How the World Became ModernThis is an extraordinarily moving book. The idea of solidarity in time is itelf consoling, amidst so much loss: in Ignatieff’s words, “we are not alone, and we never have been”. -- Emma Rothschild, author of The Inner Life of EmpiresA wonderful balance of literary survey and personal reflection, this book is wide-ranging, moving, and stylishly written. It makes the perfect introduction to a genre that never goes out of fashion. -- Sarah Bakewell, author of How to Live and At the Existentialist CaféA passionate, thought-provoking, unpredictable book. -- Carlo Ginzburg, author of Threads and TracesOn Consolation is splendidly immune to the panics of our age. Written with eloquence in an affecting spirit of humility by a man of uncommon intelligence, for many of its readers this book will be—is there any higher praise for a study of this subject?—useful. -- Leon Wieseltier, author of KaddishHuman problems are like crystals: they have so many faces that they must be turned over and around many times in order to see every side. Michael Ignatieff’s ruminative On Consolation does that artfully. Reading his memorable portraits of historical figures who needed, sought, lost, or found consolation leaves the reader with a deeper appreciation of the profound challenges and possibilities that life lays before every one of us. -- Mark Lilla, author of The Reckless MindAn inspiration for those in need of words to carry on with life. * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisHow do we shape a better world for LGBTQ+ people? Olly Alexander, Peppermint, Owen Jones, Beth Ditto, Shon Faye and more share their stories and visions for the future.'A vital addition to your bookshelf' Stylist, 5 Books for Summer'Captivating... A must-read' Gay Times, Books of the YearIn We Can Do Better Than This, 35 voices - actors, musicians, writers, artists and activists - answer this vital question, at a time when the queer community continues to suffer discrimination and extreme violence. Through deeply moving stories and provocative new arguments on safety and visibility, dating and gender, care and community, they present a powerful manifesto for how - together - we can change lives everywhere.'Powerful, inspiring...urgent' Attitude'Read and be inspired' Peter Tatchell'Illuminating' Paul Mendez, author of Rainbow Milk'Friendly and fierce' Jeremy Atherton Lin, author of Gay BarTrade ReviewWith We Can Do Better Than This, Amelia Abraham has switched on every light in the queer village, illuminating the still-not-visible and giving space to many, important, intersectional voices on pregnancy and gender, for instance; refuge; ageing and queer community, or the dream of a trans-majority future. Let this be an invitation for us to read further on every pertinent subject and brilliant mind in it -- Paul Mendez, author of Rainbow MilkA queer selection box that's at once thought-provoking and powerful, and at times very funny. This is a snapshot of where we are now, and where we need to get to -- Juno Dawson, author of This Book is GayA vibey roundtable, an atlas charting global disparities but also interconnectedness, an expedition over the rainbow, a friendly and fierce survey of this critical juncture. Join up -- Jeremy Atherton Lin, author of Gay BarWe Can Do Better Than This is a diverse and powerful collection of writing from 35 inspiring figures, as they reflect on their own experiences of being queer. It poses a simple but essential question: how can we create a better world for our LGBTQ+ family? . . . Urgent and vital -- Uli Lenart * Book of the Month, Attitude *Captivating . . . We Can Do Better Than This imagines the next step for our community . . . Digs deep to present a candid commentary on the LGBTQ+ community's ongoing issues and delivers hopeful, thoughtful solutions. Simply put, it's a must-read * Gay Times, 10 LGBTQ+ Books You Have to Read this Pride Month *Thoughtful and thought-provoking, this book embodies the rainbow-coloured diversity of the queer community and neatly articulates the struggles ahead. It is an education in why the concept of 'pride' remains not only relevant but critical -- Mohsin Zaidi, author of A Dutiful BoyRead and be inspired! Global voices with ideas to shape a brighter LGBTQ+ future - a planet without criminalisation, discrimination and hate crime. This book is a reminder that it starts with us and now -- Peter Tatchell

