Secondhand Philosophy Books

A rare, intimate account of a world-renowned Buddhist monk's near-death experience and the life-changing wisdom he gained from it.'Generous, beautiful, and essential' - George Saunders, Booker Prize-winning author of Lincoln...

There's more to Stoicism than shrugging your shoulders and getting on with it, as Tom Hodgkinson discovers in this witty and enlightening book.Stoicism is an enduring and ancient philosophy that...

'Barthes' purpose is to tear away masks and demystify the signs, signals and symbols of the language of mass culture' The TimesIn this magnificent and often surprising collection of essays...

A philosopher, essayist, novelist, pornographer and fervent Catholic who came to regard the brothels of Paris as his true 'churches', Georges Bataille ranks among the boldest and most disturbing of...

'I've lived through ten iOS upgrades on my Mac - and that's just something I use to muck about on Twitter. Surely capitalism is due an upgrade or two?'When Caitlin...

Written over two thousand years ago, The Art of War contains penetrating insights into the nature of power, inter-state rivalry, realpolitik and military success, relevant to any age. It was...

Like Alain de Botton crossed with Charlie Brooker, Foley succeeds in educating and enlightening us in this wry take on the existential dilemmas of modern life. 'Fascinating . . ....

This lively and accessible introduction to Plato focuses on the philosophy and argument of his writings, drawing the reader into Plato's way of doing philosophy, and the general themes of...

Clay Shirky's international bestseller Here Comes Everybody: How Change Happens When People Come Together explores how the unifying power of the internet is changing the character of human society. Welcome...

The present attempt to introduce the general philosophical reader to the Phenomenological Movement by way of its history has itself a history which is pertinent to its objective. It may...

Jean-Paul Sartre in one of the most widely read and important of twentieth-century philosophers, an iconic figure, whose ideas and writings continue to resonate. A confident understanding of Sartre is...

This book addresses the question of metaphor in Nietzsche. It provides an unusual reading of Nietzsche's ideas (particularly of the central concept of "will to power") and an incisive method...

Although this book is a translation from Dutch, the chief obstacle to be overcome was Husser!'s (German) technical terminology. As I sought English equivalents for German phenomenological terms, I made...

This title offers the story of the human quest for perfection. The paradise myth has been one of the most powerful motivators in human history, influencing and energizing all kinds...

In the African kingdom of Kasch the king should be sacrificed when the stars come into a particular alignment. One day a stranger arrives who tells such good yarns the...

The feminist movement has challenged many of the unstated assumptions on which ethics as a branch of philosophy has always rested - assumptions about human nature, moral agency, citizenship and...

This book presents Ralph Miliband's reflections on the world socialists face after the fall of communism and the fundamental changes in social structure which Western societies have undergone in recent...

From the up-and-coming young American writer who has contributed to McSweeney's and written for the New Yorker comes a masterful collection of short stories that has already received rave reviews...

'Community, ' 'tradition, ' 'the individual', stand out prominently in today's intellectual landscape. In social and political theory and in religious studies they figure in the ongoing debates between liberals...

The author addresses one of the most perennial and bitterly debated issues of the contemporary world: when do we have the right to end the life of a human foetus,...

This book is packed with up-to-date examples drawn from newspapers, magazines and academic books. Each chapter begins with a clear summary of all the main points covered. It encourages students...

This work consists of an introduction and 11 articles on important aspects of the interpretation of generic expressions. The introduction provides a clear overview of various issues and synthesizes the...

For a balanced discussion of the main social, medical, and philosophical aspects of homosexuality, here is the ideal book. Written by philosophers of science, each comprehensive chapter takes a critical...

Though taking due account of the historical and philosophical dimensions of the poem, Robin Kirkpatrick focuses on Dante as a poet and story-teller. He addresses important questions such as Dante's...

Retrieving the older but surprisingly neglected language of household governance, Economy of Force offers a radical new account of the historical rise of the social realm and distinctly social theory...

Why do states who are committed to the principle of civilian immunity and the protection of non-combatants end up killing and injuring large numbers of civilians during their military operations?...

Based on an innovative theory of international law, Janina Dill's book investigates the effectiveness of international humanitarian law (IHL) in regulating the conduct of warfare. Through a comprehensive examination of...

What role does ethics play in modern-day warfare? Is it possible for ethics and militarism to exist hand-in-hand? James Eastwood examines the Israeli military and its claim to be 'the...

This book extends the theme of Raymond Williams's earlier work in literary and cultural analysis. He analyses previous contributions to a Marxist theory of literature from Marx himself to Lukacs,...

Although John Locke has often been called the Enlightenment's great progenitor, his use of the concepts that characterize Enlightenment thought has rarely been examined. In this lucid and penetrating book,...

Recent developments in biotechnology and genetic research are raising complex ethical questions concerning the legitimate scope and limits of genetic intervention. As we begin to contemplate the possibility of intervening...