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Mimesis : The Representation of Reality in Western Literature - Fiftieth-Anniversary Edition - Thryft
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Erich Auerbach, Willard R. Trask  | Princeton University Press

Mimesis : The Representation of Reality in Western Literature - Fiftieth-Anniversary Edition

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Goodreads rating: 4.28

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A half-century after its translation into English, Erich Auerbach's Mimesis still stands as a monumental achievement in literary criticism. A brilliant display of erudition, wit, and wisdom, his exploration of how great European writers from Homer to Virginia Woolf depicted reality has taught generations how to read Western literature. This new expanded edition includes a substantial essay in introduction by Edward Said as well as an essay, never before translated into English, in which Auerbach responds to his critics.A German Jew, Auerbach was forced out of his professorship at the University of Marburg in 1935. He left for Turkey, where he taught at the state university in Istanbul. There he wrote Mimesis , publishing it in German after the end of the war. Displaced as he was, Auerbach produced a work of great erudition that contains no footnotes, basing his arguments instead on searching, illuminating readings of key passages from his primary texts. His aim was to show how from antiquity to the twentieth century literature progressed toward ever more naturalistic and democratic forms of representation. This essentially optimistic view of European history now appears as a defensive--and impassioned--response to the inhumanity he saw in the Third Reich. Ranging over works in Greek, Latin, Spanish, French, Italian, German, and English, Auerbach used his remarkable skills in philology and comparative literature to refute any narrow form of nationalism or chauvinism, in his own day and ours.For many readers, both inside and outside the academy, Mimesis is among the finest works of literary criticism ever written.
Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student edition - Thryft
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John Locke | Cambridge University Press

Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student edition

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Goodreads rating: 3.87

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This is a new revised version of Dr. Laslett's standard edition of Two Treatises. First published in 1960, and based on an analysis of the whole body of Locke's publications, writings, and papers. The Introduction and text have been revised to incorporate references to recent scholarship since the second edition and the bibliography has been updated.
Battle Cry of Freedom : The Civil War Era - Thryft
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James M. McPherson | Oxford University Press

Battle Cry of Freedom : The Civil War Era

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Goodreads rating: 4.38

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Battle Cry of Freedom is a must-read for history buffs, as it offers a thorough and engaging perspective on the political, social, and military events that marked the Civil War era. McPherson's writing is both comprehensive and accessible, highlighting the personalities and decisions that led to this pivotal moment in American history. The book's emphasis on the role of slavery in the conflict and the consequences of the war for the nation make it a particularly insightful read. Overall, this is an authoritative, masterful volume that should be on every history-lover's bookshelf.
Bread and Circuses : Theories of Mass Culture As Social Decay - Thryft
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Patrick Brantlinger | Cornell University Press

Bread and Circuses : Theories of Mass Culture As Social Decay

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Goodreads rating: 3.26

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Lively and well written, Bread and Circuses analyzes theories that have treated mass culture as either a symptom or a cause of social decadence. Discussing many of the most influential and representative theories of mass culture, it ranges widely from Greek and Roman origins, through Marx, Nietzsche, Freud, Ortega y Gasset, T. S. Eliot, and the theorists of the Frankfurt Institute, down to Marshall McLuhan and Daniel Bell, Brantlinger considers the many versions of negative classicism and shows how the belief in the historical inevitability of social decay—a belief today perpetuated by the mass media themselves—has become the dominant view of mass culture in our time. While not defending mass culture in its present form, Brantlinger argues that the view of culture implicit in negative classicism obscures the question of how the media can best be used to help achieve freedom and enlightenment on a truly democratic basis.
Rise of the West : A History of the Human Community - Thryft
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Béla Petheö, William H. McNeill  | University Of Chicago Press

Rise of the West : A History of the Human Community

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Goodreads rating: 4.14

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The Rise of the West, winner of the National Book Award for history in 1964, is famous for its ambitious scope and intellectual rigor. In it, McNeill challenges the Spengler-Toynbee view that a number of separate civilizations pursued essentially independent careers, and argues instead that human cultures interacted at every stage of their history. The author suggests that from the Neolithic beginnings of grain agriculture to the present major social changes in all parts of the world were triggered by new or newly important foreign stimuli, and he presents a persuasive narrative of world history to support this claim. In a retrospective essay titled "The Rise of the West after Twenty-five Years," McNeill shows how his book was shaped by the time and place in which it was written (1954-63). He discusses how historiography subsequently developed and suggests how his portrait of the world's past in The Rise of the West should be revised to reflect these changes. "This is not only the most learned and the most intelligent, it is also the most stimulating and fascinating book that has ever set out to recount and explain the whole history of mankind. . . . To read it is a great experience. It leaves echoes to reverberate, and seeds to germinate in the mind."—H. R. Trevor-Roper, New York Times Book Review
The English governess at the Siamese court - being recollections of six years in the royal palace at Bangkok - Thryft
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Anna Harriette Leonowens | Oxford University Press

