Best Greek & Roman Philosophy
The Daily Stoic offers 366 days of Stoic insights and exercises, featuring all-new translations from the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the playwright Seneca, or slave-turned-philosopher Epictetus, as well as lesser-known luminaries like Zeno, Cleanthes, and Musonius Rufus. — Maria Popova , editor of Brain Pickings "A richly rewarding spring of practical wisdom to help you focus on what's in your control, eliminate false and limiting beliefs, and take more effective action. — Jack Canfield , co-author of The Success Principles ™. and the Chicken Soup for the Soul ®. series. " The Daily Stoic is a treasure for managing our choices, overcoming self-deception, and learning to act according to the true worth of things while keeping the common good always in view. His books have been translated in twenty-eight languages and his writing has appeared everywhere from the Columbia Journalism Review to Entrepreneur and Fast Company .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon""The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Daily Living" is the meditation book my son will remember, the one I'll read every day. The Daily Stoic isn’t simply a book to make me think, it’s an action guide, a “prescription for handling ourselves and our actions in the world.” The great Stoics remind me never to be satisfied with learning--I must always be doing."
"I became aware of Holliday when I read and reviewed his thoughtful and helpful book “The Obstacle is the Way.” It is a book about stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy and its principles, which has sold more than 100,000 copies and has been translated into 17 languages. It is a collection of spiritual exercises designed to help people through the difficulty of life by managing emotion; specifically, non-helpful emotion.”. In “Daily Stoic,” Holiday provides 366 daily meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. The meditations are organized under three primary topics (similar to those in “The Obstacle is…”) “The Discipline of Perception,” “The Discipline of Action,” and the “Discipline of Will.” Each topic is further divided into monthly themes: “Clarity,” “Passions and Emotions,” “Awareness,” “Unbiased Thought,” “Right Action,” “Problem Solving,” “Duty”“Pragmatism,” “Fortitude and Resilience,” “Virtue and Kindness,” “Acceptance,” and “Meditations on Mortality.”. Paul Tillich noted that Stoicism is “the only real alternative to Christianity in the Western world.” It came to many of the same conclusions about how to think and live. The meditations of the “Daily Stoic” can be a help in overcoming adversity, practicing self-control, being conscious of our impulses, realizing how short life is and making the most of it. The principles within Stoicism are, perhaps, the most relevant and practical sets of rules for those who choose to embrace the obstacles of life."
"A great way to start your day."
"Solid underlying colour commentary."
"Continues to be a very helpful book each and every day!"
"This book brings a satisfying way to see the world in a different way...the stoic way!"
"Fantastic part of my morning ritual."
"I really love this book."
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."
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. -- Austin American-Statesman "He writes in clear, almost jargon-free prose that is well suited to his target audience, and maintains a cheerful tone throughout the book...that perfectly expresses the sort of rationally grounded upbeat attitude that is one of the payoffs of becoming a practicing Stoic.... I can firmly recommend Irvine's A Guide to the Good Life to anyone interested in exploring some of the ways philosophical work can be brought to bear on the ordinary problems of living.... there is a great deal of useful thinking and excellent advice to be found in it, presented in a clear, straightforward and often charming manner." --Phyllis Tickle, author of The Divine Hours "Irvine's calm yet impassioned presentation of a Western philosophy of life that one can actually abide by and practice will be good medicine for many readers...I heartily recommend it."
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."
"Great book for a resonable price."
"If you want to determine if these principles might be beneficial in your life this book will help you determine that."
"I had been using my own similar techniques (he refers to people like me as a "congenital stoic") and inadvertently practicing Stoicism for most of my life."
"Good introduction to and application of stoic philosophy."
"Granted this is not a "hard core" philosophy book; this is an excellent guide to view the world from a different perspective, so different that some aspects will blow your mind!"
Best Modern Philosophy
An exploration of man's quest for psychological security and spiritual certainty in religion and philosophy. An important book.”. — Greg Mortenson , author of Three Cups of Tea “Perhaps the foremost interpreter of Eastern disciplines for the contemporary West, Watts had the rare gift of ‘writing beautifully the unwritable.’”. — Los Angeles Times. The author shows that this problem contains its own solution—that the highest happiness, the supreme spiritual insight and certitude are found only in our awareness that impermanence and insecurity are inescapable and inseparable from life.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is to the core."
"Always enjoy Watts since discovering him years ago with "Tao The Watercourse Way" more than 30 years ago."
"His philosophies, particularly in this book, can lead into a metaphysical web that could leave you stuck indefinitely. He is begging the reader not to eliminate the ego, but to come to a full realization, a hyper awareness of sorts, that there is NO ego - that the ego, or the "I," is simply a figment of imagination. This book sells Eastern thought in its entirety, and I believe that no, Alan Watt's does not have the answer to the meaning of life (which he would probably agree to me saying) and I don't think you'll find in this book all the answers to your questions."
"This book is simply simplifying an helps cut away to what iss superfluous."
"I find Alan Watts style a little too repetitive, like many books of this style."
"In Alan Watts own words. ...it gives it all away too easily; This is not a philosophical theory is an experiment."
"Through it, and some self reflection, I hope you come to acknowledge what has always been your, and your offsprings religious birthright- the "peace that passeth understanding," the only real emotional fortress to be found in an often difficult life, and the only "trophy" likely to be accepted in the next."
"Haven't finished reading it but this is absolutely mind opening."
