Best Ethics
With an Introduction that outlines Marcus’s life and career, the essentials of Stoic doctrine, the style and construction of the Meditations, and the work’s ongoing influence, this edition makes it possible to fully rediscover the thoughts of one of the most enlightened and intelligent leaders of any era. “The emperor Marcus Aurelius, the proverbial philosopher-king, produced in Greek a Roman manual of piety, the Meditations, whose impact has been felt for ages since.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In this case, the Hays translation is the hardcover, while the authors who translated the paperback and Kindle versions aren't specified."
"Compare the translations of the first paragraph for example: This version: Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. Of my mother I have learned to be religious, and bountiful; and to forbear, not only to do, but to intend any evil; to content myself with a spare diet, and to fly all such excess as is incidental to great wealth."
"Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard, accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”. Before I get into details, I must say that reading Meditations was one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences in my own personal growth. There is no reason to feel unhappy, unfulfilled, or unappreciated , and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius offers advice to anyone who is looking for self help, self love, and a rational way of directing life. Sharing his seat of power is the one move that summarizes Marcus Aurelius’s entire life; the fear of power and the duty embedded in him through his interest in Stoicism, a philosophy that grounds itself on self-restraint, reason, and fate."
"Wonderful collection of ancient wisdom that never goes out of date and is as helpful today (and desperately needed) as it was when it was first written hundreds of years ago."
"Clear, readable modern translation that feels like a conversation over a couple a beers."
"I had read this a long time ago, and was quite happy to find it was free on Amazon."
"Pretty low quality material but what do you expect for the price."
"This translation is simple and easy to read."
A new translation, with an Introduction, by Gregory Hays Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (a.d. 121–180) succeeded his adoptive father as emperor of Rome in a.d. 161—and Meditations remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. A series of spiritual exercises filled with wisdom, practical guidance, and profound understanding of human behavior, Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In this case, the Hays translation is the hardcover, while the authors who translated the paperback and Kindle versions aren't specified."
"Compare the translations of the first paragraph for example: This version: Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. Of my mother I have learned to be religious, and bountiful; and to forbear, not only to do, but to intend any evil; to content myself with a spare diet, and to fly all such excess as is incidental to great wealth."
"Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard, accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”. Before I get into details, I must say that reading Meditations was one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences in my own personal growth. There is no reason to feel unhappy, unfulfilled, or unappreciated , and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius offers advice to anyone who is looking for self help, self love, and a rational way of directing life. Sharing his seat of power is the one move that summarizes Marcus Aurelius’s entire life; the fear of power and the duty embedded in him through his interest in Stoicism, a philosophy that grounds itself on self-restraint, reason, and fate."
"Wonderful collection of ancient wisdom that never goes out of date and is as helpful today (and desperately needed) as it was when it was first written hundreds of years ago."
"Clear, readable modern translation that feels like a conversation over a couple a beers."
"I had read this a long time ago, and was quite happy to find it was free on Amazon."
"Pretty low quality material but what do you expect for the price."
"This translation is simple and easy to read."
One of the world's most famous and influential books, Meditations, by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 121–180), incorporates the stoic precepts he used to cope with his life as a warrior and administrator of an empire. Text: English (translation). Original Language: Latin.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In this case, the Hays translation is the hardcover, while the authors who translated the paperback and Kindle versions aren't specified."
"Compare the translations of the first paragraph for example: This version: Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. Of my mother I have learned to be religious, and bountiful; and to forbear, not only to do, but to intend any evil; to content myself with a spare diet, and to fly all such excess as is incidental to great wealth."
"Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard, accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”. Before I get into details, I must say that reading Meditations was one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences in my own personal growth. There is no reason to feel unhappy, unfulfilled, or unappreciated , and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius offers advice to anyone who is looking for self help, self love, and a rational way of directing life. Sharing his seat of power is the one move that summarizes Marcus Aurelius’s entire life; the fear of power and the duty embedded in him through his interest in Stoicism, a philosophy that grounds itself on self-restraint, reason, and fate."
"Wonderful collection of ancient wisdom that never goes out of date and is as helpful today (and desperately needed) as it was when it was first written hundreds of years ago."
