Book Description
Seven Spiritual Masterworks by C. S. Lewis
This classic collection includes C. S. Lewis's most important spiritual works:
Mere Christianity
The Screwtape Letters
The Great Divorce
The Problem of Pain
Miracles
A Grief Observed
The Abolition of Man
Customer Reviews:
C.S. Lewis is a genius!.......2007-10-05
GREAT book! Arrived quick and in perfect condition. Some of my favorite works by this author.
Brilliant.......2007-10-01
Those that read his several works contained in this book will appreciate his straightword and understandable writing. Yet, still readers will be amazed at his deftness in describing heaven's honesty and glorifying light, and his illumination of hell's lies and destructive darkness. The book is awesome.
The Answer Is Found........2007-09-22
If you have any questions to the way life is a certain way, or just want to expand your mind and let new things in, this is the book. Lewis shows in one occasion that truth has the same meaning no matter what time and age you live in. In MERE CHRISTIANITY (my favorite), he uses what he calls the "natural law" and not once uses the bible to show why certain things can only come from a creator. EXCELLENT BOOK!!!
A must for EVERY Chritian or those considering Christianity.......2007-09-10
Christianity is a journey of discovery and growth... Lewis, a one-time-atheist, has written incredible stories and teaching works that have inspired Christians and surprised everyone else for the better part of the last century. His way of bringing to light the answers to questions you have, and expounding on questions you might not have thought of yet will help anyone on their way to understanding powerful truths in life. Reading C S Lewis has shaped my understanding of my own faith in a way i could not have conceived. he does not present new and controversial ideas, or formulas... he merely helps to understand age old issues that affect us all.
This book is a well put together collection of some of his greatest apologetic works that prove and illuminate the Christian Faith. If you don't have it, get it! Then, go out and get his other works, like The Cosmic Trilogy, or The Chronicle of Narnia. Lewis infuses his powerful ideas into these as well, and tells brilliantly woven stories that enthrall our imaginations and inspire our hearts. Please Enjoy...
Excellent.......2007-09-04
Lewis is an amazing author, and this is a complete collection of his best work.
Amazon.com
Much like Zen, Pema Chodron's interpretation of Tibetan Buddhism takes the form of a nontheistic spiritualism. In When Things Fall Apart this head of a Tibetan monastery in Canada outlines some relevant and deceptively profound terms of Tibetan Buddhism that are germane to modern issues. The key to all of these terms is accepting that in the final analysis, life is groundless. By letting go, we free ourselves to face fear and obstacles and offer ourselves unflinchingly to others. The graceful, conversational tone of Chodron's writing gives the impression of sitting on a pillow across from her, listening to her everyday examples of Buddhist wisdom.
Book Description
The beautiful practicality of her teaching has made Pema Chödrön one of the most beloved of contemporary American spiritual authors among Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. A collection of talks she gave between 1987 and 1994, the book is a treasury of wisdom for going on living when we are overcome by pain and difficulties. 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
Customer Reviews:
One of Pema's best books!.......2007-09-27
There is no way you could NOT feel better about anything going on in your life after reading this book.
Simple, Real, and Easy to Follow.......2007-09-12
Pema Chodron is one of the most real and down to earth practicing Buddhist teachers I have come across to date. She brings forth the great wisdom from her own two marriages, children and personal life lessons. She has been a great source of comfort to me during my own difficult times in life and really helped me practice Buddhism in a way that has helped me understand my higher calling and why I am here. I highly recommend this book and all of her books.
Guidance without hyperbole.......2007-06-27
I have always read and re-read the works of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche,deeply appreciating his ability to cut through life's muddled battles. Pema Chodron is easily as gifted a writer as Rinpoche, her teacher.
This book is plain, direct, humble and real. She never offers "solutions" but instead gently guides you to look in places you pass by every day. I've had a crazy year, and reading this book got me back to the place we always are: now.
After reading this, I realized, with a laugh, that I'm already Buddhist and I might as well accept it and get some meditation instruction.
Life's Energy, When Things Fall Apart, Start From Where You Are, etc........2007-06-18
Pema Chodron is, without a doubt, an inspirational phenom. She brings the concepts of Buddhism in a down to earth compassionate manner. Before becoming a Buddhist Nun, born in the U.S., she spent early adulthood, as wife and mother, in the southwest. As an American her teachings offer a bridge and insight connecting western culture and Buddhist concepts that just make sense. This book as well as her other publications have helped to provide a spiritual centering and peace, whether in daily life or as a concerned citizen in a very troubled nation and world. If you're on a path to true awareness, emotional health and spiritual depth, then Pema's works are key.
