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The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma

by Gurcharan Das
Compare to estimated retail price: S$31.91  

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The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma
The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma

Ancient epic explores modern ethical conundrums.

If you've been grappling with the nuances of right and wrong in today's complex societal landscape, "The Difficulty of Being Good" by Gurcharan Das can offer you a fascinating perspective. Das weaves the ancient wisdom of the Mahabharata with contemporary issues, making age-old dilemmas of dharma feel incredibly relevant. It's a book that doesn't just recount epic tales but also challenges you to think deeply about your own moral choices. It could be the reflective companion you need as you navigate your own ethical path.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma

by Gurcharan Das
Compare to estimated retail price: S$31.91  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

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This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780199754410
Authors: Gurcharan Das
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date of Publication: 2010-10-01
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Philosophy, Personal Development, Religion, History
Related Topics: History, Personal Development, History, Hinduism, Spirituality
Goodreads rating: 4.11
(rated by 4687 readers)

Description

Why should we be good? How should we be good? And how might we more deeply understand the moral and ethical failings--splashed across today's headlines--that have not only destroyed individual lives but caused widespread calamity as well, bringing communities, nations, and indeed the global economy to the brink of collapse? In The Difficulty of Being Good, Gurcharan Das seeks answers to these questions in an unlikely source: the 2,000 year-old Sanskrit epic, Mahabharata. A sprawling, witty, ironic, and delightful poem, the Mahabharata is obsessed with the elusive notion of dharma--in essence, doing the right thing. When a hero does something wrong in a Greek epic, he wastes little time on self-reflection; when a hero falters in the Mahabharata, the action stops and everyone weighs in with a different and often contradictory take on dharma. Each major character in the epic embodies a significant moral failing or virtue, and their struggles mirror with uncanny precision our own familiar emotions of anxiety, courage, despair, remorse, envy, compassion, vengefulness, and duty. Das explores the Mahabharata from many perspectives and compares the successes and failures of the poem's characters to those of contemporary individuals, many of them highly visible players in the world of economics, business, and politics. In every case, he finds striking parallels that carry lessons for everyone faced
 

Ancient epic explores modern ethical conundrums.

If you've been grappling with the nuances of right and wrong in today's complex societal landscape, "The Difficulty of Being Good" by Gurcharan Das can offer you a fascinating perspective. Das weaves the ancient wisdom of the Mahabharata with contemporary issues, making age-old dilemmas of dharma feel incredibly relevant. It's a book that doesn't just recount epic tales but also challenges you to think deeply about your own moral choices. It could be the reflective companion you need as you navigate your own ethical path.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.