"Clear, readable modern translation that feels like a conversation over a couple a beers."
"I had read this a long time ago, and was quite happy to find it was free on Amazon."
"Pretty low quality material but what do you expect for the price."
"This translation is simple and easy to read."
Best Utilitarian Philosophy
Contents include a selected bibliography and an editor's Introduction broken into two sections. Alexander should be commended for making this invaluable material accessible to scholars and students... -- Maria H. Moralies, Florida State University.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If I didn't read this full book as a philosophy major in college I must have at least read excerpts, but there is something so different about reading this now after much life experience and for pleasure rather than assignment."
"A little pretentious of me to critique the work of John Stuart Mill."
"This is the first time I read this author and this classic essay."
"Although Mills was quite verbose, he provides an exhaustive review of the case for individual liberty, with excellent argumentation of how to frame a discussion of when state actors and/or guidance are needed to intervene on society's behalf."
"And part of the impetus for the timing of this read is that the party that has claimed Mill as their own – rightly or wrongly – looms at a viable alternative to the current electoral madness in America. Much of his advocacy for liberty and individualism was in opposition to the societal “tyranny of the majority” as well as despotic governments. He was opposed to what he called the “odium theologicum,” the “sincere bigots” of religion who insisted on conformity to their fetishes, and specifically cites the Parsees in India, who fled Persia, had to agree to not eat beef as their price of admission to their new country, and then had to subsequently agree not to eat pork when the Moguls arrived. I’d say he would be for it: “in each person’s bearing his share… of the labours and sacrifices incurred for defending the society or its members from injury and molestation.” Charter schools? And finally, he would have recognized the Veterans Administration in action: “no reform can be effected which is contrary to the interest of the bureaucracy…The Czar himself is powerless against the bureaucratic body; he can send any one of them to Siberia, but he cannot govern… against their will.” Amen, for his numerous insights."
"At this risk of irony: everyone should read the chapter on individuality."
"Outstanding show."
"The ideas should, hopefully, seem self evident- but it's still valuable to have them so forcefully and judiciously put."
Best Ancient & Classical Literature
Simple in style and sincere in tone, they record for all time the height reached by pagan aspiration in its effort to solve the problem of conduct. The book, which Hays calls, fondly, a "haphazard set of notes," is indicative of the role of philosophy among the ancients in that it is "expected to provide a 'design for living.'". Hays's introduction, which sketches the life of Marcus Aurelius (emperor of Rome A.D. 161-180) as well as the basic tenets of stoicism, is accessible and jaunty.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In this case, the Hays translation is the hardcover, while the authors who translated the paperback and Kindle versions aren't specified."
"Compare the translations of the first paragraph for example: This version: Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. Of my mother I have learned to be religious, and bountiful; and to forbear, not only to do, but to intend any evil; to content myself with a spare diet, and to fly all such excess as is incidental to great wealth."
"Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard, accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”. Before I get into details, I must say that reading Meditations was one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences in my own personal growth. There is no reason to feel unhappy, unfulfilled, or unappreciated , and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius offers advice to anyone who is looking for self help, self love, and a rational way of directing life. Sharing his seat of power is the one move that summarizes Marcus Aurelius’s entire life; the fear of power and the duty embedded in him through his interest in Stoicism, a philosophy that grounds itself on self-restraint, reason, and fate."
"great book from a great man."
"This is a nice philosophical read."
"Life is Life and we have to make the best we can of it, and, not take it all so seriously."
"Everyone in this day and age is stupid."
"This is a beautifully packaged classic, with all the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius wrapped up in a pretty little hardcover."
Best Sustainability & Green Design
In A Guide to the Good Life , William B. Irvine plumbs the wisdom of Stoic philosophy, one of the most popular and successful schools of thought in ancient Rome, and shows how its insight and advice are still remarkably applicable to modern lives. Readers learn how to minimize worry, how to let go of the past and focus our efforts on the things we can control, and how to deal with insults, grief, old age, and the distracting temptations of fame and fortune. William B. Irvine is Professor of Philosophy at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I am a reader of Albert Ellis' books, in particular the subject of how to stop allowing people to push my buttons; I am engaged in cognitive therapy to help me learn how to banish negative emotions and develop tranquility while living my values and developing positive qualities such as reasonableness, self-discipline, and courage; listening to Tom Petty, really for the first time...I know, this is a whole packet of different sources of inspiration which all seem, to me, to be pointing in the same direction - developing integrity while experiencing joy... Learning about Stoic philosophy is like finding a perfectly ripe orchard peach after living with the memory of what they taste like while making due with those tasteless grocery store articles. I'm enjoying this book, thrilled to be finding some texts here on Amazon to learn more about Stoicism written by knowledgeable authors, and feeling very optimistic about life in general again."