The English governess at the Siamese court - being recollections of six years in the royal palace at Bangkok

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Goodreads rating: 3.37

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If you're intrigued by royal dynamics and cross-cultural exchanges, Leonowens’s memoir could be a good read for you. It offers an authentic peek into 19th-century Siam through the eyes of an English governess. Her unique perspective as an educator and her close interactions with the royal family provide historical enthusiasts and memoir readers with rich, cultural insights that are both educational and entertaining.
Private Government : How Employers Rule Our Lives (and Why We Don't Talk about It) - Thryft
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Elizabeth S. Anderson | Princeton University Press

Private Government : How Employers Rule Our Lives (and Why We Don't Talk about It)

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Goodreads rating: 3.98

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This book explores how many workplaces function as authoritarian private governments, with employers possessing sweeping power over workers' lives. Anderson argues that this reality is often obscured by misconceptions about free markets and emphasizes the need to reconceptualize the workplace to ensure workers' freedom. A thought-provoking read for anyone interested in labor relations, political philosophy, or the nature of power in society.
The Consequences of Modernity
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Anthony Giddens | Stanford University Press

The Consequences of Modernity

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Goodreads rating: 3.78

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If you're feeling a bit lost in today's fast-paced world, "The Consequences of Modernity" might shed some light on the situation for you. This book dives into how modern advancements have shaped society and our everyday experiences. It's a thought-provoking exploration that could give you a new perspective on the changes around you and possibly a better understanding of why we live the way we do now.
Christian Martyrs Under Islam: Religious Violence and the Making of the Muslim World - Thryft
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Christian C. Sahner | Princeton University Press

Christian Martyrs Under Islam: Religious Violence and the Making of the Muslim World

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Goodreads rating: 4.15

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This book is a captivating exploration of the untold stories of Christian martyrs during the rise of Islam. Through meticulous research and previously untapped sources, the author brings to light the courage and defiance of individuals who stood against the conversion to Islam. It sheds light on a complex historical period and highlights the impact of violence on shaping religious identity. A must-read for history enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of the early Islamic empire and its effect on Christianity.
On the Genealogy of Morals : A Polemic - Thryft
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Douglas Smith, Friedrich Nietzsche  | Oxford University Press

On the Genealogy of Morals : A Polemic

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Goodreads rating: 4.13

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On the Genealogy of Morals (1887) is a book about the history of ethics and about interpretation. Nietzsche rewrites the former as a history of cruelty, exposing the central values of the Judaeo-Christian and liberal traditions - compassion, equality, justice - as the product of a brutal process of conditioning designed to domesticate the animal vitality of earlier cultures. The result is a book which raises profoundly disquieting issues about the violence of both ethics and interpretation. Nietzsche questions moral certainties by showing that religion and science have no claim to absolute truth, before turning on his own arguments in order to call their very presuppositions into question. The Genealogy is the most sustained of Nietzsche's later works and offers one of the fullest expressions of his characteristic concerns. This edition places his ideas within the cultural context of his own time and stresses the relevance of his work for a contemporary audience.
GDP : A Brief but Affectionate History - Revised and expanded Edition - Thryft
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Diane Coyle | Princeton University Press

GDP : A Brief but Affectionate History - Revised and expanded Edition

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Goodreads rating: 3.66

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This book is a fascinating and informative read for anyone interested in understanding how the global economy works. Diane Coyle expertly explains the history and evolution of GDP, the standard measure of a country's economy, and its impact on political decisions and financial markets. The book also challenges the appropriateness of GDP as a measure for the modern economy driven by innovation, services, and intangible goods. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to decode the news and politics behind GDP.
The East Asian Region : Confucian Heritage and Its Modern Adaptation - Thryft
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Gilbert Rozman | Princeton University Press

The East Asian Region : Confucian Heritage and Its Modern Adaptation

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Goodreads rating: 4.0

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The contributors to this volume range over 2,000 years of history as they show how Confucian values spread throughout the region in premodern times and how these values were transformed in an age of modernization. The introduction by Gilbert Rozman discusses the special character of East Asia. In Part I Patricia Ebrey analyzes the Confucianization of China; JaHyun Kim Haboush, that of Korea; and Martin Collcutt, the much later diffusion of Confucianism in Japan. In Part II Rozman compares types of Confucianism in nineteenth-century China and Japan and their adaptability in the twentieth century, while Michael Robinson adds an overview of modern Korean perceptions of Confucianism.Originally published in 1990.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
The Nobility and Excellence of Women and the Defects and Vices of Men - Thryft
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Lucrezia Marinella, Anne Dunhill, Letizia Panizza  | University Of Chicago Press