Packs a kharmic wallop.......2007-06-06
A zen man for 40 years, I often find Tibetan Buddhism mired in three-of-this and eight-of-that. But this book is an exception. Chodron packs a wallop that's more powerful, penetrating, profound, and personal than I've dared stand up to in a decade. You needn't accept Buddhism, foreswear Christianity, or even the NEW YORK TIMES. She simply points to a world of sanity that underlies "all the above." CAVEAT: If you read more than a chapter a day, you're only devouring it, not digesting it.
Average customer rating:
- Great philosophy behind it
- Amazing.
- Magical journey...
- Classic in any lanugage
- A story for all ages
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Le Petit Prince (French Language Edition)
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
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ASIN: 0156013983 |
Book Description
In 2000 Harcourt proudly reissued Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's masterpiece, The Little Prince, in a sparkling new format. Newly translated by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Richard Howard, this timeless classic was embraced by critics and readers across the country for its purity and beauty of expression. And Saint-Exupéry's beloved artwork was restored and remastered to present his work in its original and vibrant colors.
Now Harcourt is issuing uniform full-color foreign language editions. The restored artwork glows like never before. These affordable and beautiful editions are sure to delight an entire new generation of readers, students, children, and adults for whom Saint-Exupéry's story will open the door to a new understanding of life.
Customer Reviews:
Great philosophy behind it.......2007-09-28
I half-expected this book to be a children's book but it actually contained philosophical ideals people would often ask themselves in life. Highly recommended
Amazing........2007-08-08
I place this on a par, in it's own way, with Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet.
Deeply meaningful, cloaked in a tale of a child. I read part of it at my mother's funeral. Not that it is a sad story, per se. But there was not a dry eye in the house when I finished.
What it has to say on loving and on loss is absolutely worth more than this book costs and every minute you spend reading it.
Magical journey..........2007-06-13
My first book ever was The little prince. It was my dad's first present on the day I was born. Since then I have read it at least 20 times, and every time I read it it delivers a different message. I think this is a book that will be enjoyed by kids as well as adults. This french version is beautiful, and very similar to the one my dad gave me in spanish. Has the original drawings with nice colors. As someone stated this book can be interpreted in different ways and that's why it's so magical. I consider it one of the best short stories ever. A true masterpice.
Classic in any lanugage.......2007-03-12
I've read this book many times, sometimes in English, sometimes in French. I've read it for pleasure. I've studied it. I've taught it. I love it. The fox's secret is an important lesson for us all and one I appreciate being reminded of. I recommend this book to anyone, it's been translated into over 100 languages. (It's been translated more than any book besides the Bible I've heard.) I love sharing it with people which is why I will teach it as long as I'm teaching and I will read it aloud to my children when I have them.
A story for all ages.......2007-02-01
Although I believe that this book is for everyone young or old, I think that "grown ups" will appreciate it more than kids.
The book has passages that remind the adult of the innocent little kid within.
In a lot of ways, the wisdom in the story comes as somehow a reality check.
In depth the book is about life, relationships (the little prince and the rose), friendships (the little prince and the fox) and human caracteristics...
I have read this story so many times and every time I discover something "new". This book is a work of art!
If you speak French, I recommend the French language edition over the English one.
Amazon.com
In 1927, Walter Evans-Wentz published his translation of an obscure Tibetan Nyingma text and called it the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Popular Tibetan teacher Sogyal Rinpoche has transformed that ancient text, conveying a perennial philosophy that is at once religious, scientific, and practical. Through extraordinary anecdotes and stories from religious traditions East and West, Rinpoche introduces the reader to the fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism, moving gradually to the topics of death and dying. Death turns out to be less of a crisis and more of an opportunity. Concepts such as reincarnation, karma, and bardo and practices such as meditation, tonglen, and phowa teach us how to face death constructively. As a result, life becomes much richer. Like Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Sogyal Rinpoche opens the door to a full experience of death. It is up to the reader to walk through. --Brian Bruya
Book Description
This acclaimed spiritual masterpiece is widely regarded as one of the most complete and authoritative presentations of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings ever written. A manual for life and death and a magnificent source of sacred inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition, The Tibetan Book Of Living and Dying provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, to compassionate love and care for the dying, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path.
Customer Reviews:
An extraordinary book........2007-10-04
"Just as if you put your finger into water, it will get wet, and if you put it into fire, it will burn, so if you invest your mind in the wisdom mind of the Buddha, it will transform into their wisdom nature."
Considered by many to be the most astute interpretation for Western culture of the Tibetan Book of the Dead and the Tibetan Book of the Living, this contemporary classic by Sogyal Rinpoche blends ancient ideas of Tibetan Buddhism with a fresh perspective from a master who has spent a good deal of time teaching and lecturing in the West.
It is most moving to read his prologue especially, in which he deals with the death of his master, for which he was present. The great spiritual process of learning to die, before dying, as the secret to life, is explored in this section. Much of what is now being reflected upon in the new spirituality of Echart Tolle and others is covered here with clarity and a certain depth not found in other western spiritual classics.