Best Ethics & Morality
In the book that People magazine proclaimed “beguiling” and “fascinating,” Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Elffers's layout (he is identified as the co-conceiver and designer in the press release) is stylish, with short epigrams set in red at the margins. Each law, with such allusive titles as "Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy," "Get Others to Do the Work for You, But Always Take the Credit," "Conceal Your Intentions," is demonstrated in four ways?using it correctly, failing to use it, key aspects of the law and when not to use it. Illustrations are drawn from the courts of modern and ancient Europe, Africa and Asia, and devious strategies culled from well-known personae: Machiavelli, Talleyrand, Bismarck, Catherine the Great, Mao, Kissinger, Haile Selassie, Lola Montes and various con artists of our century.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This has become one of my favorite books in a short period of time, and it has given me a new way to perceive the world around me. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to every single person in the world, because it is not for the faint of heart; but if you've ever been taken advantage of, shut out of someone's life, lost control of a situation, had someone feign authority over you (successfully), had relationship problems, problems in the workplace, etc, you deserve to give this a read-through at LEAST once."
"there seems to be a lot of love and hate surrounding this book, so if you are curious but unsure, this review should help you decide whether or not to buy the book, and how it will impact you. First, to understand the 48 laws of power, you must know two key ideas. 1. you CAN NOT escape the power game. you wil become exponentially more powerfull by knowing and understanding these laws. -CRYSTAL CLEAR. every law is clearly outlined with "transgression" of the law, "observance" of the law, keys to power, and a "reversal". -GREAT STORIES. the 48 laws are packed with mindblowing and sometimes humorous stories of people in history practicing these laws. OVERALL: If you want to have more power or a better understanding of why different situations turn out the the way they do, you should definitely read the 48 laws of power by Robert Greene."
"Complaint: I try to follow a story, then the author cuts it off and interjects a completely different story before completing the original one. Praise: in a world of humans full of ego, the author gives valuable insight into human behavior. Still I'm fascinated by human behavior so even these crazier stories were interesting to me."
"The books itself is extremely interesting."
Best Medieval Thought
One of the most influential philosophers and theologians in history, St. Thomas Aquinas was the father of modern philosophy of religion, and is infamous for his "proofs" for God’s existence. Fulvio di Blasi, President, Thomas International. "Lucid, cogent, and compelling. Edward Feser is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Pasadena City College, California.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Aquinas is an incredibly difficult thinker to grasp, so I was a little intimidated when a friend recommended I should read Aquinas's work."
"For someone looking to really get a better understanding into Aquinas/Aristotelian metaphysics this is a great intro."
"Great read in short bursts, lots to take in."
"An excellent introduction to Aquinas from a modern Thomist; everyone who wants to talk philosophy had best at least understand where Aquinas is coming from, and this certainly gets you started."
"I have picked up the summa theologica A few years prior, but I wasn't ready for it, I think Feser portrays Aquinas objectively and thoroughly in a brief introduction."
"I finished the book with the impression that Thomism is quite defensible, despite the very common complaints and criticisms leveled at it."
"Feser is a brilliant author and person and if you are. looking to expand your knowledge on his five. ways and what life is all about; this is the book."
"There have been several questions circling my intellect for some time concerning Thomas' proofs, specifically how to understand the second proof."
Best Hindu History
From one of the world?s foremost scholars on Hinduism, a vivid reinterpretation of its history An engrossing and definitive narrative account of history and myth that offers a new way of understanding one of the world?s oldest major religions, The Hindus elucidates the relationship between recorded history and imaginary worlds. Note that Doniger is the Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor of Religions at the University of Chicago and the author of many books. Learned, fluent, and entertaining in spite of the complexity of this ambitious undertaking, Doniger is also controversial, a role she embraces, confident that fresh viewpoints are essential to understanding the worlds that shaped the Hindu tradition, and the ways Hindus shaped society. "With her vast erudition, insight, and graceful writing laced with gentle wit, there is no one better than Wendy Doniger to convey the richness, depth, and diversity of Hindu texts and traditions to international audiences.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"She has been charged with being salacious and highlighting the sexual nature of some of the characters and dramatis personae of Hindu Myth and Legend… Maybe. She could have just as easily chosen any other of the world’s faiths (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism) to promote and champion her personal value system. Instead she chose Hinduism; one because it is her chosen field of study, but more so, I believe, was that because Hinduism afforded her an easy target."
"She effectively argues that influences from women, the lower castes and local beliefs and practices were infused into the Hindu world view and that this eclectic tradition still goes on today."
"A well-written alternative history of anything, let alone Hinduism, generally has the effect of making the reader pause and think twice about what he may have held all along as the truth. From someone of Ms. Doniger’s stature, I was hoping to hear a serious insight or two that would make me go, "Gosh, I’ve known that story all my life, but why didn’t I look at things that way before?" It’s as if someone wrote a very detailed book about the Mississippi river and Southern cuisine and called it "The Americans: An Alternative History." I realize these are harsh accusations and the burden of proof lies on me, so please allow me to present enough examples to make my case (within the space limitations of an opinion piece). When Rama hears of the king’s predicament, he abdicates his claim to the throne and leaves the city. This is a defining moment for Rama—the young man respects the king’s word (i.e., the law) enough to renounce his own claim to the throne and loves his father so much that he spares him the pain of having to enact the banishment. Indeed, this point in Rama’s life even foretells the rest of the story—that the young man would, in the years to come, make even bigger personal sacrifices for the sake of his ideals. Ms. Doniger covers this topic in excellent detail (page 223 onwards), but it’s interesting that she doesn’t bring up the king’s longstanding promise. Ms. Doniger retells the story of the ogre Shurpanakha, who approaches Rama and professes her love for him. Ms. Doniger then contrasts this story with one from the Mahabharata, where an ogre named Hidimbi professes her love for Bheema and is accepted as his wife—again underscoring the author’s point about Rama’s cruelty. Rama even says, “That ogre almost killed Sita.” One would think these details are pertinent to the discussion, but strangely enough, Ms. Doniger