The Nobility and Excellence of Women and the Defects and Vices of Men

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Goodreads rating: 3.88

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A gifted poet, a women's rights activist, and an expert on moral and natural philosophy, Lucrezia Marinella (1571-1653) was known throughout Italy as the leading female intellectual of her age. Born into a family of Venetian physicians, she was encouraged to study, and, fortunately, she did not share the fate of many of her female contemporaries, who were forced to join convents or were pressured to marry early. Marinella enjoyed a long literary career, writing mainly religious, epic, and pastoral poetry, and biographies of famous women in both verse and prose.Marinella's masterpiece, The Nobility and Excellence of Women, and the Defects and Vices of Men was first published in 1600, composed at a furious pace in answer to Giusepe Passi's diatribe about women's alleged defects. This polemic displays Marinella's vast knowledge of the Italian poetic tradition and demonstrates her ability to argue against authors of the misogynist tradition from Boccaccio to Torquato Tasso. Trying to effect real social change, Marinella argued that morally, intellectually, and in many other ways, women are superior to men.
The Koran: A Very Short Introduction - Thryft
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Michael A. Cook | Oxford University Press

The Koran: A Very Short Introduction

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Goodreads rating: 3.38

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The Koran has constituted a remarkably resilient core of identity and continuity for a religious tradition that is now in its fifteenth century. In this Very Short Introduction, Michael Cook provides a lucid and direct account of the significance of the Koran both in the modern world and in that of traditional Islam. He gives vivid accounts of its role in Muslim civilization, illustrates the diversity of interpretations championed by traditional and modern commentators, discusses the processes by which the book took shape, and compares it to other scriptures and classics of the historic cultures of Eurasia.About the Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam.
The Road to Serfdom - Thryft
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Milton Friedman, Friedrich A. Hayek  | University Of Chicago Press

The Road to Serfdom

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Goodreads rating: 4.16

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The Road to Serfdom is a must-read for anyone interested in political philosophy, intellectual and cultural history, and economics. This book explores the dangers of state control over the means of production, and how the collectivist idea of empowering government with increasing economic control would inevitably lead not to utopia but to the horrors of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. F.A. Hayek's timeless meditation on the relation between individual liberty and government authority is an arresting call to all well-intentioned planners and socialists, democrat and liberal at heart to stop, look and listen.
Aristotle: The Politics And The Constitution Of Athens - Thryft
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Stephen Everson, Aristotle  | Cambridge University Press

Aristotle: The Politics And The Constitution Of Athens

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Goodreads rating: 4.0

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This book is recommended for those interested in political philosophy and the study of democracy. Aristotle's insights on governance, citizenship, and the role of the state continue to influence political thought. The revised edition includes added context to his work in The Constitution of Athens, shedding light on the principles of democracy in Athenian society. Overall, this is a valuable read for those seeking to understand the foundations of democracy and political systems.
The Politics - Thryft
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R.F. Stalley, Ernest Barker, Aristotle  | Oxford University Press

The Politics

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Goodreads rating: 3.98

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This is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how societies are organized and governed. Aristotle, one of the greatest philosophers in history, provides deep insights into the workings of political systems. His analysis, drawn from his extensive knowledge of Greek city-states, remains relevant and thought-provoking even today. This edition, with its accessible introduction and clear notes, ensures that readers can easily grasp the historical and philosophical significance of this influential text. Get ready to be enlightened by Aristotle's timeless wisdom on successful constitutions and the art of governance.
The Mystic Fable, Volume One - The Sixteenth And Seventeenth Centuries - Thryft
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Michael B. Smith, Michel de Certeau  | University Of Chicago Press

The Mystic Fable, Volume One - The Sixteenth And Seventeenth Centuries

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Goodreads rating: 4.35

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The culmination of de Certeau's lifelong engagement with the human sciences, this volume is both an analysis of Christian mysticism during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and an application of this influential scholar's transdisciplinary historiography.
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era - Thryft
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James M. McPherson | Oxford University Press

Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era

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Goodreads rating: 4.38

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Filled with fresh interpretations and information, puncturing old myths and challenging new ones, Battle Cry of Freedom will unquestionably become the standard one-volume history of the Civil War. James McPherson's fast-paced narrative fully integrates the political, social, and military events that crowded the two decades from the outbreak of one war in Mexico to the ending of another at Appomattox. Packed with drama and analytical insight, the book vividly recounts the momentous episodes that preceded the Civil War--the Dred Scott decision, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry--and then moves into a masterful chronicle of the war itself--the battles, the strategic maneuvering on both sides, the politics, and the personalities. Particularly notable are McPherson's new views on such matters as the slavery expansion issue in the 1850s, the origins of the Republican Party, the causes of secession, internal dissent and anti-war opposition in the North and the South, and the reasons for the Union's victory. The book's title refers to the sentiments that informed both the Northern and Southern views of the conflict: the South seceded in the name of that freedom of self-determination and self-government for which their fathers had fought in 1776, while the North stood fast in defense of the Union founded by those fathers as the bulwark of American liberty. Eventually
Stay - A History Of Suicide And The Philosophies Against It - Thryft
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Jennifer Michael Hecht | Yale University Press