On a personal note, I revisited this book after dealing with a lost love and found it to be the pure water of the dharma that I needed in order to overcome the horrors of such a loss. I would encourage anyone to read this amazing book, but especially those who are in a place of pain, hopelessness, or suffering in this very moment. Strike while the iron is hot! The terrible, clear light of grief is in fact a step into profound self-awareness. It was an honor to read Rinpoche and to be touched by his sincerity and clear mastery of the practice.
First most lifechanging book I've ever read.......2007-10-02
I reviewed the second most life changing book I've ever read, so I figured I should come back and review the first most life changing book I've ever read, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. After my husband died, I wanted to know what happened after you died. He was my one and only true love. When I read this book, I realized that Sogyal Rinpoche had some knowledge of what he was talking about, and this book had all the answers to the mystery of life and death for those with the wisdom to recognize it, and the determination to study and practice it. I read the book 3 times in a row right away right after I bought it.
A few years later after reading the book I joined Rigpa and took the classes they offered. After few years of practice, the cube farm way of life no longer made sense to me. So, much to the chagrin of all my relatives, I ditched my 6 figure Silicon Valley job to go work on a horse ranch by the beach!
Maybe the book should come with a warning label. Warning, this book could be hazardous to your income! Don't feel bad for me tho because I have a sweet IRA which I invest myself so I'm all set for retirement. You can feel jealous instead :-)
Actually, after some years of Buddhist practice, my clarity of mind has improved so I think if I ever had to go back to my old work, I would get all those enterprise-wide IT projects done better, faster, and everyone would have a lot more fun along the way.
Understandable at Last.......2007-08-23
This book makes a complex Buddhist belief understandable for most. The author illustrates principals with examples from his own life. Interspersed with poetry and songs, it is an insightful study on a most important subject.
Nice book.......2007-05-21
A well written book by an author who understands the Tibetan teachings of impermanence. This book is an easy read for the novice student of Budhism, but I wouldn't recommend picking it up as a complete beginner. The book is best suited for early students who are at the least familiar with Tibetan teachings and philosophies.
It is an excellent companion to the Tibetan Book of the dead as it will help clear up some of the things explained in that text in an easy to read and understand fashion. The author makes good use of personal stories, and conventional teachings, and helps to simplify a very demanding aspect of Buddhist study.
the tibetan book of living and dying.......2007-05-14
I find it hard to fully express how important this book is.
The subject may seem morbid but the contra is true, like the bardol thodol it stands alone in spiritual writings.
Book Description
"A magic curtain, woven of legends, hung before the world," writes Milan Kundera in The Curtain, his fascinating new book on the art of the novel. "Cervantes sent Don Quixote journeying and tore through the curtain. The world opened before the knight-errant in all the comical nakedness of its prose." For Kundera, that curtain represents a ready-made perception of the world that each of us has—a pre-interpreted world. The job of the novelist, he argues, is to rip through the curtain and reveal what it hides.
In this entertaining and always stimulating essay, Kundera cleverly sketches out his personal view of the history and value of the novel in Western civilization. Too often, he suggests, a novel is thought about only within the confines of the language and nation of its origin, when in fact the novel's development has always occurred across borders: Laurence Sterne learned from Rabelais, Henry Fielding from Cervantes, Joyce from Flaubert, García Márquez from Kafka. The real work of a novel is not bound up in the specifics of any one language: what makes a novel matter is its ability to reveal some previously unknown aspect of our existence. In The Curtain, Kundera skillfully describes how the best novels do just that.
Customer Reviews:
The genius behind 'The Curtain.'.......2007-08-08
It is unfortunate many readers of serious fiction will never read this book. Milan Kundera (1929) is a Czech-born writer who writes mostly in French these days. He is best known for his novel, The Unbearable Lightness of Being: A Novel (Perennial Classics) (1984), a profound exploration of the fragile nature of the life of an individual. Following The Art of the Novel (1985) and Testaments Betrayed (1992), his seven-part essay, The Curtain, is part three in a trilogy of essays on the European novel. Translated by Linda Asher, it was originally published as "Le Rideau," in French in April 2005 by Gallimard. It should be considered required reading for anyone interested in knowing what the novel is all about.
Kundera believes that reading novels, from Cervantes, Dostoyevsky, and Tolstoy, to Kafka, Garcia Marquez, and Rushdie, offers a way of thinking that is essential to understanding human nature and our own lives. Reading allows us to tear down "the curtain" of pre-interpreted assumptions ingrained in our psyche, enabling us to have an unobstructed vision of the world we inhabit: "A magic curtain, woven of legends, hung before the world. Cervantes sent Don Quixote journeying and tore through the curtain. The world opened before the knight errant in all the comical nakedness of its prose" (p.92). For Kundera, "a novel that fails to reveal some unknown bit of existence is immoral" (p.61); its objective should be to reach into "the soul of things'" and the '"enigmas of existence." Understanding human life--that is "the raison d'etre of the art of the novel" (p.10). Anything less than that is mere "babble."