doesn’t bring them up. To be fair to Ms. Doniger, there are many versions of the Ramayana (and sadly enough, some scholars have received a lot of undeserved flak for pointing this out). Normally, one would expect an alternative narrative to add nuance—as if to say, “There is more to the story than what you lay people know.” But Ms. Doniger manages to do the opposite—she takes a nuanced, compelling moment in the epic and reduces it to sexual blackmail or cruelty or sexual urges, whatever her current talking point is. But it can justifiably be called a veritable catalog of all the phalluses and vaginas that ever existed in ancient India, and there is no dearth of detail in Doniger’s book when it comes to private parts. In the Mahabharata, Arjuna burns up a large forest and many creatures die; the epic even describes the animals’ pain at some length. Then the professor brings up—and this is a recurring talking point under the cruelty section—the line from Mahabharata that says, “fish eat fish.” Ms. Doniger calls it “Manu’s terror of piscine anarchy.” Oh, the humanity! But the problem is, she then proceeds to turn off many lights in the house and use a microscope to detail the bits she cares to see. She is of course free to do what she likes, but can someone please explain to me why the end result from such an approach qualifies as an “alternative” map of my home? Still on the topic of animals, let’s discuss dogs, a subject Ms. Doniger covers in great detail. That’s a very interesting trend you’ve spotted there, Ms. Doniger, but what about all those big, ugly blots of truth that don’t fit your graph? For the benefit of any kind souls from the Western world who have been patiently reading through all this, let me throw in an example from relatively recent times that involves America. No doubt you've heard what the physicist Robert Oppenheimer said while reflecting on the first nuclear blast he had helped spawn. The simplest explanation I can think of is that Oppenheimer was a well-read man, and he felt the passage was appropriate when describing the unprecedented firepower he had just witnessed. Ms. Doniger’s take: “Perhaps Oppenheimer’s inability to face his own shock and guilt directly, the full realization and acknowledgment of what he had helped create, led him to distance the experience by viewing it in terms of someone else’s myth of doomsday, as if to say: ‘This is some weird Hindu sort of doomsday, nothing we Judeo-Christian types ever imagined.’ He switched to Hinduism when he saw how awful the bomb was and that it was going to be used on the Japanese, not on the Nazis, as had been intended. And yes, left uncontested, in all likelihood these are the “insights” a whole new generation of students and researchers might learn, internalize, and cite in future scholarly works. Really, there is more to writing history (particularly the alternative kind) than looking up the reference books and throwing in all the numbers one could find. It took me all of two hours to find a very detailed account (not on the Internet though), compiled in the 11th century, putting the total at 100,500—and I’m not a researcher, not by a long shot. Ms. Doniger states, very clearly, without any ambiguity, on page 11 (footnote): “Most of India… is in the Northern Hemisphere.”. I think I’ll stop here."
Best Inspirational Personal Testimonies
After many years of writing her own words in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to be more attentive to the Savior's voice and begin listening for what He was saying. Here is a year’s worth of daily readings from Young’s journals to bring you closer to Christ and move your time with Him from monologue to a dialogue. I’m so thankful for what God has done in my own life and the lives of people I love through this extraordinary book.” -- Shauna Niequist, , bestselling author of Bread and Wine and Savor. I was first introduced to Jesus Calling three years ago, and since then, I’ve given countless copies to friends and family in hopes that it will help them in their spiritual walk as it has in mine. This book perfectly encapsulates Christ’s love for us, and it supports each message with scriptural evidence.” -- Sean Lowe, , ABC Television’s The Bachelor and author of For the Right Reasons.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The scripture at the bottom of the page is already written out for you, you don't have to go searching unless you want to read it in a different version, which is good too."
"This is much nicer than the original version and has the scriptures quoted instead of just the references."
"I gave my last one away and ordered this one but it doesn't have the scripture references typed out like my last one."
"This Jesus Calling book is for anyone who needs that special reminder of God’s peace and grace in any situation that pops up or tries to linger in our lives."
"The only thing I hadn't noticed before I purchased it was that the scripture references aren't written out."
"Hi, I have purchased 5 copies for friends who love to read positive scriptures from the bible written in a personal way!"
"The words received by the author after she would pray and then wait and listen for the Lord's words."
"If you are looking for the perfect devotional this one is it."
Best Occult Spiritualism
Finally, the bestselling series is now a movie, starring Henry Czerny ( The Pink Panther and Clear and Present Danger ) and Ingrid Boulting ( The Last Tycoon ). Who does this man think he is, claiming to speak directly to God?! Jesus did it, Muhammad did it, the Jewish prophets did it, but none of their Gods had the sardonic wit or raw verve of Prophet Walsch's God. Neale Donald Walsch isn't claiming to be the Messiah of a new religion, just a frustrated man who sat down one day with pen in his hand and some tough questions in his heart. The result, far from the apocalyptic predictions or cultic eccentricities you might expect, turns out to be matter-fact, in-your-face wisdom on how to get by in life while remaining true to yourself and your spirituality. Suppose you could ask God the most puzzling questions about existence - questions about love and faith, life and death, good and evil. Suppose God provided clear, understandable answers. In vocabulary so common, you cannot get lost in the verbiage. Or the whisper of the next river, the next ocean, the next breeze that caresses your ear - all these devices are Mine; all these avenues are open to Me.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Despite what the title implies, I don't think of this as a religious book, more like a philosophy book."
"still have it and its still going strong."
"Much better than I thought it would be."
"Always get good feeling from reading this book."
"After many years of reading various non western views of Divinity what is contained in this first book helped me actively begin to understand various methods that I might try to begin my own personal connection with the Divine. This first book invites us to rethink our views first of ourselves but continues then to ask us to consider the world around us as we currently perceive it. But if we take up this challenge there is no doubt our lives will develop into one's that continually know and experience more fulfillment."
"(Shut up, stop whining and get a life - also a really good book lol) In that book the author quoted the Conversations with God books several times so I finally decided to check out these books and see what they were about. I have had a close relationship with God my entire life and although I have not had the experience of communicating with God in the same way that Neale did, I can tell you that based on the the personality, the things that were said and the way that they were said, it is the same God I have been in talking to all my life."
