The epic wisdom contained in a lost library helps the author turn his life aroundJohn Kaag is a dispirited young philosopher at sea in his marriage and his career when he stumbles upon West Wind, a ruin of an estate in the hinterlands of New Hampshire that belonged to the eminent Harvard philosopher William Ernest Hocking. Hocking was one of the last true giants of American philosophy and a direct intellectual descendent of William James, the father of American philosophy and psychology, with whom Kaag feels a deep kinship. It is James's question "Is life worth living?" that guides this remarkable book. The books Kaag discovers in the Hocking library are crawling with insects and full of mold. But he resolves to restore them, as he immediately recognizes their importance. Not only does the library at West Wind contain handwritten notes from Whitman and inscriptions from Frost, but there are startlingly rare first editions of Hobbes, Descartes, and Kant. As Kaag begins to catalog and read through these priceless volumes, he embarks on a thrilling journey that leads him to the life-affirming tenets of American philosophy -- self-reliance, pragmatism, and transcendence -- and to a brilliant young Kantian who joins him in the restoration of the Hocking books.Part intellectual history, part memoir, American Philosophy is ultimately about love, freedom, and the role that wisdom can play in turning one's life around.
FSG
|
9780374154486
|
Print book
The Wisdom of the Myths
By Ferry, Luc
More than 100,000 copies sold in FranceA fascinating new journey through Greek mythology that explains the myths' timeless lessons and meaningHeroes, gods, and mortals. The Greek myths are the founding narratives of Western civilization: to understand them is to know the origins of philosophy, literature, art, science, law, and more. Indeed, as Luc Ferry shows in this masterful book, they remain a great store of wisdom, as relevant to our lives today as ever before. No mere legends or clichés ("Herculean task," "Pandora's box," "Achilles heel," etc.), these classic stories offer profound and manifold lessons, providing the first sustained attempt to answer fundamental human questions concerning "the good life," the burden of mortality, and how to find one's place in the world.
Harper Perennial; First Edition edition
|
9780062215451
|
Print book
Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed
By Daum, Meghan
One of the main topics of cultural conversation during the last decade was the supposed "fertility crisis," and whether modern women could figure out a way to way to have it all - a successful, demanding career and the required 2.3 children - before their biological clock stopped ticking. Now, however, conversation has turned to whether it's necessary to have it all (see Anne-Marie Slaughter) or, perhaps more controversial, whether children are really a requirement for a fulfilling life. The idea that some women and men prefer not to have children is often met with sharp criticism and incredulity by the public and mainstream media.In this provocative and controversial collection of essays, curated by writer Meghan Daum, thirteen acclaimed female writers explain why they have chosen to eschew motherhood.
Picador Usa
|
9781250052933
|
Hardcover
Kidding Ourselves
By Hallinan, Joseph T
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Why We Make Mistakes, an illuminating exploration of human beings' astonishing ability to deceive themselves. To one degree or another, we all misjudge reality. Our perception - of ourselves and the world around us - is much more malleable than we realize. This self-deception influences every major aspect of our personal and social life, including relationships, sex, politics, careers, and health. In Kidding Ourselves, Joseph Hallinan offers a nuts-and-bolts look at how this penchant shapes our everyday lives, from the medicines we take to the decisions we make. It shows, for instance, just how much the power of many modern medicines, particularly anti-depressants and painkillers, is largely in our heads. Placebos in modern-day life extend beyond hospitals, to fake thermostats and "elevator close" buttons that don't really work ... but give the perception that they do. Kidding Ourselves brings together a variety of subjects, linking seemingly unrelated ideas in fascinating and unexpected ways. And ultimately, it shows that deceiving ourselves is not always negative or foolish. As increasing numbers of researchers are discovering, it can be incredibly useful, providing us with the resilience we need to persevere, in the boardroom, bedroom, and beyond. Provocative, accessible, and easily applicable to multiple facets of everyday life, Kidding Ourselves is an extraordinary new exploration of our mind's flexibility.