Although Kundera's subject is erudite, his writing is easy to follow--like sitting in a Paris cafe with a 78-year-old scholar, discussing why reading serious European literature matters.
G. Merritt
A Literary Charismatic.......2007-08-01
Kundera's book about the novel is not exactly as billed. These are not seven
essays. What we have is a set of notes, some speculations and assertions about
the past and future of the novel and its place in the world of literature and art.
Since these happen to be the spectulations of one of the most radically unsentimental
writers of our time, they are very valuable indeed. As the thoughts of a writer
whose work inspires other novelists (well, okay, this novelist) to keep writing,
they're especially precious.
Kundera urges us to see the novel in the context of its history. He suggests that its
reason for being is that the novel can tell a particular kind of truth, that it can
get to the heart of things and tear back the curtain of interpretation that veils
our realities.
The specifics of this arguement are as enlightening as the arguement itself:Cervantes'
humor as a reprise of what grownups know about the world, Rabelais' coinage of
a word for the humorless, Musil's irony, Stifter's prescience. Read Kundera to enlarge
your circle of acquaintance and turn literary acquaintances into teachers.
For all the inspiration that Kundera's work affords writers, this is a very pessimistic
book. With the death of historical awareness and appreciation for the moment comes
the death of the novel. Without 'the history of various arts, there's not much left
to works of art'. It's the pessimism of the true conservative-one whose heritage and
nation have vanished and being now incapable of growth can only be shored up
against the inevitable ravages of the new.
This perspective encourages-I think-an appreciation for the everyday, a Gestalt
shrink's awareness of the here and now. It's the kind of appreciation that rubs off on
the reader. If the reader is also a writer, this is the stuff that keeps you going.
Lynn Hoffman, author of bang BANG (a novel) and The New Short Course in Wine
You Must Read This Book.......2007-05-15
If you write literary fiction, you must read this book.
thought provoking.......2007-05-12
It's a pleasure to read a Milan Kundera essay. Even apart from the ideas involved, which are stimulating, I appreciate his style. And he touches on Musil, Broch, Cervantes, Rabelais, Kafka, Tolstoy, Proust, etc. Kundera makes a compelling case for a view of the novel as an art form with a specific history. This essay is so rich, it's worth returning to a number of times, like the classics by Montaigne, Emerson, and so on. This is a joy to read.
A lot of wisdom.......2007-05-12
I gleaned a great deal of wisdom from this book of essays. Occasionally I would read passages that would discuss stories I haven't read and my mind would drift but, overall, I came away with a lot to think about regarding my own writing. I have dog-eared many pages, something I am reluctant to do to a book.
Book Description
How to Read a Book, originally published in 1940, has become a rare phenomenon, a living classic. It is the best and most successful guide to reading comprehension for the general reader. And now it has been completely rewritten and updated.
You are told about the various levels of reading and how to achieve them -- from elementary reading, through systematic skimming and inspectional reading, to speed reading, you learn how to pigeonhole a book, X-ray it, extract the author's message, criticize. You are taught the different reading techniques for reading practical books, imaginative literature, plays, poetry, history, science and mathematics, philosophy and social science.
Finally, the authors offer a recommended reading list and supply reading tests whereby you can measure your own progress in reading skills, comprehension and speed.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent treatise on literary analysis and criticism.......2007-08-16
On one hand, it feels weird to read a book about how to read a book. So very meta. Yet I came away from this tome with a lot of insight into the difference between widely read and well-read.
There are salient points (and useful advice) on finding themes and reading with an analytical mind. I really wish I would've been able to read this book before I went to university.
Even the advice on reading novels for entertainment, while probably common sense to many, is useful. In addition, there is a (rather intimidating) reading list at the end.
So, overall, a must-read. Only four stars, though, because at time the text can be a little dry and turns into a struggle.
A commendable work.......2007-07-01
I picked up this book in a state of vexed frustration. I had forgotten how to read. At least, if felt like that. It was becoming an increasingly difficult practice for me to finish novels; this I rightly ascribed to one of my most damaging shortcomings: perfectionism. I kept telling myself that I had stopped reading books PROPERLY, or that I was being lazy - in a word, that I wasn't assimilating as much as I should be. My standards, though, were unattainable: I seemed almost to expect that, after one reading, I should be able to recite every word, without fail. It is ludicrous, peurile, yet I couldn't seem to disentangle myself from it. I even considered investing in a punchbag, because there was no one in proximal distance upon whom I could feasibly unleash my anger.
I finished this book today, and already I can assert that it was a successful panacea to my reading woes.
