Showing titles in Modern

Somerset Maugham's success as a writer enabled him to indulge his adventurous love of travel, and he recorded the sights and sounds of his wide-ranging journeys with a unique urbane, wry style. The Gentleman in the Parlour is an account of the author's trip through what was then Burma and Siam, ending in Haiphong, Vietnam. Whether by river to Mandalay, on horse through the mountains and forests of the Shan States to Bangkok, or onwards by sea, Maugham's vivid descriptions bring a lost world to life.

We spend most of our waking lives at work - in occupations often chosen by our unthinking 16-year-old selves. And yet we rarely ask ourselves how we got there or what it might mean for us. Equally intrigued by work's pleasures and its pains, Alain de Botton heads into the office, the factory, the fishing fleet, and the logistics centre, ears and eyes open to the beauty, interest, and sheer strangeness of the modern workplace. Why do we do it? What makes it pleasurable? And why do we daily exhaust not only ourselves but also the planet?

In "Atlas Struggled," Sophia Blackwell delivers a hilarious and scathing takedown of Ayn Rand, the failed screenwriter who somehow convinced generations of insecure men that being selfish isn't just acceptable—it's the highest moral virtue. With her signature blend of merciless mockery and genuine insight, Blackwell dissects Rand's life and philosophy, revealing how a Russian immigrant with a persecution complex created a "philosophical" system that's really just elaborate justification for being terrible to other people.

Journey through the captivating world of Immanuel Kant's Transcendental Idealism as it's never been presented before! " Beyond the Veil " breaks down dense philosophical concepts into relatable narratives, making Kant's groundbreaking ideas accessible and engaging for everyone. Delve deep into hypothetical case studies, from environmental ethics to digital realms, and see how Kant's legacy continues to shape today's world. Whether you're a seasoned philosopher or a curious newcomer, this book offers a fresh perspective on how our minds interact with reality.

Whether you're a student, researcher, or curious listener, this reference offers a deep yet practical understanding of one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. Perfect for those seeking clarity on Wittgenstein’s complex ideas, Wittgenstein Dictionary is your go-to resource for philosophical exploration

What the Hell tears into Ludwig Wittgenstein—history's most insufferable genius—with savage wit and zero academic pretension. Journey through the mind-bending contradictions of a trust-fund philosopher who claimed to solve all philosophical problems (twice!), while making everyone around him miserable. Discover how a man who couldn't maintain a single healthy relationship somehow revolutionized our understanding of language, meaning, and communication.

In The Cluttered Soul, philosopher and essayist George Le Savant invites listeners into a quietly radical exploration of the things that fill our homes, calendars, closets, and minds—and how they quietly shape our identities, anxieties, and aspirations. Blending ancient philosophy, poetic insight, and cultural observation, Le Savant examines modern consumerism and clutter not as mess, but as a mirror—revealing what we fear to let go of, and what we hope to become.

Voltaire est un maître de l'ironie et du mot d'esprit. Voilà les armes principales dont ce philosophe des Lumières, dramaturge, scientifique et poète se sert sans relâche dans ses attaques au vitriol contre l'institution catholique, les adversaires de la liberté de culte et d'expression, et de la séparation de l'Église et de l'État. Sélectionnées parmi ses œuvres majeures, ces 100 citations vous familiariseront avec l'essence de sa pensée tout en nourrissant votre esprit de répartie, de "Candide" au "Dictionnaire philosophique", en passant par "Zadig", le "Traité sur la tolérance" ou l'une de ses six mille lettres connues.

Timely and profound meditations on how great figures in history, literature, music, and art searched for solace while facing tragedies and crises, from the internationally renowned historian of ideas and Booker Prize finalist Michael Ignatieff. When we lose someone we love, when we suffer loss...

In Defence of Serendipity is a lively and buccaneering work of investigative philosophy, treating the origins of 'serendipity, accident and sagacity' as both riddles and philosophical concepts that can be put to a future political use. Taking in Aristotle, LSD, Tony Blair and techno-mysticism, Olma challenges the prevailing faith in the benevolence of digital technology and the illegitimate equation of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Following on from the incredible online success of the ‘History In An Hour’ titles- now there’s a Philosophy series for busy people, on the go. Listen to a succinct account of the Philosophy of Sartre in just one hour. Here is a concise, expert account of Jean-Paul Sartre’s life and...

Philosophy for busy people. Listen to a succinct account of the philosophy of J.S. Mill in just one hour. John Stuart Mill is remembered today as the leading exponent of Utilitarianism, arguing that our aim in life must be the attainment of pleasure and the minimizing of pain for the majority of...

Philosophy for busy people who are always on the go but have always wanted to read up on certain figures in history that have shaped the way we think and live. Listen to this succinct account of the philosophy of Heidegger in just one hour. One of the two major philosophical traditions of the...

True heroism does not seek applause. It does not wear armor or demand recognition. It walks quietly, steady in its purpose, untouched by fear or flattery. In Heroism, Ralph Waldo Emerson strips away the illusions of grandeur and reveals the essence of courage: a quiet, unwavering commitment to one's own principles. This is not a celebration of warriors or conquerors but of those who face the world with integrity, who move through life unshaken by its storms.

Spring arrives with a rush of words, and Ralph Waldo Emerson stands at the threshold, pen in hand. May-Day and Other Pieces is not just a collection of poems—it is an invitation to witness the shifting tides of nature, thought, and destiny through the eyes of one of America's sharpest philosophical minds. From the awakening landscapes of May-Day to the untamed wilderness of The Adirondacs, Emerson moves effortlessly between the grandeur of the world and the depths of the soul.

The Flowing Self: Identity in Drift and the Dynamics of Being offers a radical rethinking of what it means to be a self in a world shaped by continuous change, relational complexity, and the dissolution of fixed categories. Rejecting essentialist models of identity and therapeutic narratives of self-discovery, the book presents a structural account of selfhood as a lawful process—not something possessed, but something inferred, constructed, and maintained through dynamic coherence over time.

una memorabile raccolta di una dozzina di saggi scritti tra il 1925 e il 1954 (a parte una curiosità filosofica del 1899), in cui egli dice la sua su tutti gli aspetti della religione in generale, e del cristianesimo in particolare.

Why do we create? Why does humanity, confronted with chaos inside and out, insist on painting, writing, inventing, building, dreaming? And could creativity be the one force that makes existence not only bearable—but meaningful? This book is a journey into the heart of chaos and the human spirit’s response to it. It explores creativity not as luxury or pastime, but as our deepest survival tool, our rebellion against absurdity, and our bridge between order and disorder.

Nicolas de Chamfort est un poète, journaliste et moraliste français. Débutant par quelques articles au Journal encyclopédique et une collaboration au Vocabulaire français, il se fit connaître de bonne heure par des prix de poésie remportés à l'Académie, donna au Théâtre-Français quelques comédies qui réussirent, et s'attacha pour vivre à diverses entreprises littéraires. Avant la Révolution, il fut un des écrivains les plus apprécié par les salons parisiens, brillant et spirituel, il écrivit des pièces de théâtre.

Diderot est reconnu pour son érudition, son esprit critique et un certain génie. Il laisse son empreinte dans l'histoire de tous les genres littéraires auxquels il s'est essayé : il pose les bases du drame bourgeois au théâtre, révolutionne le roman avec "Jacques le fataliste et son maître", invente la critique à travers ses salons et supervise la rédaction d'un des ouvrages les plus marquants de son siècle, la célèbre "Encyclopédie".