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Book Synopsis'A rich and subtle exploration of the sacredness of nature, filled with a timeless wisdom and deep humanity' Guardian In this hugely powerful book, Karen Armstrong argues that it isn't enough to change our behaviour to avert environmental catastrophe - we must rekindle our spiritual bond with the natural world. From gratitude and compassion to sacrifice and non-violence, Armstrong draws themes from the world's religious traditions to offer practical steps to reconnect you with nature.Speaking to anyone interested in our relationship with nature, worried about environmental destruction, or searching for new actions to save our planet, Sacred Nature will uncover the most profound connections between humans and the natural world.'A lamentation in the key of Greta Thunberg, with undertones of Carl Jung' Wall Street Journal'Warm and witty... a challenge to think differently in the face of climate change' Tablet'Karen Armstrong is one of the handful of wise and supremely commentators on religion' Alain de BottonTrade ReviewA rich and subtle exploration of the sacredness of nature, filled with a timeless wisdom and deep humanity ... Much has been written on the scientific and technological aspects of climate change ... But Armstrong's book is both more personal and more profound. Its urgent message is that hearts and minds need to change if we are to once more learn to revere our beautiful and fragile planet * Guardian, Book of the Day *Karen Armstrong is one of the handful of wise and supremely intelligent commentators on religionWarm and witty ... [Armstrong's] ability to summon up examples and quotations...is humbling... Sacred Nature [is] a challenge to think differently in the face of climate change, to recover ways of looking at things, including God * Tablet *An accessible account of how a wider religious perspective might contribute to humans' adopting a more solicitous attitude to nature -- Rowan Williams * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisHAPPINESS, SERENITY AND FULFIMENT ARE ALL WITHIN YOUR CONTROL365 WAYS TO BE MORE STOIC is a full year's worth of daily inspiration, tools, stories, actions, and rituals that will guide you to a meaningful life, filled with happiness. It is a simple, list-driven, practical guide that will allow you to immediately begin putting Stoic wisdom into practice in your daily life. Each short chapter makes Stoicism fun to read about and easily digestible, presenting ideas in engaging, bite-size chunks.Immerse yourself in stoicism right from the first chapter, through prompts, concepts, challenges, inspiration, quotes, examples, quizzes and case-studies. You'll learn to navigate through the controllable and inevitable. You'll develop constructive ways to handle frustration, adversity and even your own mortality. You'll learn habit-forming strategies, pick up helpful concepts, and uncover tips for lasting change. This fun and engaging manual will help you live like a Stoic in the modern world. 365 WAYS TO BE MORE STOIC focuses on the small stuff you can do every day to live a happier and wiser life. Because when you get the little things right, the big things follow.Trade Review"Spend a year with Tim LeBon learning ways to be more Stoic. It may change your life, for the better." * Massimo Pigliucci, Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York, author of How to Be a Stoic *"This book is a valuable and practical tool for self improvement. Kudos to the authors for writing a practical, down to earth, guide that can be used daily." * Charles H. Dukes, Aerospace Psychiatrist - NASA *

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Book SynopsisCan it ever be right to kill? Is terrorism ever justified? Should euthanasia be legal? Are some people superior to others? Do animals have rights? Some ethical judgements are easy: one side is wrong and the other is right. But how do we handle the really tough 'right vs right' dilemmas, where each side has strong moral arguments? In Without God, is Everything Permitted? bestselling author and philosopher Julian Baggini clear-sightedly and compassionately examines 20 of the most complex contemporary ethical dilemmas. Whether it's asking if torture is always wrong, or if discrimination can ever be good, this book will help you sort out what you really believe about the issues that matter most.Table of ContentsPreface. Is there a golden rule? - Doing as you would be done by. Do the ends justify the means? - Doing wrong for the sake of what is right. Is terrorism ever justified? - The legitimacy of all necessary means. Should we favour our families and friends? - The ethics of preferential treatment. How much should we give to charity? - The duty to rescue. Are drug laws morally inconsistent? - The link between law and morality. Do animals have rights? - Expanding the moral circle. Is abortion murder? - The value of human life. Should euthanasia be legal? - The right to end your own life. Is sex a moral issue? - Ethics beyond prudery. Can discrimination be good? - Sameness, difference and equality. Is free trade fair trade? - The ethics of global business. Should we protect the environment? - On whether nature can be harmed. Are we responsible for our actions? - Criminality and being in your right mind. What is a just war? - The rights and wrongs of armed conflict. Is torture always wrong? - How to stop a ticking bomb. What can science tell us about morality? - What facts tell us about values. Is morality relative? - The variability of moral codes. Without God, is everything permitted? - The link between morality and religion. Can all moral dilemmas be resolved? - The limits of ethics. Endnotes. Index.