The most important thing that I took from the book - the remedy, if you will - concerns first readings. Rather than attempt to absorb everything, rather than constantly consulting the dictionary - one should just immerse oneself in the novel, ideally in a single sitting. If one keeps stopping, then one is apt to forget, or even lose interest. Then, if one wishes, one can reread the novel with an analytical eye. More than one too many ones in that paragraph.
Adler's insistence that you should read the most challenging books, ones that will stretch your imagination, rather than reading exclusively for mere entertainment - is also admirable. I agree with other reviewers that this book should be compulsory for high-school children (not to mention high school children).
I gave it four stars because most of the book is devoted to the art of reading NON-fiction, and only some of the advice is applicable to imaginative fiction. That is just a minor personal criticism, though.
The name of the book is appalling. Not that this had any bearing on my rating, but the title is deceptively simplistic, and you might want to cover it when in public, lest one be mistaken for an illiterate oaf.
The best of its kind.......2007-06-27
This book changed my life. I think it should be required in school. Or at least it should be required reading for anyone who wants to be an English teacher. I will definitely pass on this information to my future students. I have always been a good reader. In fact, I was so good that no one bothered to find out what exactly I was doing when I read and give me helpful suggestions for improvement. If you think of yourself as an educated, thoughtful person, and still you find that you often finish a book and are unable to articulate much about it six months later, get this book. I read more slowly now but I know what I'm reading. You might also try Susan Wise Bauer's The Well Educated Mind. I would check out both from the library and then select one to buy as a reference. Or buy both if you're a collector like me.
Learn to read, think, analyze, and communicate.......2007-06-16
This book picks up where your reading instruction in school most likely left off. In school you probably learned only the first, elementary, level of reading. In How To Read A Book Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren explain that there are actually three levels of reading beyond the elementary level (inspectional, analytical, and syntopical) and they demonstrate how to develop each of these levels of reading within yourself. In so doing they instill in the reader critical thinking skills that can be applied not only to the written word but to the spoken word as well. And after reading this book you will discover that you are not only a better reader you will find that you are a better communicator. In short, this book will provide you with the tools necessary to live a more fulfilling and productive life.
Book Review.......2007-06-08
The book arrived in a timely manner and I was satisfied with my purchase and the efficient service.
Amazon.com
Sometimes a writer has to revisit the classics, and here we find that "gonzo journalism"--gutsy first-person accounts wherein the author is part of the story--didn't originate with Hunter S. Thompson or Tom Wolfe. Aldous Huxley took some mescaline and wrote about it some 10 or 12 years earlier than those others. The book he came up with is part bemused essay and part mystical treatise--"suchness" is everywhere to be found while under the influence. This is a good example of essay writing, journal keeping, and the value of controversy--always--in one's work.
Book Description
Two classic complete books -- The Doors of Perception (originally published in 1954) and Heaven and Hell (originally published in 1956) -- in which Aldous Huxley, author of the bestselling Brave New World, explores, as only he can, the mind's remote frontiers and the unmapped areas of human consciousness. These two astounding essays are among the most profound studies of the effects of mind-expanding drugs written in the twentieth century. These two books became essential for the counterculture during the 1960s and influenced a generation's perception of life.
Customer Reviews:
Purple Haze..........2007-07-26
I have wanted to read Huxley's THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION for quite some time and purchased it from Amazon about a year ago. However, I didn't get around to reading it until this past week, when it made its way to the top of my book stack. Not knowing if I was "ready" for the subject of hallucinogen use, I opened the thin volume and it hooked me immediately.
What was most impressive to me - others have described Huxley's clinical/intellectual approach to the drug experience - was how this work delicately projected the difference of drugs being used to escape TO something, rather than FROM something. This seems key to Huxley's "experience" versus other's entertainment, excitement, boredom, or addictive purpose for experimenting.
The second book of this thin volume, HEAVEN AND HELL, was, I'm quite sure, directly impacted by Huxley's previous drug experiences, as he argues, somewhat circularly, that drug use inspires appreciation of things produced via drug use.
I enjoyed both of these short works, presumably published together because of the William Blake connection in their titles. Despite reviews to the contrary, the ideas presented within seemed entirely accessible, if somewhat dated.
A gifted writer sheds light on a difficult subject.......2007-06-16
The Doors of Perception
This book is written in the form of an essay and recounts the experiences of the author after taking mescalin for the first time. It is a fairly short read, about 80 pages, but the philosophical reflections require time to fully grasp. Huxley volunteers to be the guinea pig in a controlled experiment to observe the effects of mescalin. The resulting experience gave cause for Huxley to reflect deeply on the nature of reality and how humans shape this reality through perception. What is perceived in one state of consciousness as real can indeed become something altogether different in another. Huxley explores this intertwined relationship and places it in a larger historical context recalling the works and deeds of the visionaries and mystics of the past.