Crown Publishers
|
9780385348683
|
Print book
Anatomy of malice
By Dimsdale, Joel E
When the ashes had settled after World War II and the Allies convened an international war crimes trial in Nuremberg, a psychiatrist, Douglas Kelley, and a psychologist, Gustave Gilbert, tried to fathom the psychology of the Nazi leaders, using extensive psychiatric interviews, IQ tests, and Rorschach inkblot tests. Never before nor since has there been such a detailed study of governmental leaders who orchestrated mass killings. Before the war crimes trial began, it was self-evident to most people that the Nazi leaders were demonic maniacs. But when the interviews and psychological tests were completed, the answer was no longer so clear. The findings were so disconcerting that portions of the data were hidden away for decades and the research became a topic for vituperative disputes. Gilbert thought the war criminals' malice stemmed from depraved psychopathology. Kelley viewed them as ordinary men who were creatures of their environment. Who was right? Drawing on his decades of experience as a psychiatrist and the dramatic advances within psychiatry, psychology, and neuroscience since Nuremberg, Joel E. Dimsdale looks anew at the findings and examines in detail four of the war criminals, Robert Ley, Hermann Goering, Julius Streicher, and Rudolf Hess. Using increasingly precise diagnostic tools, he discovers a remarkably broad spectrum of pathology. Anatomy of Malice takes us on a complex and troubling quest to make sense of the most extreme evil.
Yale University Press
|
9780300213225
|
Print book
The Psychology Book
By Dk.,
Explore the history, theories, and concepts of psychology through more than 100 groundbreaking ideas with straightforward text, witty illustrations, and vocabulary glossary that demystify an often daunting subject matter. Now in paperback.The Psychology Book looks at the biggest names in psychology, including William James, Sigmund Freud, and Ivan Pavlov, and unpacks each psychologist's contribution to our understanding of how the mind works. With straightforward information, witty infographics, and a directory of scientists, this guide helps untangle the knot of theories behind the science of the mind.From its philosophical roots through behaviorism, psychotherapy, and developmental psychology, The Psychology Book incorporates the latest thinkings of today's psychologists alongside the theories of ancient philosophers, as well as the key experiments and ideas of the scientists and practitioners of the 19th and 20th centuries.As part of DK's award-winning Big Ideas Simply Explained series, The Psychology Book breaks down the most mysterious science of all in this essential, accessible, and comprehensive guide to psychology.
Dk Publishing
|
9781465458568
|
Paperback
Rock Breaks Scissors
By Poundstone, William
A practical guide to outguessing everything from multiple-choice tests to the office football pool to the stock market. People are predictable even when they try not to be. William Poundstone demonstrates how to turn this fact to personal advantage in scores of everyday situations, from playing the lottery to buying a home. ROCK BREAKS SCISSORS is mind-reading for real life.Will the next tennis serve go right or left? Will the market go up or down? Most people are poor at that kind of predicting. We are hard-wired to make bum bets on "trends" and "winning streaks" that are illusions. Yet ultimately we're all in the business of anticipating the actions of others. Poundstone reveals how to overcome the errors and improve the accuracy of your own outguessing.
Little, Brown
|
9780316228060
|
Hardcover
The Happiness Effect
By Freitas, Donna
Sexting. Cyberbullying. Narcissism. Social media has become the dominant force in young peoples lives, and each day seems to bring another shocking tale of private pictures getting into the wrong hands, or a lament that young people feel compelled to share their each and every thought with the entire world. Have smartphones and social media created a generation of self-obsessed egomaniacs?. Absolutely not, Donna Freitas argues in this provocative book. And, she says, these alarmist fears are drawing attention away from the real issues that young adults are facing.. Drawing on a large-scale survey and interviews with students on thirteen college campuses, Freitas finds that what young people are overwhelmingly concerned with--what they really want to talk about--is happiness. They face enormous pressure to look perfect online--not just happy, but blissful, ecstatic, and fabulously successful. Unable to achieve this impossible standard, they are anxious about letting the less-than-perfect parts of themselves become public. Far from wanting to share everything, they are brutally selective when it comes to curating their personal profiles, and worry obsessively that they might unwittingly post something that could come back to haunt them later in life. Through candid conversations with young people from diverse backgrounds, Freitas reveals how even the most well-adjusted individuals can be stricken by self-doubt when they compare their experiences with the vast collective utopia that they see online. And sometimes, as on anonymous platforms like Yik Yak, what they see instead is a depressing cesspool of racism and misogyny. Yet young people are also extremely attached to their smartphones and apps, which sometimes bring them great pleasure. It is very much a love-hate relationship.. While much of the publics attention has been focused on headline-grabbing stories, the everyday struggles and joys of young people have remained under the radar. Freitas brings their feelings to the fore, in the words of young people themselves. The Happiness Effect is an eye-opening window into their first-hand experiences of social media and its impact on them.