Stay - A History Of Suicide And The Philosophies Against It

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Goodreads rating: 3.6

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Worldwide, more people die by suicide than by murder, and many more are left behind to grieve. Despite distressing statistics that show suicide rates rising, the subject, long a taboo, is infrequently talked about. In this sweeping intellectual and cultural history, poet and historian Jennifer Michael Hecht channels her grief for two friends lost to suicide into a search for history’s most persuasive arguments against the irretrievable act, arguments she hopes to bring back into public consciousness. From the Stoics and the Bible to Dante, Shakespeare, Wittgenstein, and such twentieth-century writers as John Berryman, Hecht recasts the narrative of our “secular age” in new terms. She shows how religious prohibitions against self-killing were replaced by the Enlightenment’s insistence on the rights of the individual, even when those rights had troubling applications. This transition, she movingly argues, resulted in a profound cultural and moral loss: the loss of shared, secular, logical arguments against suicide. By examining how people in other times have found powerful reasons to stay alive when suicide seems a tempting choice, she makes a persuasive intellectual and moral case against suicide.
Twelve Voices from Greece and Rome: Ancient Ideas for Modern Times - Thryft
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Maria Wyke, Christopher Pelling  | Oxford University Press

Twelve Voices from Greece and Rome: Ancient Ideas for Modern Times

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Goodreads rating: 3.81

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Engaging with "Twelve Voices from Greece and Rome" is like having a conversation with the past that resonates in the present. Pelling and Wyke brilliantly connect ancient thoughts to contemporary questions, revealing how enduring and relevant these classical insights are. It's a good read for you if you're intrigued by philosophy or history and want to explore how ancient ideas can inform today's world.
How Propaganda Works - Thryft
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Jason F. Stanley | Princeton University Press

How Propaganda Works

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Goodreads rating: 3.54

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How Propaganda Works could be a good read for individuals interested in the politics of propaganda and its effects on democracy. The book provides historical examples and a range of sources to explore how the language of democracy can be used to manipulate and perpetuate inequalities in society. It can help readers understand the mechanisms of propaganda and the importance of identifying and countering it to protect liberal democracies.
Capital in the Twenty-First Century - Thryft
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Thomas Piketty, Arthur Goldhammer  | Belknap Press: An Imprint Of Harvard University Press

Capital in the Twenty-First Century

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Goodreads rating: 4.06

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This book is an eye-opener for anyone interested in the long-term evolution of inequality and economic growth. Piketty's careful analysis of historical data shows that, while modern growth has decreased inequality, structural issues still need to be addressed. His arguments are sure to spark debate and are especially relevant in today's economic climate.
Waiting for the Dawn : A Plan for the Prince - Thryft
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Wm. Theodore de Bary | Columbia University Press

Waiting for the Dawn : A Plan for the Prince

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Goodreads rating: 4.5

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The Ming-i Tai-fang Lu of Huang Tsunghsi (1610-1695) is unique in the history of Chinese Political literature. Since the time of Confucius and Mencius, no other work in the long Confucian tradition has stood out so clearly as a major critique of Chinese dynastic institutions.
On Opera - Thryft
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Bernard Williams, Michael Tanner  | Yale University Press

On Opera

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Goodreads rating: 3.94

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Bernard Williams, who died in 2003, was one of the most influential moral philosophers of his generation. A lifelong opera lover, his articles and essays, talks for the BBC, contributions to the Grove Dictionary of Opera , and program notes for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and the English National Opera, generated a devoted following. This elegant volume brings together these widely scattered and largely unobtainable pieces, including two that have not been previously published. It covers an engaging range of topics from Mozart to Wagner, including sparkling essays on specific operas by those composers as well as Verdi, Puccini, Strauss, Debussy, Janacek, and Tippett. Reflecting Williams’s brilliance, passion, and clarity of mind, these essays engage with, and illustrate, the enduring appeal of opera as an art form.
Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe - Thryft
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Judith Herrin | Princeton University Press

Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe

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Goodreads rating: 3.91

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If you're passionate about the intricate tapestry of history, "Ravenna" will captivate you with its vivid portrayal of a city that once spearheaded the cultural and political revival of Western civilization. Judith Herrin doesn't just recount facts; she weaves the personal stories and achievements of historical figures into a narrative that feels both intimate and grand. Plus, her fresh insights could change how you perceive the so-called "Dark Ages," shining a light on Ravenna’s indelible impact on Europe’s cultural heritage.
Empire of the Black Sea: The Rise and Fall of the Mithridatic World - Thryft
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Duane W. Roller | Oxford University Press, Usa

Empire of the Black Sea: The Rise and Fall of the Mithridatic World

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Goodreads rating: 3.64

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If you're intrigued by the drama of ancient empires clashing with burgeoning superpowers, "Empire of the Black Sea" will be a captivating read. Duane W. Roller meticulously unfolds the rise and fall of the Mithridatic Kingdom, its cultural tapestry, and the geopolitical tugs-of-war with Rome. It's an insightful dive into a lesser-known Hellenistic dynasty that offers a rich narrative set against the expansive backdrop of Roman history.
Kant and the Philosophy of History - Thryft
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Yirmiyahu Yovel | Princeton University Press