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Book SynopsisSince the beginning of time mankind has struggled with the big questions surrounding our existence. Whilst most people have heard of Socrates, Machiavelli and Nietzsche, many are less clear on their theories and key concepts. In The Great Philosophers, bestselling author Stephen Law condenses and deciphers their fundamental ideas. Avoiding the technical jargon and complex logic associated with most books on philosophy, Law brings the thoughts of these great thinkers, from Confucius and Buddha to Wittgenstein and Sartre, to life.Trade Review'Fifty of history's most profound thinkers are introduced in a way you have probably never previously imagined' Good Book Guide. * Good Book Guide *Table of ContentsIntroduction. The Buddha (c.560-c.480 BC). Confucius (551-479 BC). Parmenides (c.510-c.450 BC). Zeno (c.490-c.425 BC). Socrates (469-399 BC). Plato (c.428-c.348 BC). Aristotle (384-322 BC). Augustine (AD 354-430). Anselm (1033-1109). Averroes (1126-98). Thomas Aquinas (1225-74). William of Ockham (c.1288-c.1358). Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527). Francis Bacon (1561-1626). Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679). Rene Descartes (1596-1650). Blaise Pascal (1623-62). John Locke (1632-1704). Benedictus de Spinoza (1632-77). Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716). George Berkeley (1685-1753). David Hume (1711-76). Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78). Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832). Georg Hegel (1770-1831). Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860). John Stuart Mill (1806-73). Soren Kierkegaard (1813-55). Karl Marx (1818-83). Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914). William James (1842-1910). Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900). Gottlob Frege (1848-1925). Edmund Husserl (1859-1938). Bertrand Russell (1872-1970). George Edward Moore (1873-1958). Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951). Martin Heidegger (1889-1976). Gilbert Ryle (1900-76). Karl Popper (1902-94). Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-80). Hannah Arendt (1906-75). Simone de Beauvoir (1908-86). Willard Van Orman Quine (1908-2000). A.J. Ayer (1910-89). Peter Strawson (1919-2006). Judith Jarvis Thomson (1929-). Saul Kripke (1940-). Peter Singer (1946-). Index.

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Book SynopsisWords of Wisdom brings together 360 of Philosophy's most famous quotations, explaining their meaning and telling the stories behind them. Western philosophy may be said to have begun in ancient Greece, where, inscribed in his temple at Delphi, the words of the god Apollo commanded those who sought wisdom to first 'know thyself'. With the author's usual humour and clarity of style, the whole 2,500 year history of philosophy is laid bare. Each quote is set in the context of its cultural background, author biography and general outlook; trends are highlighted, links established, and influences traced, all in a way that is entertaining, thought-provoking, and even fun. Words of Wisdom is the perfect book for those who always wanted to ask what philosophy was about, but were afraid they might not understand the answer.