Oxford University Press, USA
|
9780190239855
|
Hardcover
South American Handbook 2015
By Box, Ben
South America is epic. Home to the worlds highest waterfall, the longest mountain range and the largest rainforest this continent will baffle you with its enormity. While cities like Rio de Janeiro swing to the sounds of samba, locals jostle around market stalls in Cuzco and indigenous farmers offer prayers to Pachamama Mother Earth. Footprints 91st edition of the South American Handbook is the ideal guidebook for adventure-hungry travelers. From Inca ruins and tropical jungles to the vast open plains of Patagonia Footprints revised and updated guide to South America provides comprehensive coverage, enabling you to escape the crowd and discover the continent for yourself. Highlights section so you know what not to miss Practical information on how to get to each country and around, plus suggested itineraries to help you plan your trip, whether you are traveling for a week or a month Well-researched cultural and historical background sections available as an online resource Tips for traveling with your kids The core of the guide provides comprehensive coverage of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, the Guianas, and the Falkland Islands.
Footprint Handbooks; 91st Edition edition
|
9781910120026
|
Hardcover
Manhood
By Crews, Terry
From NFL player turned film and TV star Terry Crews comes a wise and warmhearted memoir chronicling his lifelong quest to become a good man, loving husband, and responsible father. What does it mean to be a man Terry Crews, TVs iconic Old Spice Guy and co-star of the hit Golden Globe Awardwinning series Brooklyn Nine-Nine, has spent decades seeking the answer to that question. In Manhood, he shares what hes learned, telling the amazing story of his rise to fame and offering straight-talking advice for men and the women who love them. A self-described super-driven superstar alpha male, Terry Crews embodies the manly ideal for millions worldwide. But as he looks back on his difficult childhood and shares hard-learned lessons from the many humbling experiences he endured to get where he is today, he shows how his own conception of manhood is constantly evolving.
Zinc Ink
|
9780804178051
|
Hardcover
Powers of Two
By Shenk, Joshua Wolf
A revelatory synthesis of cultural history and social psychology that shows how one-to-one collaboration drives creative success Weaving the lives of scores of creative duosfrom John Lennon and Paul McCartney to Marie and Pierre Curie to Steve Jobs and Steve WozniakJoshua Wolf Shenk identifies the core qualities of that dizzying experience we call chemistry. Revealing the six essential stages through which creative intimacy unfolds, Shenk draws on new scientific research and builds an argument for the social foundations of creativityand the pair as its primary embodiment. Along the way, he reveals how pairs begin to talk, think, and even look like each other how the most successful ones thrive on conflict and why some pairs flame out while others endure.
Eamon Dolan/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1 edition
|
9780544031593
|
Hardcover
Find Momo
By Knapp, Andrew
Thousands of Internet fans play hide-and-seek with Momo the border collie every day. And now, in his New York Times best-selling book, you can too! Momo and his best buddy Andrew Knapp have traveled all over - through fields, down country roads, across cities, and into yards, neighborhoods, and surreal spaces of all sorts. The result is a book of spectacular photography that's also a game you can play anytime. Lose yourself in page after page of Andrew's beautiful, serene, dreamlike images, and sooner or later you'll find Momo's sweet, eager face looking back at you. (Can't find him? Don't worry ... the answers are in the back.)
Quirk Books
|
9781594746789
|
Paperback
A Troublesome Inheritance
By Wade, Nicholas
Drawing on startling new evidence from the mapping of the genome, an explosive new account of the genetic basis of race and its role in the human story Fewer ideas have been more toxic or harmful than the idea of the biological reality of race, and with it the idea that humans of different races are biologically different from one another. For this understandable reason, the idea has been banished from polite academic conversation. Arguing that race is more than just a social construct can get a scholar run out of town, or at least off campus, on a rail. Human evolution, the consensus view insists, ended in prehistory.Inconveniently, as Nicholas Wade argues in A Troublesome Inheritance, the consensus view cannot be right. And in fact, we know that populations have changed in the past few thousand years - to be lactose tolerant, for example, and to survive at high altitudes.