Kant and the Philosophy of History

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Goodreads rating: 3.67

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If you're intrigued by the intersection of philosophy and history, "Kant and the Philosophy of History" presents a deep dive into how Immanuel Kant perceived the role of history in human progress. Yirmiyahu Yovel's exploration of Kant's ideas could provide a thought-provoking read that challenges your understanding of historical development through a philosophical lens.
Nationalism - Thryft
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Anthony D. Smith | Oxford University Press

Nationalism

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Goodreads rating: 3.87

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Achieving prevalence as an ideology in the political and social ferment of late 18th-century Europe and America, nationalism first found expression during the course of such historical upheavals as the American and French Revolutions. Its founders and early sponsors--Rousseau, Herder, Fichte, Korais, and Mazzini--looked to nationalism as the manifestation of modern humanity's most essential aspirations: autonomy, unity, identity. Born of notions regarding popular freedom and sovereignty that had been gathering momentum for generations, it conjured up images of a modernizing West at once hungry for change and yearning for a return to age-old concepts of fraternity and ancient heritage. Since that time nationalism, having taken on countless different dimensions, remains a vital and dynamic force for change--whether for good or otherwise.Despite only recently becoming the subject of scholarly debate, nationalism has been the focus of a truly prodigious amount of writing. This important Oxford Reader makes the topic more accessible by offering a broad, authoritative treatment of the key contributions to the subject, while giving unprecedented depth to recent debates and issues. Edited by two of the field's most influential scholars, the readings are representative of the vast array of experience and scholarship that have shaped the concept of nationalism for over two centuries. From Ernest Renan's What is a Nation?, written in the 1880s, to the more current views of the 1990s, Nationalism gathers under one cover an impressive array of writing on everything from imagined communities to ethno-regional movements. In no other volume will students of politics, history, sociology, anthropology, international relations, and cultural studies have access to such a definitive appraisal of one of the modern world's most influential--and explosive--ideas.
Coming to Terms with Chinese Buddhism
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Robert H. Sharf | University Of Hawaii Press

Coming to Terms with Chinese Buddhism

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Goodreads rating: 4.3

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If you're fascinated by the cultural exchange and transformation that shapes religious philosophies, "Coming to Terms with Chinese Buddhism" offers a profound exploration. It delves into the nuances of how Buddhism morphed through its symbiosis with Chinese culture, scrutinized through the scholarly lens of Robert Sharf. It's not just about religious history; it's a treat for anyone eager to understand the complexities of cultural integration and the scholarly debates it can entail. Plus, with an annotated translation of a pivotal text, you gain both narrative depth and academic rigor.
The Great Derangement - Climate Change And The Unthinkable - Thryft
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Amitav Ghosh | University Of Chicago Press

The Great Derangement - Climate Change And The Unthinkable

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Goodreads rating: 4.06

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Are we deranged? The acclaimed Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh argues that future generations may well think so. How else to explain our imaginative failure in the face of global warming? In his first major book of nonfiction since In an Antique Land, Ghosh examines our inability—at the level of literature, history, and politics—to grasp the scale and violence of climate change.The extreme nature of today’s climate events, Ghosh asserts, make them peculiarly resistant to contemporary modes of thinking and imagining. This is particularly true of serious literary fiction: hundred-year storms and freakish tornadoes simply feel too improbable for the novel; they are automatically consigned to other genres. In the writing of history, too, the climate crisis has sometimes led to gross simplifications; Ghosh shows that the history of the carbon economy is a tangled global story with many contradictory and counterintuitive elements.Ghosh ends by suggesting that politics, much like literature, has become a matter of personal moral reckoning rather than an arena of collective action. But to limit fiction and politics to individual moral adventure comes at a great cost. The climate crisis asks us to imagine other forms of human existence—a task to which fiction, Ghosh argues, is the best suited of all cultural forms. His book serves as a great writer’s summons to confront the most urgent task of our time.
Aristotle's "Politics" - Thryft
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Carnes Lord, Aristotle  | University Of Chicago Press

Aristotle's "Politics"

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Goodreads rating: 3.98

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One of the fundamental works of Western political thought, Aristotle’s masterwork is the first systematic treatise on the science of politics. For almost three decades, Carnes Lord’s justly acclaimed translation has served as the standard English edition. Widely regarded as the most faithful to both the original Greek and Aristotle’s distinctive style, it is also written in clear, contemporary English.This new edition of the Politics retains and adds to Lord’s already extensive notes, clarifying the flow of Aristotle’s argument and identifying literary and historical references. A glossary defines key terms in Aristotle’s philosophical-political vocabulary. Lord has made revisions to problematic passages throughout the translation in order to enhance both its accuracy and its readability. He has also substantially revised his introduction for the new edition, presenting an account of Aristotle’s life in relation to political events of his time; the character and history of his writings and of the Politics in particular; his overall conception of political science; and his impact on subsequent political thought from antiquity to the present. Further enhancing this new edition is an up-to-date selected bibliography.
Zen and Japanese Culture - Thryft
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D.T. Suzuki | Princeton University Press

