Editorial Review

Sam Harris cranks out blunt, hard-hitting chapters to make his case for why faith itself is the most dangerous element of modern life.And if the devil's in the details, then you'll find Satan waiting at the back of the book in the very substantial notes section where Harris saves his more esoteric discussions to avoid sidetracking the urgency of his message. Read more

Reviews (622)

deeply ingrained religious baggage
This is a provocative book - intentionally so - that hits the mark pretty much dead on.Harris argues with patient reason and considerable humor that we, as a nation and a global culture, have suffered terribly as a result of our deeply ingrained religious baggage.He argues persuasively for us to free ourselves of these persistent belief systems in order to rise above the intolerance and ignorance they too often promote.Most readers will be challenged, and many offended, by these arguments, but they will find it difficult to rationally refute them without lapsing into defenses of their preconceived belief systems.I found the book weakest in its stretch to address consciousness, and to contrast mysticism with religion, but these are relatively minor quibbles that detract only somewhat from the broad suite of empirical evidence Harris brings to the table (augmented with over 60 pages of supporting notes).The sooner we turn the corner on the road Harris lays out, the better we will all be in the long run.

Religion versus Spirituality
Harris is doing what so many are trying to do.He has reached a point in his life when the religion of spirituality doesn't make sense, yet his spiritual religion does.Religion is an institutionalized remedy used to control the masses, usually through fear, and that institution has nothing to do with faith.Religion and terror are key words, but Harris misses the most important part of being human, that we have a choice to be religious and therefore subjected to the terror of this institution, or to recognize our spirit as part of the the true "religion", non-denominational, non-secular, and therefore truly faithful. We need this book because it forces the questions and definition of religion versus spirituality.Pair this with "God Winks"and "Forget The Cures, Find The Cause," and we may actually get a spiritual education.

disappointing, says one anti-theist
while I looked forward to reading this I was immediately disappointed to discover that the author is in fact
Read more

Subjects:  1. Comparative Religion    2. Controversial literature    3. General    4. International Relations - General    5. Movements - Rationalism    6. Philosophy    7. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Psychology, Religious    10. Religion    11. Religious aspects    12. Terrorism    13. Current Events / General    14. Miscellaneous Items    15. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (10)

Great
This is a really great book. So many details and so many examples and references. Covers every single century from the Caves paintings to the Modern Picasso. I really loved it.

Gardner's Art Through the Ages (with ArtStudy Student CD-ROM and InfoTrac) (Gardner's Art Through the Ages)
This is an excellent text for studying art history or just learning about how art has evolved through the ages.

Excellent art history intro text
I'm not an art major but I thought it'd be cool to take an art history course for a humanities requirement in college and I'm very happy I decided to take it.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. General    4. History    5. History - General    6. Art / General    7. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles   

Editorial Review

"One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit," Harry G. Frankfurt writes, in what must surely be the most eyebrow-raising opener in modern philosophical prose. "Everyone knows this. Each of us contributes his share. But we tend to take the situation for granted." This compact little book, as pungent as the phenomenon it explores, attempts to articulate a theory of this contemporary scourge--what it is, what it does, and why there's so much of it. The result is entertaining and enlightening in almost equal measure. It can't be denied; part of the book's charm is the puerile pleasure of reading classic academic discourse punctuated at regular intervals by the word "bullshit." More pertinent is Frankfurt's focus on intentions--the Read more

Reviews (148)

A Tongue -in-Cheek look at a Serious Subject
Horsefeathers, Hogwash, Balderdash do not carry the same weight as the title.Franfurt looks at the the subject and tries to explain what we mean by this term.It is both a serious look at the subject and at the same time it is tongue-in-cheek.Frankfurt explains the words place in our society and it is very funny the entire time without reaching to be funny.We all know what the word means without having it explained and yet, trying to explain it is very hard.Frankfurt explains the place this word has in society and why the other words don't quite measure up.The book is both a philosophical and comedic read.Frankfurt tells the reader this up front without ever explaining it outright.It is both very short and easy to read.One sitting, but it is very profound and that is the mark of a great book.Highly Reccommended.