This work is a must for anyone interested in boundless possibilities that arise from hallucinogenic substances. The fact that Huxley is a very intelligent scholar as well as a gifted writer allow him to tackle a difficult subject and tell it in words that lend themselves to the initiated. Those interested in the remote frontiers and the unmapped areas of human consciousness would do well to read this.
*Side note: The band the Doors took their name from the book. The title of the book actually refers to a line in the poem The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, written by William Blake in 1793. "If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite."
Heaven and Hell
Another rather short essay (about 100 p.) from Huxley in the vain of The Doors of Perception. In it Huxley takes on the fast unknowns of Mind at Large, examining the basic properties and functions of visionary experience. This essay is basically a philosophical discourse on the possibilities that exist for visionary experience. The contrast between the positive and negative experience are characterized in the contrasting realms of Heaven and Hell. What makes this an incredibly interesting read is that all arguments made are based on plausible grounds and quite often on scientifically sound grounds. Although written over a half century ago, this work has proved a classic that stands out in a field that is still insufficiently investigated. Together with The Doors of Perception, Heaven and Hell shows that Huxley is as much a force in the world of nonfiction thought as he is in fiction. Read what this man has to say and think about it. There is a lot there to digest.
Not easy.......2007-05-12
I had an idea to find out about the use of drugs and its effect on the consiousness. I have found Aldous Huxley on the Wikipedia and bought this book. I am not native english, and it took me quite long to get through the book, because its language is so difficult to understand. It is obvious that Huxley is a writer with a very broad range of vocabulary to express things. If you are not native, prepare yourself with a huge dictionary to read the book However the contect was fabulous.
Aldous Huxley and mescaline.......2007-02-15
Huxley is a very erudite individual, and hallucinogenics were novel for the time (1950's). What we can say now is that even well educated and intelligent individuals are not very far from psychotic thinking.
Good book for anyone intersted in the psychedelic movement.......2006-12-27
Huxley reveals his thoughts on psychedelics and philosophy in "The Doors of Perception"--all while experimenting with mescaline. This book is not for the uneducated and brain-dead stoner, though. Huxley, an accomplished novelist ("Brave New World" and "The Island"), was the father of the psychedelic movement. He laid the foundation for philosophical experimentation and had an enormous influnce on later advocates like Timothy Leary, Ken Kesy, and (more recently) Daniel Pinchbeck. Those who are fans of "The Doors" will be interested to know that this is where the band recieved its name. The reading can be arduous at times but well worth the effort for anyone who is researching psychotropic drugs.
Average customer rating:
- The Hobo Philosopher
- Must have for any wannabe idealist
- Political Classic...read for historical insight
- A Must Read
- A Misleading Edition
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The Communist Manifesto (Signet Classics)
Karl Marx ,
Friedrich Engels , and
Martin Malia
Manufacturer: Signet Classics
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Civilization and Its Discontents
ASIN: 0451527100 |
Amazon.com
"A spectre is haunting Europe," Karl Marx and Frederic Engels wrote in 1848, "the spectre of Communism." This new edition of The Communist Manifesto, commemorating the 150th anniversary of its publication, includes an introduction by renowned historian Eric Hobsbawm which reminds us of the document's continued relevance. Marx and Engels's critique of capitalism and its deleterious effect on all aspects of life, from the increasing rift between the classes to the destruction of the nuclear family, has proven remarkably prescient. Their spectre, manifested in the Manifesto's vivid prose, continues to haunt the capitalist world, lingering as a ghostly apparition even after the collapse of those governments which claimed to be enacting its principles.
Book Description
Critically and textually up-to-date, this new edition of the classic translation (Samuel Moore, 1888) features an introduction and notes by the eminent Marx scholar David McLellan, prefaces written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels subsequent to the original 1848 publication, and corrections
of errors made in earlier versions. Regarded as one of the most influential political tracts ever written, The Communist Manifesto serves as the foundation document of the Marxist movement. This summary of the Marxist vision is an incisive account of the world-view Marx and Engels had evolved during
their hectic intellectual and political collaboration of the previous few years.
Download Description
Still relevant today both as a historical document and as a stirring call for social democracy, this New Albion edition includes Engel's extensive footnotes from the various editions, plus the changing Prefaces written first by Marx and Engels, and later by Engels alone, plus notes on the Manifesto and the various translations of it.
Customer Reviews:
The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-14
Well, if you are a student of Philosophy or economics you must make this a part of your reading whether you want to or not. It is not long. It is not difficult. It is quite explicit. And after you read it you should have a better understanding of where you personally stand politically. I am not going to comment on what it says or advocates. Read it and find out for yourself. You won't need an interpreter.
Must have for any wannabe idealist.......2007-09-10
Well, obviously I havent read this fascinating piece of litrerature, but thats because a read book just looks so scruffy on my beautiful capitalist shelves.
This book makes me look a lot more sympathetic to all those wannabe commies, so why not dish out on a copy too?