American Philosophy
By Kaag, John J
The epic wisdom contained in a lost library helps the author turn his life aroundJohn Kaag is a dispirited young philosopher at sea in his marriage and his career when he stumbles upon West Wind, a ruin of an estate in the hinterlands of New Hampshire that belonged to the eminent Harvard philosopher William Ernest Hocking. Hocking was one of the last true giants of American philosophy and a direct intellectual descendent of William James, the father of American philosophy and psychology, with whom Kaag feels a deep kinship. It is James's question "Is life worth living?" that guides this remarkable book. The books Kaag discovers in the Hocking library are crawling with insects and full of mold. But he resolves to restore them, as he immediately recognizes their importance. Not only does the library at West Wind contain handwritten notes from Whitman and inscriptions from Frost, but there are startlingly rare first editions of Hobbes, Descartes, and Kant. As Kaag begins to catalog and read through these priceless volumes, he embarks on a thrilling journey that leads him to the life-affirming tenets of American philosophy -- self-reliance, pragmatism, and transcendence -- and to a brilliant young Kantian who joins him in the restoration of the Hocking books.Part intellectual history, part memoir, American Philosophy is ultimately about love, freedom, and the role that wisdom can play in turning one's life around.
The Wisdom of the Myths
By Ferry, Luc
More than 100,000 copies sold in FranceA fascinating new journey through Greek mythology that explains the myths' timeless lessons and meaningHeroes, gods, and mortals. The Greek myths are the founding narratives of Western civilization: to understand them is to know the origins of philosophy, literature, art, science, law, and more. Indeed, as Luc Ferry shows in this masterful book, they remain a great store of wisdom, as relevant to our lives today as ever before. No mere legends or clichés ("Herculean task," "Pandora's box," "Achilles heel," etc.), these classic stories offer profound and manifold lessons, providing the first sustained attempt to answer fundamental human questions concerning "the good life," the burden of mortality, and how to find one's place in the world.
Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed
By Daum, Meghan
One of the main topics of cultural conversation during the last decade was the supposed "fertility crisis," and whether modern women could figure out a way to way to have it all - a successful, demanding career and the required 2.3 children - before their biological clock stopped ticking. Now, however, conversation has turned to whether it's necessary to have it all (see Anne-Marie Slaughter) or, perhaps more controversial, whether children are really a requirement for a fulfilling life. The idea that some women and men prefer not to have children is often met with sharp criticism and incredulity by the public and mainstream media.In this provocative and controversial collection of essays, curated by writer Meghan Daum, thirteen acclaimed female writers explain why they have chosen to eschew motherhood.
Kidding Ourselves
By Hallinan, Joseph T
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Why We Make Mistakes, an illuminating exploration of human beings' astonishing ability to deceive themselves. To one degree or another, we all misjudge reality. Our perception - of ourselves and the world around us - is much more malleable than we realize. This self-deception influences every major aspect of our personal and social life, including relationships, sex, politics, careers, and health. In Kidding Ourselves, Joseph Hallinan offers a nuts-and-bolts look at how this penchant shapes our everyday lives, from the medicines we take to the decisions we make. It shows, for instance, just how much the power of many modern medicines, particularly anti-depressants and painkillers, is largely in our heads. Placebos in modern-day life extend beyond hospitals, to fake thermostats and "elevator close" buttons that don't really work ... but give the perception that they do. Kidding Ourselves brings together a variety of subjects, linking seemingly unrelated ideas in fascinating and unexpected ways. And ultimately, it shows that deceiving ourselves is not always negative or foolish. As increasing numbers of researchers are discovering, it can be incredibly useful, providing us with the resilience we need to persevere, in the boardroom, bedroom, and beyond. Provocative, accessible, and easily applicable to multiple facets of everyday life, Kidding Ourselves is an extraordinary new exploration of our mind's flexibility.