Telling it Like it is
A tremendously artful (if very short) book, this is a republishing of a paper written in 1986. It not only is about BS, it is BS itself. It not only describes but exemplifies.
Title sells the book ...
The book definitely reads like a college thesis and severely lacks any original or entertaining thoughts.Save your money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethics & Moral Philosophy    2. Ethics (Specific Aspects)    3. Moral Theology    4. Philosophy    5. Truthfulness and falsehood    6. American Language and Literature    7. Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy    8. Sociology    9. World History/Comparative History   

Reviews (75)

Great analysis, Dated polemic, Big irony
Ironically, Dennett (and Dawkins and Darwin) provide sophisticated believers with the best tools ever for understanding how a God might have purposefully injected the human memosphere with permanent belief in himself and endowed his believers with the sense of purpose, intentionality, goal-seeking, and teleology that keeps religion alive and growing. A God can accomplish all that *simply* by imbuing the Universe with Darwinian selection, since all Darwinian systems exhibit an epiphenomenal teleology so realistic that we might as well just define real intentionality as "the behavior of individuals (memes or genes) struggling for survival in darwinian system."
Remember the Audience
It is not difficult to dismiss Daniel Dennett's latest work, Breaking the Spell, as an under-researched and unscholarly polemic containing many assertions that are dubious and unproven at best.Dennett, of course, would agree.The book says from page one that it is not intended to be a scholarly work, nor is it intended to offer definitive proof as to the evolutionary origin of religion.If this were what the book were trying to offer, then perhaps the ranting and raving about Dennett's lack of scholarship and his unverified claims would be more to the point.As it stands, though, Breaking the Spell succeeds in getting its intended message across, and it does so in a manner that would not frighten off its intended audience--the average lay theist.
Quite possibly Dennett's worst - and most illogical - book ever, including his getting off on the wrong foot in first 10 pages
But I'll throw him a bone with a second star. (See end of review for why.)
Read more

Subjects:  1. Controversial literature    2. Philosophy    3. Religion    4. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    5. Religion / Philosophy   

Reviews (7)

Provocative, controversial, parts may resonate with you
It is only in the last year that I've dug deep into my spiritual journey in this life.
Think before you buy
I have read almost all of Sylvia Browne's book and out of curiousity decided to flip through the pages of this one.After reading a little bit of what she has written, I felt like I was reading one of her earlier books.Yes, she does get a very repetitive, but some of the topics recently have really made me question her validity.Either she has run out of interesting and new information to share with the public and is forced to make things up, or her ego has gotten the best of her and she actually believes that she knows EVERYTHING!
Same old, same old . . . .
I love this lady dearly and have seen her in person three times at lectures/book signings.However, nothing in this book is fresh - rather it rehashes material that she's had in print for a long while.Every day when I leave my home I ask Lillith to protect my pet and keep her healthy...it wasn't until I read this book that I remembered it was Sylvia's initial publication of the Lillith information that got me started doing it (that's how long it's been...that I'd even forgotten the origins of my request).Sylvia has been teaching us for so long, I have to wonder if there's anything left that she has not addressed. Anymore I just get her books from the library - then if there's something of interest that I want to keep for future reference, I'll purchase it.If this is Sylvia's way to keep her face and her ideas in the public domain, then more power to her.I'd rather hear her lovely renditions of Home than the fire and brimstone others choose to hawk. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Creation    3. Creationism (Biology)    4. General    5. Miscellanea    6. New Age    7. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    8. Occult Sciences    9. Spiritualism - General    10. Body, Mind & Spirit / New Age   

Features

• Unabridged

Reviews (52)

the art of war
The book itself is not the problem.If I had known it was only two inches square I never would have bought it.I was expecting a regular sized book, regardless of the amount of it's contents

The Art of War
The book is, of course, a great classic and a historicly significant treatise, which requires no review. One could just as soon "review" Clausewitz or Thucydides.
book or matchbox
this book is ridiculously small. although it an interesting bit of information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Eastern - General    2. Military Science    3. Philosophy    4. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (19)

Introduction to Logic
I read this book in early 1980.Because of my background in mathematics, I read the language and deduction portion, of my own in just few days.Earlier I had read Morris Cohen & E Nagel's famous book.Treatment of scientific method etc. seemed better in the latter,yet to learn about various aspects of language usage and deductive logic was realy an electrifying experience then .The part on inductive logic is in its own way excellent.I have 2/3 editions of this book and used it when teaching to a class of judicial officers about use of logic in law esp. chapter 15.This is a must for the autodidact.