"I had a mild interest in these ideas before reading this book, but my interest and the applicability of these ideas to my life have become much more apparent after reading this book!"
"Great book."
"In a "Guide to the Good Life", William B. Irvine wants the reader to understand the very practical benefits ancient stoic thinking can have on problems in our own lives."
"Great book for a resonable price."
"I still use a lot of the stoic practices he teaches in the book even a couple months after I finish it and I must admit it has helped me live a happier more content life."
"If you want to determine if these principles might be beneficial in your life this book will help you determine that."
"Great product, great delivery."
Best Aesthetics
Kenya Hara compares this form of communication with an “empty container“. Author of Designing Design.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great meditative read."
"i read it at least once a month."
"A personal meditation on the color and feeling of white, Hara's work is a series of overlapping observations that build to a whole."
"Unconventional and thoughtful."
"lots of thoughts on Japanese aesthetic and culture."
"Very simple small book by Kenya Hara."
"This is just one of the best design books ever... it talks about a design philosophy that kenya hara has and use for his work, you really must get it!"
Best Logic
The edition's new Previews connect a section's content to real-life scenarios, using everyday examples to "translate" new notions and terms into concepts that readers unfamiliar with the subject matter can relate to. He is married to Dr. Linda Peterson, who retired from teaching philosophy at the University of San Diego in 2015.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I compared this text to one my father used for his logic course from 20 years ago."
"Great book!"
"All in all - nice book introducing Logic and its concepts to people who are unexposed to the subject, or never studied it formally."
"Very useful for my college class!"
"Philosophy what can i say--The more i read it the more i like it:)."
"some wear and tear but all pages are there."
"The book, being a international version, is a copy."
Best Metaphysics
The complete My Big TOE trilogy has now been combined into one paperback volume at a substantial savings over buying the three volumes separately. It discusses the cultural beliefs that trap our thinking into a narrow and limited conceptualization of reality, defines the basics of Big Picture epistemology and ontology, logically infers the nature of time, space, and consciousness as well as describes the basic properties, purpose, and mechanics of our reality.BOOK 2: DISCOVERY Section 3 explains the characteristics, origins, dynamics, and function of human consciousness.It derives our larger purpose and the psi uncertainty principle as it interrelates psi phenomena, free will, love, consciousness evolution, reality, entropy and physics.Section 4 lays out an operational and functional model of consciousness. Presently, and for the past twenty years, he has been at the heart of developing US missile defense systems.My Big TOE represents a model of existence and reality that is based directly on Campbell's scientific research and first hand experience.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Im now on page 200 for my second read. This is the most important book ive ever read."
"Terrific insightful book that includes the rare concept of actively using "common sense" to maintain objectivity when accessing current and potential scientific discoveries with meta-'physics' and our own insights, to gain a better understanding of the Theory Of Everything (TOE)."
"I'll never think of consciousness the same again."
"Thomas Campbell wraps it all up,unbounded,his colorful asides too.This is a book that I will recommoned to anyone that seeks a different perspective on ALL there is."
"A masterful, in-depth analogy of the "Big Picture" of creation and our place as human beings in the grand scale of things."
"If you are a classical scientist, this master work by Thomas Campbell steps all over your big toe and brings to the table what has long been sought by many doctors but most hadn't a clue on how to catalyze it as a single substance."