Anatomy of malice
By Dimsdale, Joel E
When the ashes had settled after World War II and the Allies convened an international war crimes trial in Nuremberg, a psychiatrist, Douglas Kelley, and a psychologist, Gustave Gilbert, tried to fathom the psychology of the Nazi leaders, using extensive psychiatric interviews, IQ tests, and Rorschach inkblot tests. Never before nor since has there been such a detailed study of governmental leaders who orchestrated mass killings. Before the war crimes trial began, it was self-evident to most people that the Nazi leaders were demonic maniacs. But when the interviews and psychological tests were completed, the answer was no longer so clear. The findings were so disconcerting that portions of the data were hidden away for decades and the research became a topic for vituperative disputes. Gilbert thought the war criminals' malice stemmed from depraved psychopathology. Kelley viewed them as ordinary men who were creatures of their environment. Who was right? Drawing on his decades of experience as a psychiatrist and the dramatic advances within psychiatry, psychology, and neuroscience since Nuremberg, Joel E. Dimsdale looks anew at the findings and examines in detail four of the war criminals, Robert Ley, Hermann Goering, Julius Streicher, and Rudolf Hess. Using increasingly precise diagnostic tools, he discovers a remarkably broad spectrum of pathology. Anatomy of Malice takes us on a complex and troubling quest to make sense of the most extreme evil.
The Psychology Book
By Dk.,
Explore the history, theories, and concepts of psychology through more than 100 groundbreaking ideas with straightforward text, witty illustrations, and vocabulary glossary that demystify an often daunting subject matter. Now in paperback.The Psychology Book looks at the biggest names in psychology, including William James, Sigmund Freud, and Ivan Pavlov, and unpacks each psychologist's contribution to our understanding of how the mind works. With straightforward information, witty infographics, and a directory of scientists, this guide helps untangle the knot of theories behind the science of the mind.From its philosophical roots through behaviorism, psychotherapy, and developmental psychology, The Psychology Book incorporates the latest thinkings of today's psychologists alongside the theories of ancient philosophers, as well as the key experiments and ideas of the scientists and practitioners of the 19th and 20th centuries.As part of DK's award-winning Big Ideas Simply Explained series, The Psychology Book breaks down the most mysterious science of all in this essential, accessible, and comprehensive guide to psychology.
Rock Breaks Scissors
By Poundstone, William
A practical guide to outguessing everything from multiple-choice tests to the office football pool to the stock market. People are predictable even when they try not to be. William Poundstone demonstrates how to turn this fact to personal advantage in scores of everyday situations, from playing the lottery to buying a home. ROCK BREAKS SCISSORS is mind-reading for real life.Will the next tennis serve go right or left? Will the market go up or down? Most people are poor at that kind of predicting. We are hard-wired to make bum bets on "trends" and "winning streaks" that are illusions. Yet ultimately we're all in the business of anticipating the actions of others. Poundstone reveals how to overcome the errors and improve the accuracy of your own outguessing.
The Happiness Effect
By Freitas, Donna
Sexting. Cyberbullying. Narcissism. Social media has become the dominant force in young peoples lives, and each day seems to bring another shocking tale of private pictures getting into the wrong hands, or a lament that young people feel compelled to share their each and every thought with the entire world. Have smartphones and social media created a generation of self-obsessed egomaniacs?. Absolutely not, Donna Freitas argues in this provocative book. And, she says, these alarmist fears are drawing attention away from the real issues that young adults are facing.. Drawing on a large-scale survey and interviews with students on thirteen college campuses, Freitas finds that what young people are overwhelmingly concerned with--what they really want to talk about--is happiness. They face enormous pressure to look perfect online--not just happy, but blissful, ecstatic, and fabulously successful. Unable to achieve this impossible standard, they are anxious about letting the less-than-perfect parts of themselves become public. Far from wanting to share everything, they are brutally selective when it comes to curating their personal profiles, and worry obsessively that they might unwittingly post something that could come back to haunt them later in life. Through candid conversations with young people from diverse backgrounds, Freitas reveals how even the most well-adjusted individuals can be stricken by self-doubt when they compare their experiences with the vast collective utopia that they see online. And sometimes, as on anonymous platforms like Yik Yak, what they see instead is a depressing cesspool of racism and misogyny. Yet young people are also extremely attached to their smartphones and apps, which sometimes bring them great pleasure. It is very much a love-hate relationship.. While much of the publics attention has been focused on headline-grabbing stories, the everyday struggles and joys of young people have remained under the radar. Freitas brings their feelings to the fore, in the words of young people themselves. The Happiness Effect is an eye-opening window into their first-hand experiences of social media and its impact on them.
