This text celebrates the power of ideas: thought can, and does, change the world. And, in turn, ideas evolve. This is Grayling's personal and heart...
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Nov 04, 2011
TheIron
rated it: 
A worthwhile book to have on your bookshelf (or in the bathroom). It's arranged like an encyclopaedia (alphabetical) with each topic briefly outlined in a couple of pages. Each topic finishes with a "see also..." which allowed me to simply begin with a topic at random and then follow through on related items. As the author says, its an opinionated survey: he presents the basic outline of each "idea" objectively, but consistently shows his own opinions about it. This makes
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Apr 15, 2011
Mark
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The sections I've read are very pithy. I was particularly taken with his thesis that science and religion are incompatible, competing world views. I agree, but he does not address two important concomitants of his argument: that religion is a natural human extension of a human need to intellectually project into the future, to know and understand the world in order to predict the future to some degree and even more importantly that spirituality is a very different ball of wax than religion. Ma
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Feb 14, 2010
Tulpesh
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Written with a style, eloquence and thought that makes even the most complex ideas accessible, this is another masterful collection of writings from one of my very favourite writers. This isn't simply an encyclopaedia, but AC Grayling's personal introduction to some of the richness of human thought and invention from Absolutism to Zeitgeist and most of everything in between.
The essay on Vegetarianism sticks out like a sore thumb because unlike most of Grayling's other writings, whic More...
The essay on Vegetarianism sticks out like a sore thumb because unlike most of Grayling's other writings, whic More...
Nov 18, 2010
David
rated it: 
As I start this book, two thoughts occur. The first is addressed in the introduction, how does an idea make the list. The second thought is, although the sections of the book are alphabetically sorted, there is no table of contents that would allow you to prioritize which ideas you would like to pursue and discard others.
With respect to the first the author makes it clear that this work can best be described as “a personal dictionary of ideas, which knowing about would enhance an in More...
With respect to the first the author makes it clear that this work can best be described as “a personal dictionary of ideas, which knowing about would enhance an in More...
Apr 15, 2011
Derrick
rated it:
The author of this volume, who is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of London, describes the book as a “dictionary of ideas” that are detailed in two to ten page entries ranging from Absolutism to Zeitgist.
To break down this book into simple terms, the 21st Century is being shaped by three dominant concepts that developed and emerged during the 20th: fundamentalism, globalism and bioethics, while the 20th century was determined by philosophical currents that had developed in More...
To break down this book into simple terms, the 21st Century is being shaped by three dominant concepts that developed and emerged during the 20th: fundamentalism, globalism and bioethics, while the 20th century was determined by philosophical currents that had developed in More...
Aug 18, 2011
Daryl
rated it:
Anthony Grayling make Philosophy understandable to those of us who never studied it and this book discusses the important ideas and concepts for the 21st century a must read.
Jul 30, 2011
Fil
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When discussing ideas my primary concern is to have a position that I arrived at with reasoning or critical thought. I do not like to read "a book that aims both to arm readers with knowledge and engage them in philosophical debate" in which the author does not use said reasoning when voicing his own opinion. Mr. Grayling does so on some topics but not most, which grates on the nerves of the dilettante philosopher I profess to be. A letdown after enjoying his "The Reason Of Things
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May 01, 2011
Skicat
rated it:
I borrowed this one from the library for a paper on existentialism. Underlined a few areas before realizing the book wasn’t mine. Thankfully the library was forgiving and didn’t charge me, but I would have been willing to keep it if they had. Great resource.
Jun 15, 2010
D.h.
rated it:
this is the right book to get yourself to think more on the planet you live and its people.
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