Best Good & Evil Philosophy
While warning against the encroachment of organized religion into world politics, Harris draws on insights from neuroscience, philosophy, and Eastern mysticism to deliver a call for a truly modern foundation for ethics and spirituality that is both secular and humanistic. And if the devil's in the details, then you'll find Satan waiting at the back of the book in the very substantial notes section where Harris saves his more esoteric discussions to avoid sidetracking the urgency of his message. Once he has presented his arguments on why, in an age of Weapons of Mass Destruction, belief is now a hazard of great proportions, he focuses on proposing alternate approaches to the mysteries of life. Harris recognizes the truth of the human condition, that we fear death, and we often crave "something more" we cannot easily define, and which is not met by accumulating more material possessions. But Harris overstates his case by misunderstanding religious faith, as when he makes the audaciously naïve statement that "mysticism is a rational enterprise; religion is not."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book should be read by all believers, will help you with your faith !"
"Harris's use of logic provides examples for resisting the temptations of personal bias, groupthink and a lazy consideration of dissenting perspectives."
"Item arrived on time and as described."
"I enjoyed reading this book."
"A disturbing insight into terrorism and of how religions are encouraging and supporting it."
"A little complex."
"A good summary of why the world's major religions can not be respected."
Best Eastern Philosophy
Chödrön discusses: · Using painful emotions to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and courage. · Communicating so as to encourage others to open up rather than shut down. · Practices for reversing habitual patterns. · Methods for working with chaotic situations. · Ways for creating effective social action. Pema Chodron, a student of Chogyam Trunpa Rinpoche and Abbot of Gampo Abbey, has written the Tibetan Buddhist equivalent of Harold Kushner's famous book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Consequently, Chodron's book is filled with useful advice about how Buddhism helps readers to cope with the grim realities of modern life, including fear, despair, rage and the feeling that we are not in control of our lives.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book’s title caught my eye at a time when I felt like things were falling apart for me. I’ve long been open to the teachings of Buddhism and so I thought I might find some insight, even comfort, in Ms Chodron’s words. And so when facing one of those inevitable times when we are losing it all, we can find an understanding of what we’re feeling when Ms Chodron says: "We react against the possibility of loneliness, of death, of not having anything to hold on to. She states what her whole book is about when she says: "What we’re talking about is getting to know fear, becoming familiar with fear, looking it right in the eye—not as a way to solve problems, but as a complete undoing of old ways of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and thinking." Ms Chodron states it as: "Thinking that we can find some lasting pleasure and avoid pain is what in Buddhism is called samsara, a hopeless cycle that goes round and round endlessly and causes us to suffer greatly.""
"must have for those seeking solace in difficult times."
"Great advice in this book."
"One of my favorite books!"
"just what I need, always, whenever I pick it up and re-read it."
"I remain mindful while reading this book."
"One on the most thought provoking books I have ever read."
Best Logic & Language Philosophy
Why do tall parents have shorter children? Ellenberg chases mathematical threads through a vast range of time and space, from the everyday to the cosmic, encountering, among other things, baseball, Reaganomics, daring lottery schemes, Voltaire, the replicability crisis in psychology, Italian Renaissance painting, artificial languages, the development of non-Euclidean geometry, the coming obesity apocalypse, Antonin Scalia’s views on crime and punishment, the psychology of slime molds, what Facebook can and can’t figure out about you, and the existence of God. By exploring questions such as these, Ellenberg breaks through the widespread perception of mathematics as a narrowly academic pursuit, hopelessly irrelevant to the lives of ordinary people. Readers will indeed marvel at how often mathematics sheds unexpected light on economics (assessing the performance of investment advisors), public health (predicting the likely prevalence of obesity in 30 years), and politics (explaining why wealthy individuals vote Republican but affluent states go for Democrats). It will help you realize that mathematical reasoning permeates our lives—that it can be, as Mr. Ellenberg writes, a kind of 'X-ray specs that reveal hidden structures underneath the messy and chaotic surface of the world. Ellenberg, an academic and Slate’s ‘Do the Math’ columnist, explains key principles with erudite gusto—whether poking holes in predictions of a US 'obesity apocalypse', or unpicking an attempt by psychologist B. F. Skinner to prove statistically that Shakespeare was a dud at alliteration.”. Bloomberg View : “If you have a vacation coming up in August and you’re looking for a fun book to read that will also enlighten you, it would be hard to beat Jordan Ellenberg’s How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking .”. Times Higher Education : “A fresh application of complex mathematical thinking to commonplace events.... How Not to Be Wrong is beautifully written, holding the reader’s attention throughout with well-chosen material, illuminating exposition, wit and helpful examples. Kirkus Reviews : “The author avoids heavy jargon and relies on real-world anecdotes and basic equations and illustrations to communicate how even simple math is a powerful tool…. Booklist : “Readers will indeed marvel at how often mathematics sheds unexpected light on economics (assessing the performance of investment advisors), public health (predicting the likely prevalence of obesity in 30 years), and politics (explaining why wealthy individuals vote Republican but affluent states go for Democrats). Steven Pinker, Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology, Harvard University; author of How the Mind Works : “The title of this wonderful book explains what it adds to the honorable genre of popular writing on mathematics. Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of Plato at the Googleplex : “Jordan Ellenberg promises to share ways of thinking that are both simple to grasp and profound in their implications, and he delivers in spades.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"He writes, “Mathematics is the extension of common sense by other means”, and proceeds to expound upon an incredible number of interesting subjects and how mathematics can help us better understand these topics, such as obesity, economics, reproducibility, the lottery, error-correcting codes, and the existence (or not) of God. He writes in a compelling, explanatory way that I think anyone with an interest in mathematics and/or simply understanding things more completely will be able to grasp."
"Very interesting case studies and applications with clear explanations."
