Wisdom Philosophy

Best-selling author Richard E. Rubenstein brings the past to life in this engrossing story of social, religious, and scientific revolution during one of the darkest periods in European history. When a group of Dark Ages scholars rediscovered the works of Aristotle, the great thinker's ideas ignited a firestorm of enlightened thought. This is the endlessly fascinating account of the pivotal period in history when the modern era took root.

Recognizing the power of the new and trying to understand and promote the conditions that make it possible, the Greeks were the first to write about innovation and even the first to record a word for forging something new. In short, the Greeks "invented" innovation itself - and they still have a great deal to teach us about it. How to Innovate is an engaging introduction to key ideas about - and examples of - innovation and creative thinking from ancient Greece. Armand D'Angour provides lively new translations of selections from Aristotle, Diodorus, and Athenaeus.

Traditionally known as The Hundred Tales of Wisdom, this collection comprises excerpts from the life, teachings, and miracles of the Sufi teacher Jalaluddin Rumi, together with certain important stories from his works. As well as being part of the bedrock of classical Persian literature, these tales, anecdotes, and narratives are believed, by Sufis, to aid in the development of insights beyond ordinary perceptions. Here, they are translated and presented by Idries Shah.

In this inspiring and incisive offering, Barry Magid uses the language of modern psychology and psychotherapy to illuminate one of Buddhism's most powerful and often mysterious technologies: the Zen koan. What's more, Magid also uses the koans to expand upon the insights of psychology (especially self-psychology and relational psychotherapy) and open for the listener new perspectives on the functioning of the human mind and heart.

As a young father and a self-proclaimed “radically assimilated immigrant,” opinion editor Sohrab Ahmari realized that when it comes to shaping his young son’s moral fiber, today’s America is woefully lacking. For millennia, the world’s great ethical and religious traditions have taught that true happiness lies in pursuing virtue and accepting limits.

Theology is the study of the nature of God and of religious belief. But why should that matter to us? In this wonderfully accessible book, renowned theologian Alister McGrath answers that question--What's the point of theology?--and explores the depth and breadth theology can bring to our lives. Drawing on insights from his experience of coming to Christianity from atheism, this enlightening volume reveals how theology can help us grow in wisdom, contribute to our wellbeing, spark our innate sense of wonder, and above all, grow in faith and love as we draw ever closer to the divine.

What's the secret to lasting happiness? How do you gain the resilience needed to weather life's inevitable storms? For ancient philosophers like Socrates, Marcus Aurelius, Zeno, and Epictetus, these questions were more than mere musings—they were key elements of a school of thought called Stoicism. In The Stoicism Workbook, you'll learn how thinking like Socrates can help you identify what truly matters in your life, and build the resilience needed to go and get it!

For the sake of time, I won't go into more detail and bore you. Instead, I will tell you that practicing stoicism is like sharpening a blade, and you have to make sure it never gets dull. Learning the basic guidelines for a person practicing stoicism can help make redirecting their emotions easier. However, there are no original stoic texts for us to follow; instead, you will be learning through interpretations from philosophers.

Wrestling with fear doesn't have to be a negative experience. This book offers an approach to life that unlocks a new way of thinking and being in the world, one that leads directly through the center of the anxieties we seek to avoid. Written in the style of an owner's manual, a guide to being human, Burkett focuses on areas of pain and anxiety as they tend to manifest for modern people: feelings of unworthiness, and issues surrounding sex, money, failure, and even death.

According to Vedic philosophy, there are four eras in every world cycle. They represent a gradual decline from enlightenment (Satya Yuga) to chaos and ignorance (Kali Yuga) before it starts again. Each of these eras lasts roughly 2160 years. You're probably familiar with the four ages of Hindu philosophy: Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. The golden age is when pure knowledge is widespread, and people live in harmony. The dark age is when everything goes wrong—the World falls into chaos, and humanity descends into ignorance. But what happens next?

Musician, physician, humanitarian, and philosopher, Albert Schweitzer was a 20th-century Renaissance man who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his "Reverence for Life" philosophy. The Wisdom of Albert Schweitzer explores this core philosophy, which inspired one of the world’s great humanitarians. While traveling in Africa, Schweitzer recognized that all living creatures have a will to live and believed that through a "reverence for life" mankind had an ethical imperative to aid in the welfare of all living things, including the environment.

Quintus Curtius is an attorney, writer, translator, and former marine officer. Expertly blending history, biography, philosophy, and the author's personal experience, this penetrating collection of essays achieves what one reviewer called "a perfect fluency in [a] dialogue with truth." The unifying theme is the nature of masculine identity and how that identity has been manifested. Drawing on examples from history and using sources in their original languages, Quintus Curtius' soaring vision combines lucid explanation with a passionate intensity like few other writers.

Enter Frank: a collective of eight beings from a distant planet who know what we’re going through because they’ve been there, too. Their civilization, once beset by many of the same challenges we face, has now advanced to a point where they can offer an informed and compassionate perspective on our trials, tribulations, and triumphs here on Earth. Speaking to Mike Dooley, one of today’s most celebrated New Thought leaders, with medium Tracy Farquhar serving as their channel, Frank answers our questions.

For the last 50 years, I have been intrigued by the concept of wisdom. As a young boy I remember reading these words of Solomon about wisdom, "She is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire compares with her." (Proverbs 3:15) The fact that nothing in this life compares with wisdom grabbed my attention; therefore, I have been on a lifelong search to understand and to acquire it. Wisdom enables us to distinguish between those ideas in life that are true and those that are false.

An entertaining and enlightening anthology of classical Greek and Roman writings on animals—and our vital relationships with them.

Marcus Aurelius's timeless insights into human behaviour show that 2000 years on, not much has changed in the workplace and we could all do well if we focus on what we can control and worry less about things we can't. As head of the Roman empire, he encountered his fair share of difficult people, frustrating situations and political infighting. In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius encouraged us to accept other people's inevitable shortcomings, make the most of our short life, resist the temptations of fame and flattery and, when things get too much, take a cosmic perspective of our existence.

If you are new to Tibetan Buddhism, this short work will help you get started with your practice; and if you are well steeped in these teachings, it will inspire and motivate you to practice them. Originally delivered in the form of advice to retreatants, Pema Wangyal’s teachings cover developing a proper motivation, settling the mind, mantra recitation, and relating to the suffering of others. In the last part of the book, he provides guidance about the preliminary practices in the Dudjom Rinpoche lineage.

In today's world, many are suffering from information overload and are re-thinking the consequences of "over-sharing". The Secret Life is a helpful guide to leading a quietly powerful life - one that can lead to greater personal effectiveness, satisfaction, and success. The concepts that originated with Maimonides - one of history's greatest philosophers - demonstrate the benefits of living a more private life. The result is an antidote to the depression, finger-pointing, divisiveness, unhappiness, and inefficiency that many of us would like to change in ourselves and in the world.

Is meditation an escape from - or a solution to - our psychological problems? Is the use of antidepressants counter to spiritual practice? Does a psychological approach to meditation reduce spirituality to "self-help"? What can Zen and psychoanalysis teach us about the problems of the mind and suffering?

The works of J.R.R. Tolkien are some of literature's most beloved. For decades, scholars, fans, and critics alike have been discussing and debating the professor's Legendarium—much ink has been spilled, many books bound, all offering their unique perspectives.