Elementary, my dear reader...
Logic is not just for Spock; deduction (which, if you read this book, you'll discover is rather different) is not just for Sherlock Holmes.Many if not most students of philosophy over the past 50 years have had their beginning logic training from an edition of this book, 'Introduction to Logic' by Irving M. Copi, now in its eleventh edition, also now with a co-author listed, Carl Cohen.
Ideal Text for Self-Study
I bought this book (along with the study guide) and began self-studying the material to improve my logical ability.The book is relatively easy to understand even for novices with no prior training in logic and uses examples that are entertaining and interesting.The answers to select homework questions (about 1/4) are in the back so I would suggest that for self-study, either the study guide (which includes another 1/4) or the complete answer guide should also be purchased.The text itself is very fun to go through and I think Copi and Cohen do an amazing job as teachers. For those planning on taking the LSAT, this book may prove more beneficial than a test prep course if you want to understand the actual reasoning behind the test and not just regurgitate formulaic test-taking strategies. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Interactive & Multimedia    2. Logic    3. Philosophy    4. Textbooks    5. Philosophy / General   

Editorial Review

Read more

Reviews (252)

One of the best you will ever read
This is an easy to read book, which managed to make profound points about life, pain, and fate.I enjoyed reading the first part of the book and learning about what it was like to be in such a hellish place (a concentration camp), and yet still being able to be positive about life.What more can I say than its an excellent book?

I learned: All the Auschwitz survivors, including the author, had something significant yet to do with their lives!
MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING
fascinating!
this is simply a must read for those interested in the human experience.Some of the positions concluded in this book may not be the only way to think on the issues involved, but still, this book is a great psychological workout with deep insights. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Austria    2. Biography    3. General    4. Holocaust    5. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    6. Personal narratives    7. Psychological aspects    8. Psychologists    9. Psychology    10. Psychology of Religion    11. Philosophy    12. Philosophy / General    13. Psychoanalysis & psychoanalytical theory   

Reviews (38)

The horrible effects of cancer
I used to admire this woman.She was smart.She inspired me when I was young.It is a shame, however, to see her intellectual decline in her last years.Was this the effect cancer had on her brain?First, I can't understand how a book written with more heart and passion than brain and analysis can be called "The Force of Reason." She appeals to our feelings and fears more to our rationality.Second, she conviniently chooses historical events that only prove her point sometimes ignoring undeniable facts.For instance, she quietly forgot the role of Christianity in the Conquest of the Americas and the slaughter of the Indian races.Or the role religion played to justify the worst atrocities of the European powers.And what about the survival of Catholicism in Spain in spite of eight centuriesof Muslim domination?Yes, there were churches andsynagogues in Muslim Spain.This manifesto doesn't look very different from those fascists wrote about Jews in Europe in the 1930s. Poor woman.

God Bless the Christian Atheist, Oriana Fallaci
Oriana Fallaci is no longer among the living. We will have to do without her unrelenting opposition to Islamic nihilism.She died in the United States.Her fellow Europeans essentially expelled her from the continent.They made Fallaci's final years a living hell.As an ex-Catholic, I am more then a little irritated by the Roman Church's capitulation to the radical Muslims.Fallaci described herself as a Christian atheist and was more of a defender of the "true faith" than its own hierarchy!"This Catholic Church without which the Islamization of Europe, the degeneration of Europe into Eurabia, could have never have developed. This Catholic Church that remains silent even when the crucifix gets insulted," added the author.
A hero of our time
Oriana Fallaci, a famous journalist and former antifascist partisan, offers her fascinating views on Islam, its history, and the threats facing the Western civilization as well as her personal story that has become even more striking after the 9/11 attacks. For security reasons, Fallaci had to move to America, a country she views as the main hope of the Western civilization, and so do I, a citizen of the Czech Republic.
Read more

Subjects:  1. International Journalism    2. International Relations - General    3. Philosophy    4. Political    5. Political Freedom & Security - General    6. Political Ideologies - General    7. Political Philosophy    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Sociology    10. Current Events / General    11. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (4)

Class
we just got these books for my art history class, and this thing is amazing. color photots, detailed information, and interactive site. yeah, its nice
Gardner's Art Through the Ages, Volume I
this book is perfect for the class I am taking. aj

Brief Opinion
The newest edition of this book has some great qualities about it, namely the interactive cd to be utilized as a study aid (the flash card section was beneficial to me), the variety of objects chosen to represent the period/culture have improved, in my opinion, from the other editions as the book has updated archaeological finds. The only disappointing feature I found was in the text itself. The "extra" information boxes including explination of ancient religions and preservation techniques were facinating, but the bulk of text I found to dance around the point. It kept trying to be politically correct, such as changing Venus of Willendorf to Woman of Willendorf. Granted this new take is supposed to account for counter arguments against the purposes of certain objects, but I found that in the attempt to be objective there was a loss of passion for the object and culture itself. I also found that the terminology the book chose to define within the text was unneccessary (vocabulary such as hypostyle hall needs to be defined, not vocab such as carbon dating). However, overall the book holds to the tradition of the series by displaying stunning visual images (all objects are in colour no less!)and the information presented is rather informative, even if the style of writing is "too correct" in some places. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. General    4. History    5. History - General    6. Subjects & Themes - General    7. Art / General    8. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles   