"I have been an entrepreneur almost my entire life, and while there is luck involved, I believe that a lot of capability is required along with some luck, along recognizing the difference."
"Lots of things you think you know if you have education on the topic, but presents it in such a philosophical way and does a great job of helping you see the concepts with much more practical application."
"One note though, if you are political conservative then I hope you have thick skin when you read this."
"I loved the audio of this book- got this one for my son who loves not only math, but also loves not being wrong."
"One of few books that I've read and reread on more than one occasion."
"Have not reae much, but it is a very interesting book."
Best Religious Philosophy
To Campbell, mythology was the “song of the universe, the music of the spheres.” With Bill Moyers, one of America’s most prominent journalists, as his thoughtful and engaging interviewer, The Power of Myth touches on subjects from modern marriage to virgin births, from Jesus to John Lennon, offering a brilliant combination of intelligence and wit. Among his many gifts, Joseph Campbell's most impressive was the unique ability to take a contemporary situation, such as the murder and funeral of President John F. Kennedy, and help us understand its impact in the context of ancient mythology.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It's also valuable because in the videos Campbell is so charismatic, so charming, so entertaining, and so articulate, that it's easy to miss the fact that while he makes many claims for the value of myth in living one's life, he never justifies those claims."
"Mr. Campbell always amazed me in the way in which he spoke, it was never perceived as threatening or forceful and people who would normally throw a riot at the thought of some of his ideas would not only listen but engage in conversation."
"I have been a Joseph Campbell fan for a long time, so am a bit biased."
"Didn't like it as much as I thought I would, perhaps because I'd seen the interviews on PBS already."
"This is a book for our times."
"I love this book great book great seller love you thank you."
"Very insightful book about life & existence on many levels."
"Incredible book!"
Best Political Philosophy
Manne examines recent and current events such as the Isla Vista killings by Elliot Rodger, the case of the convicted serial rapist Daniel Holtzclaw, who preyed on African-American women as a police officer in Oklahoma City, Rush Limbaugh's diatribe against Sandra Fluke, and the "misogyny speech" of Julia Gillard, then Prime Minister of Australia, which went viral on YouTube. For this, Manne argues, is misogyny's oft-overlooked and equally pernicious underbelly: exonerating or showing "himpathy" for the comparatively privileged men who dominate, threaten, and silence women. "Despite its somber topic, Kate Manne's Down Girl made me very happy, exhilarated indeed by its insight, analytical clarity, and committed engagement with a major issue of justice. Martha C. Nussbaum, School of Law and Department of Philosophy, University of Chicago. "Persuasively defining 'misogyny' as hostile, demeaning, shaming, and punitive treatment of women, Down Girl brings out the misogynist logic of contemporary culture with wit and urgency. Combining conceptual clarity with passionate commitment, Down Girl is indispensable reading for anyone who wishes to understand the ugly strand of hostility to women that has surfaced in recent years in our so-called advanced Western societies." Drawing on literature, television, film, social media, current events, and scientific research, Manne's unflinching and bracingly original account defines misogyny in terms of what it does: it polices and punishes women for not fulfilling their time-honored role of catering to men's needs and desires. Sarah Song, University of California, Berkeley. "Manne's important new book deploys the tools of analytic moral philosophy to construct an arresting account of the logic of misogyny.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I found her points to be compelling, and her interaction with one particular listener to be meaningful and precise. Manne is very careful and precise, and her points are really helping me understand myself and how I can benefit people (I am a white straight male)."
"And if you've ever wondered why the actions of a woman have infuriated you, annoyed you, shocked you, or just seemed wrong, deceitful, cold, or out of place, but you can't put your finger on exactly why...you should read this book."
"No spoilers, but I will tell you that Down Girl offered many fresh takes on behavior that I've read and thought about for years, and time after time I found myself thinking, now why didn't I see that before?"
"I'm so excited by what the 3/4 of this book I''ve read of that I can't wait until I'm done to review it."
"The scope of the book is wide and attempts to connect a variety of issues which have been touched upon elsewhere by Manne and/or other authors, but Manne in this book-length treatment aims to integrate them to allow for a more comprehensive analysis. Among other impressive feats in this book, I was particularly struck by Manne’s capacity for self-reflection, considered carefully within the span and range of aspects of moral and feminist philosophy, upon which in her preface she meditates."
Best Philosophy Criticism
Each chapter presents a concise explanation of the argument, followed by a response illustrating the problems and fallacies inherent in it. Whether you're an atheist, a believer or undecided, this book offers a solid foundation for building your own inquiry about the concept of God. Armin Navabi is a former Muslim from Iran and the founder of Atheist Republic, a non-profit organization with over one million fans and followers worldwide that is dedicated to offering a safe community for atheists around the world to share their ideas and meet like-minded individuals.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I completed 5 years of theological training and I served as a minister for some 17 years. I have found so much help and support in Armin Navabi's book, "Why There Is No God"."
"The author's intelligence and hard work in assembling this material is admirable."
"I thought this book looked interesting and since religion is a common hot topic of conversation I thought it would be best to educate myself on some of the reasons why I am an Athiest."
"I think it gives reasonably good arguments for the non-existence of a godhead."
"Fantastic book."
"Nicely thought out, and well presented material."
"well written book, I can relate and respond to questions like this when they arise."
"Very good common sense view."
