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33rd out of 43 books
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33 voters
The Meaning of Things: Applying Philosophy to Life
Thinking about life, what it means and what it holds in store does not have to be a despondent experience, but rather can be enlightening and uplifting. A life truly worth living is one that is informed and considered, so a degree of philosophical insight into the human condition is inherently important. This is a wonderfully stimulating read and an invaluable guide to wha...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
2002
by Phoenix
(first published 2001)
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This is a light but stimulating read, consisting of 61 very short essays on a wide variety of philosophical and moral issues. It's not the sort of book that will convince you of anything -- at three or four pages per topic, there is little room for sustained argument -- but serves more as a lightly annotated list of interesting questions to think about. The author's views are invariably conventional and in some cases (generally wherever biology is involved) obtuse -- he assures us, for example,...more
I loved this book. Infact It was the first book I ever bought with my own money at age 17. I needed to read something that would tell me a little bit about life and all the sorts of things people think, feel and act upon you know. so dabbling into this and that really gave my conscience a great deal of things to construe. It's not only a valid opinion or discussion that our great man Anthony here brings to the table in each essay; but also one of the most profound vocabularies that I have come a...more
A collection of short essays on topics that are sure to have affected everyone at some point, or are likely to in the future. Each essay as interesting as the next, they all provide a resource for healthy debate, however some may tire of him connecting nearly every argument to religion. I never, I felt this made it even more enjoyable. Grayling does not speak of religion as Dawkings does, although also clearly an atheist he states his opinions on religion with clarity and understanding.
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This book is simply Humanism at its best, for those of you looking for a sense of guidance without religion this is defiantly for you but even if you are religious don’t be put off, it’s a great read for all. Don’t let the 61 essays in this little beauty put you off either, most of them are no more than two pages long, which makes this a great ‘before I go to bed read’ for anyone looking to get into the habit of reading more (a habit everyone should pick up). Grayling tackles various topics incl...more
I liked the short chapter format and choice of topics. Grayling is enormously knowledgable and no stranger to a sense of humour while dealing with profoundly important issues that impact, or will impact, all of us. Has the ability to sweep away the dross and tease out those issues which really matter. He also provides useful ideas about how we might approach these issues in a rational and intelligent way. Something of a hymn to tolerance.
Having read the author's "Among the dead cities" I wasn't hopeful for this, and sure enough Grayling served up the same menu of feebly argued, sanctimonious nonesense. Grayling appears to think that if his writing is complicated then no one will notice how stupid, how profoundly stupid, it is. Still, he does rather well at self-publicity.
succinct chapters that makes it a quick read, generally good and interesting but there's a statement in the 'happiness' chapter that make no sense... unfortunately it makes you doubt the rest of the book even though the rest is probably accurate
Nice, short little essays that were all interesting to think over, even when I didn't completely agree with the author. Easygoing but still worthwhile reading if you're after something a bit stimulating.
I love this book as it stimulates thought around very basic concepts. It is split into little 2-3 page sections, which makes it perfect for a 'pick up and put down' sort of reading style.
This book was an easy and fast read. I liked some of the short chapters that the author wrote about. Most I thought leaned more towards common sense. I didn't dislike it or like it.
A quick basic overview of some moral terms with rational explanations. Kind of a reference book, not originally intended as a strait read through.
Some of the initial thoughts and foundations of my secular humanism.
greatly educational. The author has the ability to exhaust the subjects even in two to three pages each. I learned a whole lot of new things.
Great introduction to philosophy.
I enjoyed this book. It's easily consumed philosophy. There are about three dozen chapters, each just two or three pages, covering a variety of topics from courage and love, to betrayal, speciesm, racism, religion, wisdom and death. About 10% of the chapters disappointed; all the rest delighted. It's packed with interesting insights and aphorisms, making you consider life in a little more detail, which is the purpose of this book.
Best aardige opstelletjes hoor, maar diepgang is wel het laatste wat je er in moet zoeken.
The back cover claims "This wise and illuminating book aims to give us invaluable 'sketch maps' to what is truly important in living life". Despite not claiming to be anything other than pop-philosophy, this book failed to deliver. While the author may mirror my world-views on many subject, I found his 'insight' to be rather shallow and unoriginal. Still, it did pass the time as a coffee-shop book.
Such elegant writing.
Alternate title: If you're too embarrassed to shop at the self-help section, try this.
amazing
May 18, 2013
ياسمين الشام
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2013
Sebastian Mihail
marked it as to-read
May 13, 2013
Jose Cobos
marked it as to-read
May 13, 2013
Chris Masters
marked it as to-read
May 10, 2013
Fairhonanth Jones
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May 09, 2013
Sylvia
marked it as to-read
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Anthony Clifford Grayling, FRSA, FRSL (born 3 April 1949) is a British philosopher and author. He is Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck, University of London and a supernumerary fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford. He has an MA and a DPhil from Oxford, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Society of Arts.
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“Just as modern motorways have no room for ox-carts or wandering pedestrians, so modern society has little place for lives and ways that are too eccentric.”
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10 people liked it
“Just as modern motorways have no room for ox-carts or wandering pedestrians, so modern society has little place for lives and ways that are too eccentric”
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2 people liked it
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Nov 17, 2012 01:01am