Zen and Japanese Culture

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Goodreads rating: 4.08

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Zen and Japanese Culture is one of the twentieth century's leading works on Zen, and a valuable source for those wishing to understand its concepts in the context of Japanese life and art. In simple, often poetic, language, Daisetz Suzuki describes his conception of Zen and its historical evolution. He connects Zen to the philosophy of the samurai, and subtly portrays the relationship between Zen and swordsmanship, haiku, tea ceremonies, and the Japanese love of nature. Suzuki's contemplative work is enhanced by anecdotes, poetry, and illustrations showing silk screens, calligraphy, and examples of architecture.Since its original publication in 1938, this important work has played a major role in shaping conceptions of Zen's influence on Japanese traditional arts. Richard Jaffe's introduction acquaints a new generation of readers with Suzuki's life and career in both Japan and America. Jaffe discusses how Zen and Japanese Culture was received upon its first publication and analyzes the book in light of contemporary criticism, especially by scholars of Japanese Buddhism.
Biology and Ideology from Descartes to Dawkins - Thryft
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Ronald L. Numbers, Denis R. Alexander  | University Of Chicago Press

Biology and Ideology from Descartes to Dawkins

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Goodreads rating: 4.11

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Over the course of human history, the sciences, and biology in particular, have often been manipulated to cause immense human suffering. For example, biology has been used to justify eugenic programs, forced sterilization, human experimentation, and death camps—all in an attempt to support notions of racial superiority. By investigating the past, the contributors to Biology and Ideology from Descartes to Dawkins hope to better prepare us to discern ideological abuse of science when it occurs in the future.   Denis R. Alexander and Ronald L. Numbers bring together fourteen experts to examine the varied ways science has been used and abused for nonscientific purposes from the fifteenth century to the present day. Featuring an essay on eugenics from Edward J. Larson and an examination of the progress of evolution by Michael J. Ruse, Biology and Ideology examines uses both benign and sinister, ultimately reminding us that ideological extrapolation continues today. An accessible survey, this collection will enlighten historians of science, their students, practicing scientists, and anyone interested in the relationship between science and culture.
Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (Science and Its Conceptual Foundations series) - Thryft
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Peter Godfrey-Smith | University Of Chicago Press

Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (Science and Its Conceptual Foundations series)

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How does science work? Does it tell us what the world is "really" like? What makes it different from other ways of understanding the universe? In Theory and Reality , Peter Godfrey-Smith addresses these questions by taking the reader on a grand tour of one hundred years of debate about science. The result is a completely accessible introduction to the main themes of the philosophy of science.Intended for undergraduates and general readers with no prior background in philosophy, Theory and Reality covers logical positivism; the problems of induction and confirmation; Karl Popper's theory of science; Thomas Kuhn and "scientific revolutions"; the views of Imre Lakatos, Larry Laudan, and Paul Feyerabend; and challenges to the field from sociology of science, feminism, and science studies. The book then looks in more detail at some specific problems and theories, including scientific realism, the theory-ladeness of observation, scientific explanation, and Bayesianism. Finally, Godfrey-Smith defends a form of philosophical naturalism as the best way to solve the main problems in the field.Throughout the text he points out connections between philosophical debates and wider discussions about science in recent decades, such as the infamous "science wars." Examples and asides engage the beginning student; a glossary of terms explains key concepts; and suggestions for further reading are included at the end of each chapter. However, this is a textbook that doesn't feel like a textbook because it captures the historical drama of changes in how science has been conceived over the last one hundred years.Like no other text in this field, Theory and Reality combines a survey of recent history of the philosophy of science with current key debates in language that any beginning scholar or critical reader can follow.
Ancient Philosophy - Thryft
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Anthony Kenny | Oxford University Press

Ancient Philosophy

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Sir Anthony Kenny here tells the fascinating story of the birth of philosophy and its remarkable flourishing in the ancient Mediterranean world. This is the initial volume of a four-book set in which Kenny will unfold a magisterial new history of Western philosophy, the first major single-author history of philosophy to appear in decades. Ancient Philosophy spans over a thousand years and brings to life the great minds of the past, from Thales, Pythagoras, and Parmenides, to Socrates, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Augustine. The book's great virtue is that it is written by one of the world's leading authorities on the subject. Instead of an uncritical, straightforward recitation of known facts--Plato and his cave of shadows, Aristotle's ethics, Augustine's City of God--we see the major philosophers through the eyes of a man who has spent a lifetime contemplating their work. Thus we do not simply get an overview of Aristotle, for example, but a penetrating and insightful critique of his thought. Kenny offers an illuminating account of the various schools of thought, from the Pre-Socratics to the Epicureans. He examines the development of logic and reason, ancient ideas about physics ("how things happen"), metaphysics and ethics, and the earliest thinking about the soul and god. Vividly written, but serious and deep enough to offer a genuine understanding of the great philosophers, Kenny's lucid and stimulating history will become the definitive work for anyone interested in the people and ideas that shaped the course of Western thought.
Machiavelli: The Prince - Thryft
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Russell Price, Niccolò Machiavelli, Quentin Skinner  | Cambridge University Press