Best Philosophy Movements
Its many fans include a former governor and movie star (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a hip hop icon (LL Cool J), an Irish tennis pro (James McGee), an NBC sportscaster (Michele Tafoya), and the coaches and players of winning teams like the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Cubs, and University of Texas men’s basketball team. Ryan Holiday shows us how some of the most successful people in history—from John D. Rockefeller to Amelia Earhart to Ulysses S. Grant to Steve Jobs—have applied stoicism to overcome difficult or even impossible situations. “A book for the bedside of every future—and current—leader in the world.”. — Robert Greene , author of The 48 Laws of Power and Mastery. This surprising book shows you how to craft a life of wonder by embracing obstacles and challenges.”. — Chris Guillebeau , author of The $100 Startup "A very, very good book with lots of examples about people who had to overcome great obstacles to have success." Ryan’s book is a how-to guide for just that.”. — James Altucher , investor and author of Choose Yourself “Ryan Holiday has written a brilliant and engaging book, well beyond his years. After dropping out of college at nineteen to apprentice under Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power , he went on to advise many bestselling authors and multiplatinum musicians. His first book, Trust Me I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator —which the Financial Times called an “astonishing, disturbing book”—was a debut bestseller and is now taught in colleges around the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"However, the tone is very focused on promoting modern busy culture instead of stepping back from it."
"Each year, at the end of the year, I would take about 20 minutes to write a list of all of the "bad" things that happened that year. Now, I make the same list, but instead of burning it, I go back over the list and beside each "bad" thing, I write a positive development that came from it."
""Whatever we face, we have a choice: Will we be blocked by obstacles, or will we advance through and over them? Plenty of people have answered this question in the affirmative. And a rarer breed still has shown that they not only have what it takes, but they thrive and rally at every such challenge. ~ Ryan Holiday from The Obstacle Is the Way. Learning to turn our biggest challenges into our biggest opportunities is what this book is all about--"The timeless art of turning trials into triumph." Ryan Holiday is a brilliant writer (and guy) and this book is a *really* smart, lucid, compelling, inspiring manual on the art of living invincibly. Ryan masterfully integrates ancient Stoic wisdom from Marcus Aurelius + Seneca + Epictetus and brings that wisdom to life via inspiring stories featuring everyone from John D. Rockefeller, Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt to Amelia Earhart and Steve Jobs."
"This is a nice summary of the basic teachings of Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and the other Stoic philosophers."
"I loved how it focuses on perception of obstacles and how none of the greats of the world actually viewed themselves as philosophers."
"Even though it's not practical to me, i did like to nourish the ideas and it led me to the current book that i'm reading which is the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, which i was aware of before but this book pushed me to actually start reading more about Stoicism in general."
"This book is excellent as well as inspiring."
"Also although its based on stoicism and famous stoics Holidays writes in a way thats much easier to read then what ive read of Seneca and other stoics."
Best History, 17th & 18th Century Philosophy
This entirely new translation of Critique of Pure Reason is the most accurate and informative English translation ever produced of this epochal philosophical text. Because of the quality of the translation, but also because of the various supplementary materials which it provides...it will very likely replace Norman Kemp Smith's translation as the standard edition for scholars.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great book, really great to read Kant."
"I am finding with all the really large print books that the text takes up every speck of space on the page, so there are no page numbers and the traditional spacing and formatting for start of a new chapter, etc."
"I KANT get enough of this guy."
"I do not read German, so I am unable to compare with the original, but whether Kant intended it or not, he himself, as an individual with a particular voice, disappears from the work, leaving only the philosophy."
"Reading it, thought, is always a difficult task due to the matter and Kant's way of presenting it."
"I bought the wrong book but this book was very interesting!"
Best Philosophy Reference
The Philosophy Book explains more than one hundred of the greatest ideas in philosophy through clear, succinct text and easy-to-follow graphics. "[The Big Ideas Simply Explained books] are beautifully illustrated with shadow-like cartoons that break down even the most difficult concepts so they are easier to grasp.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book is very appealing visually."
"Entertaining book for those who are beginning to get into philosophy."
"The Philosophy Book by Will Buckingham and collabators and published by DK is an excellent overview of philosophy from the time of the ancient Greeks; Eastern philosophy is covered, too."
"Philosophy is reason that still drives and guides our moral compass and this book is an excellent addition to someone who is knew to Philosophizing. As for myself, this book brought back some good old memories I had in High School during my Junior year."
"Every once in a while the author misses the main points of an important philosopher."
"This overview helps by not only clearly defining each persons contribution, but listing both previous and future philosophers who contributed to similar insights."
"This book is an excellent resource for any student of philosophy, giving a brief overview of the major philosophical ideas throughout history."
"I gave it two stars mainly because I do like the book itself, but the inability to read this as true ebook is a huge frustration."
Best Free Will & Determinism
Fooled by Randomness is a standalone book in Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s landmark Incerto series, an investigation of opacity, luck, uncertainty, probability, human error, risk, and decision-making in a world we don’t understand. Set against the backdrop of the most conspicuous forum in which luck is mistaken for skill–the world of business– Fooled by Randomness is an irreverent, iconoclastic, eye-opening, and endlessly entertaining exploration of one of the least understood forces in all of our lives. This eccentric and highly personal exploration of the nature of randomness meanders from the court of Croesus and trading rooms in New York and London to Russian roulette, Monte Carlo engines, and the philosophy of Karl Popper. Using his own investing experience and examples of others' successes and disappointments, he discusses theories like Monte Carlo math (easy; considered cheating by purists) and the concept of Russian roulette.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"He combines a cool, rational stoic mind with a deep Continental intellectual with a mouthy New Yorker. TL;DR. Pros: -Basically a cognitive psychology book infused with a memoir. -I really like Taleb's writing/voice, and his true intellectual tangents that always come full circle. -Nice standalone to his "Incerto"/Black Swan series. Cons: -You need to not compartmentalize the theme and concept into your mind. -I believe he goes over this at the end, but not in enough of a lengthy manner to help less-read or less-willful readers realize his true intentions: to allow you to see the world for what it really is, and that luck plays a role in success."