Editorial Review

During his junior year at the University of California, Dan Millman first stumbled upon his mentor (nicknamed Socrates) at an all-night gas station. At the time, Millman hoped to become a world-champion gymnast. "To survive the lessons ahead, you're going to need far more energy than ever before," Socrates warned him that night. "You must cleanse your body of tension, free your mind of stagnant knowledge, and open your heart to the energy of true emotion." From there, the unpredictable Socrates proceeded to teach Millman the "way of the peaceful warrior." At first Socrates shattered every preconceived notion that Millman had about academics, athletics, and achievement. But eventually Millman stopped resisting the lessons, and began to try on a whole new ideology--one that valued being conscious over being smart, and strength in spirit over strength in body. Although the character of the cigarette-smoking Socrates seems like a fictional, modern-day Merlin, Millman asserts that he is based on an actual person. Certain male readers especially appreciate the coming-of-age theme, the haunting love story with the elusive woman Joy, and the challenging of Western beliefs about masculine power and success.Read more

Reviews (194)

It really is...
... a book that changes lives. The character of Socrates impacted my life in many overt and covert ways, all for the positive. I read the book over ten years ago and the residue of its impact still lingers. The characters are lifelike and genuine, and their dilemmas resonate with much of humanity. I strongly believe that anyone can benefit from reading this book.

Student Ready; Teacher Comes
In some ways the movie is better than the book; in some ways the book is better than the movie.Each is great and I heartily recommend them.An excellent unintended presentation of a lot of Buddhist and Advaita insights.

did not receive
I had the delivery sent to a detention facility and
Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. General    3. Inspiration & Personal Growth    4. Inspirational    5. Inspirational - General    6. Millman, Dan    7. Philosophy    8. Spiritual life    9. Spirituality - General    10. Body, Mind & Spirit / Spirituality / General    11. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques    12. Popular psychology   

Reviews (4)

A great primer on business and ethics...
Ethics is one of the topics that can be very stimulating or very dry.Fortunately, John R. Boatright is able to present a very engaging discussion filled with critical thinking, and practical examples.The examples mentioned are relevant and timely to any contemporary discussion of ethical issues in business.As a student of business, I commend any person interested in the topic to delve inside this great piece.

Very satisfied!
Shipment was timely and well packaged.Thank you! Will buy again

Excellent teaching text
Have used this text (2nd and now 3rd editions)to teach business ethics classes at the graduate and undergraduate levels for several years.It is well written and popular with students.Case studies represent the spectrum of ethics issues found in business today.The foundational ethics theory is clearly articulated, appropriate and sufficient. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business Ethics    2. General    3. Philosophy    4. Social responsibility of busin    5. Social responsibility of business    6. Philosophy / General   

Reviews (35)

Mastery Explored---Excellent Read
*****
Not Bad for a Self Help Book

One of the best books i have read
beautifully written, this book is useful for anyone studying any kind of martial art or any art where high level of skill is required. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Personal Growth - General    2. Personal Growth - Success    3. Psychological aspects    4. Psychology    5. Self-Help    6. Self-realization    7. Success    8. Self-Help / Success    9. Western philosophy, from c 1900 -   

Editorial Review

Is there such thing as a Western Taoist? Benjamin Hoff says there is, and this Taoist's favorite food is honey. Through brilliant and witty dialogue with the beloved Pooh-bear and his companions, the author of this smash bestseller explains with ease and aplomb that rather than being a distant and mysterious concept, Taoism is as near and practical to us as our morning breakfast bowl. Romp through the enchanting world of Winnie-the-Pooh while soaking up invaluable lessons on simplicity and natural living. ... Read more

Reviews (187)

What An Awesome Book
I love this book. It isn't dogmatic and it doesn't so much alter one's thinking as it does challenge someone to pay attention to the nature of individual perception. Perception is not as it's claimed"everything" but it does go a long way toward shaping how a person views the world, and Pooh is simply a master of life. What else can you say?

Tao of Pooh is simple and easy to understand
I read this book in high school as part of epistemology course. It is very easy to understand the basic principles of taoism through the ideas of pooh and his friends. I suggest this book for all philospohy students.