Nah just joking, just read it and decide for yourself.
Political Classic...read for historical insight.......2007-06-27
My son required a copy of "The Communist Manifesto" for a philosophy class. After he was done with it, I decided to read it since this was one of the founding documents for Communism.
I found it difficult to decide how to rate this book. The presentation of Manifesto by Penguin in this book is excellent. The central ideas of the Manifesto itself are disturbing.
Should you read the Communist Manifesto? Yes. Is this a good presentation? Yes. Was Communism envisioned by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels a good idea? No. So I have compromised between the excellent presentation and the ideas espoused by the Manifesto in selecting an average rating.
Some reviewers feel that the Manifesto's critique of capitalism is right on; I have grave doubts. Marx and Engels were critiquing capitalism from an ivory tower. Their remedies for capitalism show that they had no real experience or contact with the workers in the trenches.
Some reviewers have mentioned the changing of labor laws due to the Manifesto, such as child labor laws (a generally agreed good thing). I believe those laws would have changed if the Manifesto had never been written. I believe those reviewers are seeing cause and effect relationships where there is none. I believe labor leaders in non-Communist states, pushing for change in labor laws, did not need belief in Communism behind them to push for change. Even without Communism, they would have done what they did anyways because the labor leaders came up from the laboring trenches. They knew first hand the abuses going on. The writers of the Manifesto did not; their ideas were theoretical. I know my ideas, in this area, are conjectures of what would have happened without the Manifesto, without Communism; there is no way they can be proven, history cannot be rewritten.
The remedy proposed by Marx and Engels is frightening. It foreshadows exactly how Communism gave birth to totalitarian states, to Communist dictatorships. Their remedy for capitalism requires a select group of leaders (Communist elitists) to force Communism onto the populace for the good of the people. We should all be suspicious of anyone who professes an idea that is for the good of the people because it invariably is not good for the people. To paraphase Lord Acton, "power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely," and the states envisioned by the writers of the Manifesto set up perfect conditions of absolute power (for the good of the people) which in practice led to absolutely corrupt power. History has shown there has been extreme abuse by Communist leaders, who became power meglomanics, of the masses of workers in their states.
Indeed, history has repeatedly shown that the concentration of power in the hands of a select few led to abuse of power. The smaller the select, the greater the abuse. This has been true regardless of the political theories espoused by the leaders. Let this be a cautionary tale to all of us.
A Must Read.......2007-06-23
It amazes me that the effects of cold war propaganda drivel still permeates the minds of most Americans. This is easily one of the most influential works since it's publication in the 19th century. To say something along the lines that the pages should be torn out and used as paper airplanes is like saying the literary masterpieces Dickens should be used as toilet paper. Disagree with it all you want but at least acknowledge it's influence and respect it, as several reviewers have. Don't simply pigeonhole a great work due to the ignorance or American cold war dogma. If you are going to rant about this work at least get your facts straight. Hitler is not a communist..never was. As a matter of fact he hated communism just as much as most Americans do. Second, recognize communism is an ideal, just a capitalism is may I add, and there never has been a purely communistic state. If you are going to give this work a bad rating at least pretend you have read it. Most of the bad reviews are complete drivel and it is obvious the work has not been read. Give a reason why you do not like the book. Simply saying it sucks is not very insightful. Finally, do not give this a bad review simply because you cannot understand what is being said. If the merit of literary works were based upon how something is being said rather than what is being said Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Milton would not be considered literary geniuses.
A Misleading Edition.......2007-06-14
The following is the composure of the book:
pg. 1-170 Introduction by Translator
pg. 170-240 Various Prefaces of Other Editions by the Authors
pg. 240-280 The Manifesto
For those not familiar with Marx, who want to read the introduction and gain new insights--this is a brilliant setup.
For those who would rather just pay $2 for the Manifesto itself--this is disappointing.
Recommended for the student of philosophy, not the professor.
Average customer rating:
- Genius
- Excellent edition of The Republic
- Not the best
- "republic" of the soul...aka: self help
- Very good for an inexpensive translation
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The Republic (Penguin Classics)
Plato
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
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ASIN: 0140449140
Release Date: 2003-02-25 |
Book Description
Ostensibly a discussion of the nature of justice, The Republic presents Plato's vision of the ideal state, covering a wide range of topics: social, educational, psychological, moral, and philosophical. It also includes some of Plato's most important writing on the nature of reality and the theory of the "forms."
Translated with an Introduction by Desmond Lee
Customer Reviews:
Genius.......2007-09-07
If you can only have five books on your library shelf, this book has to be one of them. Plato argues against democracy and total freedom and does such an amazing job. You may not agree with him, but after reading the book you will have so much respect for someone that is seeking the absolute truth no matter what it turns out to be.