South American Handbook 2015
By Box, Ben
South America is epic. Home to the worlds highest waterfall, the longest mountain range and the largest rainforest this continent will baffle you with its enormity. While cities like Rio de Janeiro swing to the sounds of samba, locals jostle around market stalls in Cuzco and indigenous farmers offer prayers to Pachamama Mother Earth. Footprints 91st edition of the South American Handbook is the ideal guidebook for adventure-hungry travelers. From Inca ruins and tropical jungles to the vast open plains of Patagonia Footprints revised and updated guide to South America provides comprehensive coverage, enabling you to escape the crowd and discover the continent for yourself. Highlights section so you know what not to miss Practical information on how to get to each country and around, plus suggested itineraries to help you plan your trip, whether you are traveling for a week or a month Well-researched cultural and historical background sections available as an online resource Tips for traveling with your kids The core of the guide provides comprehensive coverage of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, the Guianas, and the Falkland Islands.
Manhood
By Crews, Terry
From NFL player turned film and TV star Terry Crews comes a wise and warmhearted memoir chronicling his lifelong quest to become a good man, loving husband, and responsible father. What does it mean to be a man Terry Crews, TVs iconic Old Spice Guy and co-star of the hit Golden Globe Awardwinning series Brooklyn Nine-Nine, has spent decades seeking the answer to that question. In Manhood, he shares what hes learned, telling the amazing story of his rise to fame and offering straight-talking advice for men and the women who love them. A self-described super-driven superstar alpha male, Terry Crews embodies the manly ideal for millions worldwide. But as he looks back on his difficult childhood and shares hard-learned lessons from the many humbling experiences he endured to get where he is today, he shows how his own conception of manhood is constantly evolving.
Powers of Two
By Shenk, Joshua Wolf
A revelatory synthesis of cultural history and social psychology that shows how one-to-one collaboration drives creative success Weaving the lives of scores of creative duosfrom John Lennon and Paul McCartney to Marie and Pierre Curie to Steve Jobs and Steve WozniakJoshua Wolf Shenk identifies the core qualities of that dizzying experience we call chemistry. Revealing the six essential stages through which creative intimacy unfolds, Shenk draws on new scientific research and builds an argument for the social foundations of creativityand the pair as its primary embodiment. Along the way, he reveals how pairs begin to talk, think, and even look like each other how the most successful ones thrive on conflict and why some pairs flame out while others endure.
Find Momo
By Knapp, Andrew
Thousands of Internet fans play hide-and-seek with Momo the border collie every day. And now, in his New York Times best-selling book, you can too! Momo and his best buddy Andrew Knapp have traveled all over - through fields, down country roads, across cities, and into yards, neighborhoods, and surreal spaces of all sorts. The result is a book of spectacular photography that's also a game you can play anytime. Lose yourself in page after page of Andrew's beautiful, serene, dreamlike images, and sooner or later you'll find Momo's sweet, eager face looking back at you. (Can't find him? Don't worry ... the answers are in the back.)
A Troublesome Inheritance
By Wade, Nicholas
Drawing on startling new evidence from the mapping of the genome, an explosive new account of the genetic basis of race and its role in the human story Fewer ideas have been more toxic or harmful than the idea of the biological reality of race, and with it the idea that humans of different races are biologically different from one another. For this understandable reason, the idea has been banished from polite academic conversation. Arguing that race is more than just a social construct can get a scholar run out of town, or at least off campus, on a rail. Human evolution, the consensus view insists, ended in prehistory.Inconveniently, as Nicholas Wade argues in A Troublesome Inheritance, the consensus view cannot be right. And in fact, we know that populations have changed in the past few thousand years - to be lactose tolerant, for example, and to survive at high altitudes.