Those who "mis-understand"
For those of you who are curious about this book and may be turned off by some of the "negative" comments, allow me to offer my humble opinion. I think that those people who did not like this book or felt it did not explain taoism, just really don't get the point. Taoism most certainly isn't something you seek and seek and then get frustrated at not finding, then angry, and then seek and seek. Taoism seen especially through Pooh's eyes and actions (or should I say "inactions") comes so near the mark to beginning to understand this ancient philosophy of harmonious existence on earth with the earth, and the duality of all things. I highly recommend this book for that open minded, non-judgemental, person open to the concept that indeed anything is possible...too many of us are so grounded in what we "absolutely know to be fact", when in reality anything in this universe is truly possible. Please explore this book on your path. I also highly recommend the companion book to this, The Te of Piglet, which delves ever more into taoism. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Alan Alexander),    2. 1882-1956    3. 20th century    4. Books and reading    5. Characters    6. Children    7. Children's stories, English    8. Eastern - Taoism    9. General    10. Great Britain    11. History    12. History and criticism    13. Milne, A. A    14. Philosophy    15. Winnie the Pooh    16. Winnie-the-Pooh (Fictitious character)    17. Novels, other prose & writers: from c 1900 -    18. Philosophy / Taoism    19. Religion    20. Taoism   

Reviews (152)

The Translation for Our Times........
Simply the best translation of the Tao Te Ching available. Stephen Mitchell has done us all a great service by bringing this ages old book of wisdom to the modern era.

stephen mitchell presents the tao te ching
The tao te ching is a great book, I'm not giving that a one star review, I'm giving mitchell's interpretation of it one star.As many other reviews have stated, he doesn't speak chinese, so this translation is comprised of his reading other peoples' translations and what he thinks it means.He then tries to modernize it and make it accessible to 21st century americans.I like the old world feel of this book, you don't need to change swords to nuclear warheads, I know what a sword is.At least though, this change makes sense, some chapters Mitchell changes so much, that the entire chapter loses its meaning.A couple chapters made no sense, so I went to the back of the book where he tells what parts he changed, and then I was able to understand exactly what Lao Tzu intended to say.Don't buy this book.

Comments on reviewers
It's funny, people are giving it 1/5 because it isn't a "literal translation." It has to be the exact translated words by someone who is "scholared" for it to be worth reading.
Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Philosophy    3. Religion    4. Taoism    5. Biography: general    6. Religion / Taoism   

Subjects:  1. Fallacies (Logic)    2. General    3. Judgment (Logic)    4. Logic    5. Philosophy    6. Reasoning    7. Philosophy / General   

Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. Dictionaries    3. History    4. History - General History    5. Intellectual life    6. Philosophy    7. Reference    8. World - General    9. History of ideas, intellectual history   

Editorial Review

This true story about the love between a spiritual mentor and his pupil has soared to the bestseller list for many reasons. For starters: it reminds us of the affection and gratitude that many of us still feel for the significant mentors of our past. It also plays out a fantasy many of us have entertained: what would it be like to look those people up again, tell them how much they meant to us, maybe even resume the mentorship? Plus, we meet Morrie Schwartz--a one of a kind professor, whom the author describes as looking like a cross between a biblical prophet and Christmas elf. And finally we are privy to intimate moments of Morrie's final days as he lies dying from a terminal illness. Even on his deathbed, this twinkling-eyed mensch manages to teach us all about living robustly and fully. Kudos to author and acclaimed sports columnist Mitch Albom for telling this universally touching story with such grace and humility. Read more

Reviews (1946)

Brought back feelings....
This book was definitely one of those works where you can identify with what they are going through, yet you still have something to learn. I am a cargiver for a lady who has a disease almost identical to that of ALS (Lou Gehrigs) and the symptoms he describes in this book are ones that I am facing everyday I work with her.
Tuesdays At Morrie's, Fridays At The Bank
This book is not inspiring, it is unfortunate.Morrie sounded like a great man who knew how to live his life.However, it is unfortunate that media vultures like Oprah Winfrey, Ted Koppel, and the author (another Oprah-manufactured "celebrity" like Dr. Phil) took everything that was probably special about this man and trivialized his words, commercialized his life, and exploited him and his values purely for financial gain.Albom mentions that the advance money for the book paid for Morrie's medical bills...what about all the money after he died?Hmm...he kind of left that part out.Seems that Mitch didn't really learn that much about greed from his old professor after all, which makes him sort of a hypocrite.What could have been a very special book in the hands of a competent author, instead gets a 200-page shlock treatment, from a sixth-grade caliber sp