"His thesis, as I see it, is that trading opportunities exist largely because man is genetically and societally programmed to be fooled by randomness, yet remains willfully oblivious to this fact... and thus the crowd creates exploitable market distortions through an ongoing series of irrational acts. The powerful point is that it is easier not to be jealous of a mega-successful peer when it is known that the bulk of that peer's accomplishment was to be in the right place at the right time, suggesting the nature of their success--fortuitous gain from a random cycle or event--is of such ephemeral nature that it can disappear at any point (insert flashback to Nasdaq bubble here). The lesson that even a high probability strategy will likely have negative emotional expectation over the short run, due to the exaggerated impact of negative emotions over positive ones, has many implications for those obsessed with watching every tick of their portfolios. In his thorough and methodical destruction of probability blind journalists, flavor of the month gurus and retrofitted market theorists, Taleb also highlights how the explosion of commentary and data in the information age arguably makes for worse trading decisions overall--and confers an advantage to the trader who can restrain himself from drowning in data."
"These are the kind of things I have always been thinking about, how we make decisions, how much of what happens to us we can control and what role luck or chance plays. Turns out that all these years that I have thinking about this and writing about them in my private journal, others have been producing books and getting PHd's, writing about this stuff and calling them theories and fitting them into existing categories of economics, mathematics, psychology and others I can't think of at the moment."
Best Metaphysics
As featured on Oprah’s “Super Soul Sunday,” the classic bestseller on a true case of past-life trauma and past-life therapy from author and psychotherapist Dr. Brian Weiss—now featuring a new afterword by the author. Dr. Weiss, who was once firmly entrenched in a clinical approach to psychiatry, finds himself reluctantly drawn into past-life therapy when a hypnotized client suddenly reveals details of her previous lives. However, it is hard to dispute that this well-respected graduate of Columbia University and Yale Medical School has discovered a personal truth that has led him to be an enormously popular speaker, author, and leader in the field of past-life therapy. --Gail Hudson In 1980, Weiss, head of the psychiatry department at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, began treating Catherine, a 27-year-old woman plagued by anxiety, depression and phobias. When Weiss turned to hypnosis to help Catherine remember repressed childhood traumas, what emerged were the patient's descriptions of a dozen or so of her hitherto unknown 86 past lives, as well as philosophical messages channeled from "Master Spirits."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Very interesting."
"The information in these books reinforces my beliefs, and it certainly was enlightening..I hope to read all of this author's books."
"In depth and heartfelt exploration of reincarnation, the bardo, and the possibility of disincarnate guides."
"Scientific Proof of Reincarnation."
"For anyone ready to dive into life's bigger picture and meaning this book is a perfect introduction."
"Amazing research about past life regressions."
"Each time I get a deeper understanding from the Masters messages."
"Reading this book is like getting an answer sheet to a difficult test you didn't know you had to take."
Best Consciousness & Thought
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST • This inspiring, exquisitely observed memoir finds hope and beauty in the face of insurmountable odds as an idealistic young neurosurgeon attempts to answer the question What makes a life worth living? At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a naïve medical student “possessed,” as he wrote, “by the question of what, given that all organisms die, makes a virtuous and meaningful life” into a neurosurgeon at Stanford working in the brain, the most critical place for human identity, and finally into a patient and new father confronting his own mortality. I’ll go on.’” When Breath Becomes Air is an unforgettable, life-affirming reflection on the challenge of facing death and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a brilliant writer who became both. And part comes from the way he conveys what happened to him—passionately working and striving, deferring gratification, waiting to live, learning to die—so well.” —Janet Maslin, The New York Times. The book brims with insightful reflections on mortality that are especially poignant coming from a trained physician familiar with what lies ahead.” — The Boston Globe. When Paul Kalanithi is given his diagnosis he is forced to see this disease, and the process of being sick, as a patient rather than a doctor--the result of his experience is not just a look at what living is and how it works from a scientific perspective, but the ins and outs of what makes life matter. As he wrote to a friend: ‘It’s just tragic enough and just imaginable enough.’ And just important enough to be unmissable.” —Janet Maslin, The New York Times “Paul Kalanithi’s memoir, When Breath Becomes Air, written as he faced a terminal cancer diagnosis, is inherently sad. It is, despite its grim undertone, accidentally inspiring.” — The Washington Post “Paul Kalanithi’s posthumous memoir, When Breath Becomes Air, possesses the gravity and wisdom of an ancient Greek tragedy. [Kalanithi] is so likeable, so relatable, and so humble, that you become immersed in his world and forget where it’s all heading.” — USA Today “It’s [Kalanithi’s] unsentimental approach that makes When Breath Becomes Air so original—and so devastating. Its only fault is that the book, like his life, ends much too early.” — Entertainment Weekly “[ When Breath Becomes Air ] split my head open with its beauty.” —Cheryl Strayed. “Rattling, heartbreaking, and ultimately beautiful, the too-young Dr. Kalanithi’s memoir is proof that the dying are the ones who have the most to teach us about life.” —Atul Gawande “Thanks to When Breath Becomes Air, those of us who never met Paul Kalanithi will both mourn his death and benefit from his life. Kalanithi strives to define his dual role as physician and patient, and he weighs in on such topics as what makes life meaningful and how one determines what is most important when little time is left. This deeply moving memoir reveals how much can be achieved through service and gratitude when a life is courageously and resiliently lived.” — Publishers Weekly “A moving meditation on mortality by a gifted writer whose dual perspectives of physician and patient provide a singular clarity . Every doctor should read this book—written by a member of our own tribe, it helps us understand and overcome the barriers we all erect between ourselves and our patients as soon as we are out of medical school.” —Henry Marsh, author of Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death, and Brain Surgery “A tremendous book, crackling with life, animated by wonder and by the question of how we should live.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Ultimately there's not much triumph in it in the traditional sense but there is a dogged, quiet resilience and a frank earthiness that endures long after the last word appears. Dr. Kalanithi talks about his upbringing as the child of hardworking Indian immigrant parents and his tenacious and passionate espousal of medicine and literature. He speaks lovingly of his relationship with his remarkable wife - also a doctor - who he met in medical school and who played an outsized role in supporting him through everything he went through. He had a stunning and multifaceted career, studying biology and literature at Stanford, then history and philosophy of medicine at Cambridge, and finally neurosurgery at Yale. The mark of a man of letters is evident everywhere in the book, and quotes from Eliot, Beckett, Pope and Shakespeare make frequent appearances. Metaphors abound and the prose often soars: When describing how important it is to develop good surgical technique, he tells us that "Technical excellence was a moral requirement"; meanwhile, the overwhelming stress of late night shifts, hundred hour weeks and patients with acute trauma made him occasionally feel like he was "trapped in an endless jungle summer, wet with sweat, the rain of tears of the dying pouring down". The painful uncertainty which he documents - in particular the tyranny of statistics which makes it impossible to predict how a specific individual will react to cancer therapy - must sadly be familiar to anyone who has had experience with the disease. There are heartbreaking descriptions of how at one point the cancer seemed to have almost disappeared and how, after Dr. Kalanithi had again cautiously made plans for a hopeful future with his wife, it returned with a vengeance and he had to finally stop working."