"I really wanted to wait till I finished the book to give an accurate review, but finishing it may take some time... Thomas Campbell has gone to great lengths, super-human lengths in my estimation, to show how logical and rational his conclusions are. It was a great education in the Scientific Method - I am a fan of true, open minded science - but 200 pages worth was just too much. His insights into the rational mind and its relationship to our sense of self and how we view our world were eye opening. In short, this book would be great for the pure scientist, doctor, or mostly rational/intellectual who is willing to entertain the possibility that maybe, just maybe, there is more to life than what we experience with our 5 senses. This book opens a door on metaphysics & spirituality in the rational sense that is just not often available in the New Age, feel-good, sometimes non-sensical, mushy, religous dogmatic world. I love to read & have read many books on metaphysics & spiritualiy over the years, but too much pure rationality makes me think of mummies and dirt and dust."
Best Epistemology
As Tom Nichols shows in The Death of Expertise , this rejection of experts has occurred for many reasons, including the openness of the internet, the emergence of a customer satisfaction model in higher education, and the transformation of the news industry into a 24-hour entertainment machine. ”Nichols expands his 2014 article published by The Federalist with a highly researched and impassioned book that's well timed for this post-election period... strongly researched textbook for laymen will have many political and news junkies nodding their heads in agreement." ”This may sound like a rant you have heard before, but Nichols has a sense of humour and chooses his examples well. ”Excellent...makes important points and offers valuable insight, particularly when it comes to the role of the internet and social media in our political environment...essential reading for anyone interested in this pressing subject." Citizens - now so proudly ill-informed that they cannot even make use of expert opinion in fulfilling their civic role - must rediscover a sense of responsibility. ".
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"While many of the studies in the book have now been called into question (an excellent illustration of one of Tom Nichols' sections about when experts are wrong), I still found it fascinating how I, a person with a graduate-level degree and extensive self-education through extensive reading, knew so very little about so much. How much do we see today, though, of people without any education or training or experience, claiming that their opinion is as valid as any expert, or dismissing experts as nothing more than "elites," as if that allows them to be ignored? In a time when our entire world is built around technology and knowledge and the experts who understand them, Americans are forgetting how that all happened. The populace must understand enough to make the decisions to choose both smart experts (Knowers) and policymakers (Deciders) and understand the limits of each. But without experts and policy makers who listen, and an educated, informed populace that helps choose and respect them.....I worry for the world of my children."
"A painful, insightful yet honest bio on today's chronic illnesses when it comes to disrespecting knowledge and intelligence!"
"But shockingly absent from his analysis is the possibility that experts might be corrupt, or have their own agenda - that a scientist might deny climate change while working for the Trump Administration, or take home a fat paycheck from Coca Cola for insisting that sugar-water doesn’t make people fat. Apparently Political Science degrees now include PhD-level courses on Botany, Ecology, and Medicine – who knew?"
"There are also books that are important because they speak to urgent needs of a particular time."
Best History of Philosophy
With an Introduction that outlines Marcus’s life and career, the essentials of Stoic doctrine, the style and construction of the Meditations, and the work’s ongoing influence, this edition makes it possible to fully rediscover the thoughts of one of the most enlightened and intelligent leaders of any era. “The emperor Marcus Aurelius, the proverbial philosopher-king, produced in Greek a Roman manual of piety, the Meditations, whose impact has been felt for ages since.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In this case, the Hays translation is the hardcover, while the authors who translated the paperback and Kindle versions aren't specified."
"Compare the translations of the first paragraph for example: This version: Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. Of my mother I have learned to be religious, and bountiful; and to forbear, not only to do, but to intend any evil; to content myself with a spare diet, and to fly all such excess as is incidental to great wealth."
"Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard, accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”. Before I get into details, I must say that reading Meditations was one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences in my own personal growth. There is no reason to feel unhappy, unfulfilled, or unappreciated , and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius offers advice to anyone who is looking for self help, self love, and a rational way of directing life. Sharing his seat of power is the one move that summarizes Marcus Aurelius’s entire life; the fear of power and the duty embedded in him through his interest in Stoicism, a philosophy that grounds itself on self-restraint, reason, and fate."
"Clear, readable modern translation that feels like a conversation over a couple a beers."
"I had read this a long time ago, and was quite happy to find it was free on Amazon."
"Pretty low quality material but what do you expect for the price."
"This translation is simple and easy to read."
"I think it would be easier to read if I didn't have to squint to read it."