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Book SynopsisA brilliantly wide-ranging essay collection from the author of My Struggle, spanning literature, philosophy, art and how our daily and creative lives intertwine.In the Land of the Cyclops is Karl Ove Knausgaard's first collection of essays to be published in English, and these brilliant and wide-ranging pieces meditate on themes familiar from his groundbreaking fiction.Here, Knausgaard discusses Madame Bovary, the Northern Lights, Ingmar Bergman, and the work of an array of writers and visual artists, including Knut Hamsun, Michel Houellebecq, Anselm Kiefer and Cindy Sherman.These essays beautifully capture Knausgaard's ability to mediate between the deeply personal and the universal, demonstrating his trademark self-scrutiny and his deep longing to authentically see, understand, and experience the world.'Knausgaard is among the finest writers alive' New York TimesTrade ReviewA profound (and profoundly eclectic) collection of essays * Daily Telegraph, *Summer Reads of 2021* *A modern Roland Barthes... Knausgaard has a gift for stopping the reader in their tracks with an unexpected, casual profundity -- Steven Poole * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWhat is knowledge? What makes me, me? Do we have free will? People have been asking such fundamental questions about the nature of reality for centuries, but how can they help us make sense of our existence in a 21st-century world of social media, cyber wars, cloning, artificial intelligence and virtual reality?Short Cuts: Philosophy provides the map you need to travel beyond traditional foundations and explore a diverse array of deep thinkers. Soul-searching questions prompt 'short cut' answers written by experts in their field, with each one the setting-off point for instructions that plot a path through the philosophical landscape.With 'one-stop' graphics visualizing a memorable theory or idea for each concept, and 'route map' glossaries explaining key words and their connections, Short Cuts: Philosophy will help you wrestle with the meaning of ancient and modern philosophical thought.

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Book SynopsisFrom imaginary numbers to the fourth dimension and beyond, mathematics has always been about imagining things that seem impossible at first glance. In x+y, Eugenia Cheng draws on the insights of higher-dimensional mathematics to reveal a transformative new way of talking about the patriarchy, mansplaining and sexism: a way that empowers all of us to make the world a better place. Using precise mathematical reasoning to uncover everything from the sexist assumptions that make society a harder place for women to live to the limitations of science and statistics in helping us understand the link between gender and society, Cheng's analysis replaces confusion with clarity, brings original thinking to well worn arguments - and provides a radical, illuminating and liberating new way of thinking about the world and women's place in it.Trade ReviewA way of seeing this exhausting debate from a completely new angle ... bold and optimistic * Guardian *Compelling ... x+y provides useful new tools for change, for those - like me - involved in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. For those who are not yet involved, she sets out reasons to become so. And I'm a new fan of pure mathematics. Dr Cheng, can we be friends? * Nature *... a fascinating, disarmingly accessible read and a wonderful example of what academics should in general do much more of * Irish Times *Praise for The Art of Logic: 'Mind-expanding ... a meaningful contribution to creating a better society as well as happier conversations and relationships * Guardian *With humour, grace, and a natural gift for making explanations seem fun, Eugenia Cheng has done it again. You'll think more clearly after reading this book -- Daniel Levitin, bestselling author of The Organised Mind & A Field Guide to Lies and StatisticsRadical and liberating * Emerald Street *A perceptive analysis of logic and its limitations ... Cheng is successful not only in helping readers think more clearly, but in helping them understand why others sometimes appear to be illogical * Times Higher Education *

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Book SynopsisFilled with beautiful full colour diagrams and illustrated throughout, Degree in a Book: Philosophy is a perfect introduction for students and laypeople alike.With mind maps for each chapter, definition boxes, easily digestible features on the history of philosophy and suggestions for further reading, it provides you with everything you need to understand the fundamental issues. Learning philosophy has never been easier.Including ideas from Aristotle and Zeno to Descartes and Wittgenstein, it covers the whole range of western thought.By the time you finish reading this book, you will be able to answer questions like:• What is truth?• What can I really know?• How can I live a moral life?• Do I have free will?ABOUT THE SERIES: Get the knowledge of a degree for the price of a book with Arcturus Publishing''s A Degree in a Book series. Written by experts in their fields, these highly visual guides feature flow charts, infographics, handy timelines, information boxes, feature spreads and margin annotations, allowing readers to get to grips with complex subjects in no time.

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

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Book SynopsisZhuangzi (late 4th century BC) was one of China's most significant proponents of Daoism. Daoism is an ancient philosophy that strives for harmony with nature, virtuousness and self-development. Zhuangzi's story of the dreaming philosopher and the butterfly is meant to challenge us to think about one big question: how do we really know what's real?By adapting famous animal parables, the Pocket Philosophy series seeks to introduce inquisitive readers of all ages – from 1 to 100! – to the biggest names in philosophy.

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