"He says this, “The secret is to know that the deck is stacked, that you will lose, that your hands or judgment will slip, and yet still struggle to win …You can’t ever reach perfection, but you can believe in an asymptote toward which are ceaselessly striving. In the foreword by fellow doctor and writer Abraham Verghese, that doctor writes, “He (Paul) wasn’t writing about anything—he was writing about time and what it meant to him now, in the context of his illness.” And in the afterword by his wife Lucy, the meaning of that time becomes even clearer."
"Like when you go running and forget you are on a run, because you are one with the run; reading this I was so absorbed, it was like I was listening to Paul, hearing his words, versus reading them...."
"This book tells the heart wrenching story of a family and physician who had to face death."
"The epilogue by Lucy Kalanithi is evocative,her grief,her gratefulness for the time she had with Paul,her thankfulness to family and friends,her strength....it all comes through so beautifully and honestly."
Best Epistemology
In this indispensable guide, we discover that sticky messages of all kinds–from the infamous “kidney theft ring” hoax to a coach’s lessons on sportsmanship to a vision for a new product at Sony– draw their power from the same six traits. It’s a fast-paced tour of success stories (and failures)– the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who drank a glass of bacteria to prove a point about stomach ulcers; the charities who make use of “the Mother Teresa Effect”; the elementary-school teacher whose simulation actually prevented racial prejudice. Unabashedly inspired by Malcolm Gladwell's bestselling The Tipping Point, the brothers Heath—Chip a professor at Stanford's business school, Dan a teacher and textbook publisher—offer an entertaining, practical guide to effective communication. They illustrate these principles with a host of stories, some familiar (Kennedy's stirring call to "land a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth" within a decade) and others very funny (Nora Ephron's anecdote of how her high school journalism teacher used a simple, embarrassing trick to teach her how not to "bury the lead"). Adult/High School—While at first glance this volume might resemble the latest in a series of trendy business advice books, ultimately it is about storytelling, and it is a how-to for crafting a compelling narrative.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Overall, I really enjoyed the concepts and the stories in this book, but I felt like some of the information could have been pared down a little bit because it seemed very repetitive."
"A Must read for: Teachers/Trainers, Sales/Marketing, Managers, Leaders, Business Owners, Politicians, Parents, or anyone who needs to make a point or deliver a message."
"I read this book for an online class, but I plan to put the principles into action in my elementary classroom starting Monday."
""You can't have five North Stars.""
"This book, by brothers Chip and Dan Heath, focuses on traits which make ideas, and ways of communicating ideas, "sticky" or memorable."
"Needed this for school-- as good as it can be for school."
"This book is jam-packed with content and interesting stories."
"You will find the answer in this book where the author structured the chapters in a way full of stories and examples to explain the stickiness factor generators in a fun and interesting way."
Best Aesthetics
"In his book, Destination Earth, Nicos Hadjicostis shares the ultimate 'budget travel tip': how to make your travels transformational." More a guide to travel than a travel guide, Destination Earth transforms how you view travel and its relation to Life. Why long term and world travel is the ultimate university How to create a wise-line of travel through any region How to go about capturing the Soul of a country How to deal with the unpleasant realities of the world while on the road Balance the relationship between travel planning and spontaneity How a Travel Journey is related to our Life's Journey Practical advice on how to plan the exploration of regions and countries 23 inspiring travel stories from the author's journey that augment the main text 60 color photos from various places around the world. Ideas, experiences, travel stories and photographs are interwoven into a newly created Philosophy of Travel that is practical and easy to read. "In his book, Destination Earth, Nicos Hadjicostis shares the ultimate 'budget travel tip': how to make your travels transformational." Nicos not only writes in an engaging style that allows readers to share his experiences, but his philosophical reflections provide unique insights into the process and value of education through travel."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In Destination Earth, Nicos Hadjicostis takes the reader through a new philosophy of world travel. Hadjicostis makes the reader really think about the way they travel and helps them to view it in a more mindful way. Travel can be more than a vacation, it’s an experience of another culture and learning more about other places in the world. Hadjicostis began his journey touring the United States, once that was competed he planned a jagged line for the rest of the world. While spending time in one village, he’d learn about a ritual in another, he was constantly on the move exploring."
"It inspired me to consider world travel as the “ultimate university.” It explores the more philosophical aspects of being on a long-term journey, dealing with foreign cultures and traditions, opening your mind to new experiences, and deciding how to approach a region so that you maximize your travel experiences in order to leave with a solid understanding of it."
"Given Nicos’s extensive journey around the world, he deeply understands this dichotomy and eloquently writes about how to balance the rewards with the challenges."
"When you encounter a world traveler like yourself, you find a kindred spirit, a person who has shared some of the same adventures, struggles, magic and connection that travel offers. Among other reflections, we found Nicos' description of the world to be spot-on—the world was indeed providing, safe, and huge."