Machiavelli: The Prince

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Recommendation: Machiavelli's The Prince is a classic guide for leaders seeking to acquire and maintain power. It provides practical advice on how to navigate politics and succeed. The book is a must-read for anyone looking to learn about strategy, leadership, and power dynamics.
This Time Is Different : Eight Centuries of Financial Folly - Thryft
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Kenneth S. Rogoff, Carmen M. Reinhart  | Princeton University Press

This Time Is Different : Eight Centuries of Financial Folly

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This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the recurring patterns of financial crises throughout history. Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff take us on a journey through eight centuries of financial folly, debunking the notion that "this time is different". Their groundbreaking research and comprehensive data reveal the alarming consistency in the frequency, duration, and intensity of financial crises. With clear analysis and insightful lessons from history, this book is an eye-opening exploration of the universal rites of passage for emerging and established market nations. It will forever change how you perceive the world of finance and its powerful impact on our lives.
Gandhi: 'Hind Swaraj' and Other Writings Centenary Edition - Thryft
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Anthony J. Parel, Mahatma Gandhi  | Cambridge University Press

Gandhi: 'Hind Swaraj' and Other Writings Centenary Edition

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This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the life and thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi, as well as the political climate of South Asia in the early 1900s. The addition of a new Preface and Editor's Introduction, as well as a new chapter on 'Gandhi and the Four Canonical Aims of Life', make this centenary edition particularly special. The critical edition of the text, including Gandhi's own Preface and Foreword, sets it apart from other editions. Reading Gandhi's correspondence with Tolstoy and Nehru also provides valuable insight into his character and beliefs. Overall, this book is a comprehensive introduction to one of history's most influential figures.
Politics: A Very Short Introduction - Thryft
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Kenneth Minogue | Oxford University Press

Politics: A Very Short Introduction

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This book is a great read for anyone who wants to understand the evolution of politics throughout history. It presents a balanced view of different political systems, prompts readers to critically reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of democracy, and offers insightful predictions for the future of politics in the 21st century. The concise and clear writing style makes this book a convenient choice for busy readers who want to broaden their understanding of politics quickly.
The Autobiography of a Super Tramp - Thryft
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W.H. Davies | Oxford University Press

The Autobiography of a Super Tramp

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Goodreads rating: 3.81

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Recommendation: This book is recommended for those who enjoy reading autobiographies of people who have lived unconventional lives. The unique and distinctive feature of this book is its narrative style, which is unvarnished and straightforward. It offers insight into the difficult life of a traveling tramp, and provides a glimpse into the harsher side of American life during the Great Depression. Readers who appreciate a raw human experience and a unique perspective on life will appreciate this book.
The Prince - Thryft
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Angelo M. Codevilla, Niccolò Machiavelli  | Yale University Press

The Prince

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Recommendation: This book is a must-read for those interested in political philosophy and power dynamics. Machiavelli's teachings continue to be relevant today in our understanding of leadership and governance. Codevilla's translation captures the essence of Machiavelli's use of language, providing insight into the author's intent and ideas. The three essays in this edition help readers gain a deeper understanding of how Machiavelli's ideas compare and contrast with other traditions. Overall, The Prince offers a thought-provoking and insightful analysis of political power and its limits.
Love: A History - Thryft
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Simon May | Yale University Press

Love: A History

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If the intricate tapestry of love's history intrigues you, then Simon May's "Love: A History" could be your next great read. This book weaves together the philosophical, cultural, and historical threads that have shaped our current understanding of love. It's thought-provoking and challenges conventional wisdom, offering a fresh perspective on an emotion that has captivated humanity for millennia.
GDP : A Brief but Affectionate History - Thryft
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Diane Coyle | Princeton University Press

GDP : A Brief but Affectionate History

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Goodreads rating: 3.66

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Why did the size of the U.S. economy increase by 3 percent on one day in mid-2013--or Ghana's balloon by 60 percent overnight in 2010? Why did the U.K. financial industry show its fastest expansion ever at the end of 2008--just as the world's financial system went into meltdown? And why was Greece's chief statistician charged with treason in 2013 for apparently doing nothing more than trying to accurately report the size of his country's economy? The answers to all these questions lie in the way we define and measure national economies around the world: Gross Domestic Product. This entertaining and informative book tells the story of GDP, making sense of a statistic that appears constantly in the news, business, and politics, and that seems to rule our lives--but that hardly anyone actually understands.Diane Coyle traces the history of this artificial, abstract, complex, but exceedingly important statistic from its eighteenth- and nineteenth-century precursors through its invention in the 1940s and its postwar golden age, and then through the Great Crash up to today. The reader learns why this standard measure of the size of a country's economy was invented, how it has changed over the decades, and what its strengths and weaknesses are. The book explains why even small changes in GDP can decide elections, influence major political decisions, and determine whether countries can keep borrowing or be thrown into recession. The book ends by making the case that GDP was a good measure for the twentieth century but is increasingly inappropriate for a twenty-first-century economy driven by innovation, services, and intangible goods.
Intelligence - A Very Short Introduction - Thryft
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Ian J. Deary | Oxford University Press, Usa