Excellent edition of The Republic.......2007-05-06
Shorey's english rendering of the Greek in the Loeb edition is, in my opinion, excellent. More than anything, he captures the passion and fervor of Socrates beautifully, as his english rendering of the text is significantly more poetic than the vast majority of translations of The Republic. While, obviously, there are countless other editions and translations of The Republic, few of these do "justice" to the work qua literature as Shorey does. Shorey's translation, while perhaps a little less accessible to beginning readers than Alan Bloom's or WHD Rouse's, is not difficult to the point of inaccessibility, and its strengths in other regards are too significant to make it necessary to purchase anything other than the Loeb edition of The Republic.
It is my hope that this review is actually helpful to someone that is deciding which edition or translation of The Republic to buy. Far too many Amazon reviews are little more than opining on the ostensible subject matter of a book that the individual either did not read, or did not understand.
Not the best.......2007-01-10
This work is poorly written and difficult to understand. Philosophy books are dense in the first place, but this edition adds to any confusion and created lots of headaches. Furthermore, the book in other editions usually have line numbers so that people can compair notes across editions, the Dover book lacks these. I purchased a different book and found in depth analysis to be much easier.
"republic" of the soul...aka: self help.......2006-12-20
i have no comments on this particular translation of republic, as it is the only version i have read.
republic does not live up to its namesake. as "socrates" says (i think we all know that socrates is really just plato's play dough after book 1) at the close of book 9, the vision of kallipolis only "exists in theory" or perhaps there is a "model of it in heaven." the earlier differentiation between theory and practice make it clear that plato only intended to use kallipolis as a model for the human soul. therefore, the suggested policies of eugenics, infanticide, communal property, and holding women and children "in common" are probably not to be taken seriously. plato himself predicts the inevitable unraveling of such a city.
after reading republic for the second time, it occurred to me that it is little more than a self-help manual. reason should rule spirit and passion. "dabbling" weakens the character. understand the difference between necessity and luxury. shatter your illusions about what you think you know, etc etc. not that these are not important, but such ideas do not require the complex analogy of a totalitarian society. thus, i think republic is slightly overrated.
the most compelling portion of this book, in my opinion, was the critique of the various constitutions. while the critiques of oligarchy, tyranny, timocracy and democracy map on nicely to the individual soul, they also make logical sense independently. while convention has led us to disregard the former 3 constitutions, democracy is often placed on a pedestal as the most ideal form of government. plato challenges this notion and succeeds with vigor in tearing down this pedestal. democracy, even in its representative form, is not much more than tyranny of the majority. we can witness democracy's inherent flaws today in the U.S., on issues such as abortion and gay marriage. this, in my opinion, is the only significant thing republic has to offer to the modern political theorist.
Very good for an inexpensive translation.......2006-11-10
I'm wrapping up a semester of teaching this translation of Republic, and I've had few complaints. Waterfield's editorial hand is visible, but that in itself, in the hands of a competent teacher, leads to good discussions above and beyond Plato's ideas.
With regards to Plato's masterwork, there's no good place to start save reading it for oneself. Plato is dead wrong in places (with regards to poetry and marriage just to get rolling), but his genius is that he's wrong as an idealist philosopher, encouraging readers to assert and refine their own ideals as counter-arguments. In other words, in order to refute Plato, one must out-Plato Plato.
Deconstruction is fine for deconstructionists, but a good discussion of this juggernaut of ancient thought is the life for me.
Book Description
This book stimulates readers' interest in philosophy with an innovative and appropriate “sides of the argument” presentation, and readings that represent a position on each of the fundamental philosophical questions. Using debate and argument as a vehicle, this reader highlights the fundamentals of philosophy. It also demonstrates that philosophy is a discourse that has spanned centuries while stressing the importance of the philosophical debate. Classic and contemporary readings cover over twenty-five issues and current topics such as free will, abortion, metaphysics, pornography, and ethics. Social, political and religious philosophy are discussed through contributions ranging from the works of Plato, St. Thomas Aquinas, Kierkegaard, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Tolstoy, and Locke. For anyone ready for the challenge of the basic inquiries that philosophers have pondered for centuries.
Customer Reviews:
a difficult read.......2007-09-21
If you want to fall in love with philosophy don't read this book. An overly pretentious writing style will keep you from the concepts over and over again. Some concepts could be easily be explained in 6th grade language, but instead, is made so convoluted that you'd think it was a credit card company purposely trying to make you avoid reading the fine print. That's what this book is... a 600 page long fine print. If you like reading fine print, then this is an awesome book. Thus 2 stars total.
Thought provoking, but difficult.......2006-11-07
I had to read many of the readings from this book for my Intro to Ethics class. While it continued to stimulate my mind and make me think past what I had previously believed on many issues, I had to re-read many writings multiple times to even start to understand what was REALLY being talked about. However, when I did understand, it made the reading that much more interesting.
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