Intelligence - A Very Short Introduction

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Goodreads rating: 3.73

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Diving into "Intelligence" by Ian J. Deary can be an enlightening experience, especially if you're intrigued by the complexities of the human mind. It's digestible yet thorough, transforming a traditionally dense subject into something you can wrap your head around. If you're curious about the nature versus nurture debate or the plausibility of different intelligence types, this book turns these concepts into accessible insights for both beginners and enthusiasts alike.
A Little History of Economics - Thryft
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Niall Kishtainy | Yale University Press

A Little History of Economics

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Goodreads rating: 4.09

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A Little History of Economics is an excellent book for anyone looking to learn about economics. The author, Niall Kishtainy, presents economic ideas in a humorous and accessible manner, making it easy-to-read for those who may be intimidated by traditional economic language. The book covers several economic concepts from the invention of money to the Great Depression and even explores modern behavioral economics. This book is perfect for readers of all ages who want to better understand the economic ideas and forces shaping our world.
A Little History of Philosophy
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Nigel Warburton | Yale University Press

A Little History of Philosophy

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Goodreads rating: 4.12

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If you've found philosophy intimidating or dense before, "A Little History of Philosophy" might change your mind. Nigel Warburton presents complex ideas with approachable clarity, making you feel like a participant in the great philosophical dialogues throughout history. This book delivers both depth and brevity, an invitation to ponder life's big questions alongside history’s greatest thinkers. It could spark a lifelong passion for philosophy in just a few pages.
The Selfish Gene: 30th Anniversary Edition
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Richard Dawkins | Oxford University Press

The Selfish Gene: 30th Anniversary Edition

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Goodreads rating: 4.15

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The Selfish Gene is an excellent read for those interested in evolutionary biology and genetics. Dawkins argues that genes are the driving force behind evolution, and organisms are just vehicles for their replication. Through this perspective, Dawkins explains complex biological concepts in a simple and accessible way. The Selfish Gene is a thought-provoking book that challenges traditional views on evolution and is sure to spark debate and curiosity among readers.
The Timeless Way of Building - Thryft
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Christopher W. Alexander | Oxford University Press

The Timeless Way of Building

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Goodreads rating: 4.37

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In The Timeless Way of Building Christopher Alexander presents a new theory of architecture, building, and planning which has at its core that age-old process by which the people of a society have always pulled the order of their world from their own being.He writes, “There is one timeless way of building. It is thousands of years old, and the same today as it has always been. The great traditional buildings of the past, the villages and tents and temples in which man feels at home, have always been made by people who were very close to the center of this way. It is not possible to make great buildings, or great towns, beautiful places, places where you feel yourself, places where you feel alive, except by following this way. And, as you will see, this way will lead anyone who looks for it to buildings which are themselves as ancient in their form as the trees and hills, and as our faces are.”The Timeless Way of Building is the introductory volume to Alexander’s other works, A Pattern Language and The Oregon Experiment, in the Center for Environmental Structure series.
Desiring Donne - Poetry, Sexuality, Interpretation - Thryft
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Ben Saunders | Harvard University Press

Desiring Donne - Poetry, Sexuality, Interpretation

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Goodreads rating: 3.86

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Throughout his life, John Donne was well acquainted with the consequences of desire. He wanted a courtly career badly enough to renounce the Catholicism of his childhood. Later, he wanted a woman badly enough to gamble that career for her sake; he lost, but found a new calling in the Anglican Church. There he pursued philosophical and theological questions with an intensity to match his former social ambitions, and was not above addressing God Himself in tones of "immoderate desire." Death became his ultimate object of passionate attention; and ever since that final consummation, critics have argued over the nature and import of Donne's desires, while simultaneously (if not always self-consciously) revealing a great deal about their own.Saunders explores this dialectic of desire, re-evaluating both Donne's poetry and the complex responses it has inspired, from his earliest readers to his recent professional critics. In the process, Saunders considers an extraordinary range of topics, including the technology of the book, prosodic theory, the problem of misogyny, the history of sexuality, and even the purpose of criticism itself; remarkably, he does so while keeping Donne's poetry in focus at all times.Witty, erudite, theoretically engaged, but intensely readable, this study takes into account recent developments in the fields of historicism, feminism, queer theory, and postmodern psychoanalysis, while offering dazzling close readings of many of Donne's most famous poems.