Best Free Will & Determinism Philosophy

In this classic book on thinking, the book describes how each of us shapes the events around us, creating our own lives. in abundance. As himself Allen describes, “ It shows how, in his own thought-world, each man holds the key to every condition, good or bad, that enters into his life, and that, by working patiently and intelligently upon his thoughts, he may remake his life, and transform his circumstances. EFFECT OF THOUGHT ON CIRCUMSTANCES 7.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I am well educated by modern western standards - I have a masters degree in electrical engineering, and a masters degree in business (MBA)...I am middle-aged so I have had plenty of time to witness life on earth...I was also in the US Navy at an early age...I hope this gives you a context for my review........I have to honestly say, without any reservation, from the bottom of my heart - that this is the single MOST IMPORTANT book - rather EDUCATION - of my entire life...Nothing else comes close....If you are seeking true happiness, inner peace, would like to really internalize "why you are here", this is the best work around....If you want to learn how to deal with your resentment, prejudices, and maybe most-importantly, ego - this book will do it for you."
"The first time I was able to put the knowledge I learned from this book into practice was a emotionally explosive moment as I realized that I finally was able to control my thoughts and take a hold of my mind."
"If one can afford, I feel it is worth owning both versions: FIP version for classes; and the Original Edition for a greater understanding of the first eight or so chapters which are the bedrock for an in depth understanding of ACIM. It is the ACIM URTEXT Manuscripts (also available on Amazon) that contains personal information, not the ACIM Original Edition. I believe anyone that reads both the ACIM Original Edition and the ACIM FIP version will come to the same conclusion that I have, that being the ACIM Original Version is superior. I've been studying with the ACIM Original Edition for well over a year now and have just in the past few days purchased another copy of ACIM Original Edition for my wife who is now desiring a better understanding than her ACIM FIP version offers."

In this updated and expanded edition of Chosen by God , Sproul shows that the doctrine of predestination doesn't create a whimsical or spiteful picture of God, but paints a portrait of a loving God who provides redemption for radically corrupt humans.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Sproul’s that I read back in the mid-1980’s, following his classic The Holiness of God. The great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon famously stated that Reformed theology is just a nickname for biblical Christianity. The author writes “The Reformed view asserts that the ultimate decision for salvation rests with God and not with man. From all eternity, without any prior view of our human behavior, God has chosen some unto election and others unto reprobation. The author covers such weighty topics as man’s free will, sin, evil, grace, original sin, the Fall, double predestination and TULIP (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and the Perseverance of the Saints), all in his characteristic easy to understand manner."
"This book has clarified in a very readable manner the tenets of Calvinism or Reformed Theology."
"This book and its message "reformed" my faith and transformed my understanding of biblical predestination and God's sovereign and eternal decree over whom enters the kingdom."
"He is mostly fair in addressing potential counter-arguments to his case though he never mentions any of the arguments from the compatibilist position of Molinism. IT should be noted that he presents Arminianism in its most extreme form, though I imagine he would say he is simply taking the Arminian position to its logical conclusions. At the end of the book he acknowledged that the book was too short to address Limited Atonement but then gives 5 pages of treatment to it. He does however devote a good deal of space to addressing some more common "softball" objections to the position."
"as always Sproul is spot on."
"diving deep to understand election."

Fooled by Randomness is a standalone book in Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s landmark Incerto series, an investigation of opacity, luck, uncertainty, probability, human error, risk, and decision-making in a world we don’t understand. [Fooled By Randomness] is to conventional Wall Street wisdom approximately what Martin Luther’s ninety-nine theses were to the Catholic Church.”. – Malcolm Gladwell , The New Yorker. Taleb will grab you.”. – Peter L. Bernstein , author of Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk. fun to read, refreshingly independent-minded.”. – Robert J. Shille r, author of Irrational Exuberance.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"He combines a cool, rational stoic mind with a deep Continental intellectual with a mouthy New Yorker. TL;DR. Pros: -Basically a cognitive psychology book infused with a memoir. -I really like Taleb's writing/voice, and his true intellectual tangents that always come full circle. -Nice standalone to his "Incerto"/Black Swan series. Cons: -You need to not compartmentalize the theme and concept into your mind. -I believe he goes over this at the end, but not in enough of a lengthy manner to help less-read or less-willful readers realize his true intentions: to allow you to see the world for what it really is, and that luck plays a role in success."
"His thesis, as I see it, is that trading opportunities exist largely because man is genetically and societally programmed to be fooled by randomness, yet remains willfully oblivious to this fact... and thus the crowd creates exploitable market distortions through an ongoing series of irrational acts. The powerful point is that it is easier not to be jealous of a mega-successful peer when it is known that the bulk of that peer's accomplishment was to be in the right place at the right time, suggesting the nature of their success--fortuitous gain from a random cycle or event--is of such ephemeral nature that it can disappear at any point (insert flashback to Nasdaq bubble here). The lesson that even a high probability strategy will likely have negative emotional expectation over the short run, due to the exaggerated impact of negative emotions over positive ones, has many implications for those obsessed with watching every tick of their portfolios. In his thorough and methodical destruction of probability blind journalists, flavor of the month gurus and retrofitted market theorists, Taleb also highlights how the explosion of commentary and data in the information age arguably makes for worse trading decisions overall--and confers an advantage to the trader who can restrain himself from drowning in data."
"These are the kind of things I have always been thinking about, how we make decisions, how much of what happens to us we can control and what role luck or chance plays. Turns out that all these years that I have thinking about this and writing about them in my private journal, others have been producing books and getting PHd's, writing about this stuff and calling them theories and fitting them into existing categories of economics, mathematics, psychology and others I can't think of at the moment."
Best Religion & Philosophy

In this classic book on thinking, the book describes how each of us shapes the events around us, creating our own lives. in abundance. As himself Allen describes, “ It shows how, in his own thought-world, each man holds the key to every condition, good or bad, that enters into his life, and that, by working patiently and intelligently upon his thoughts, he may remake his life, and transform his circumstances. EFFECT OF THOUGHT ON CIRCUMSTANCES 7.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I am well educated by modern western standards - I have a masters degree in electrical engineering, and a masters degree in business (MBA)...I am middle-aged so I have had plenty of time to witness life on earth...I was also in the US Navy at an early age...I hope this gives you a context for my review........I have to honestly say, without any reservation, from the bottom of my heart - that this is the single MOST IMPORTANT book - rather EDUCATION - of my entire life...Nothing else comes close....If you are seeking true happiness, inner peace, would like to really internalize "why you are here", this is the best work around....If you want to learn how to deal with your resentment, prejudices, and maybe most-importantly, ego - this book will do it for you."
"The first time I was able to put the knowledge I learned from this book into practice was a emotionally explosive moment as I realized that I finally was able to control my thoughts and take a hold of my mind."
"The most shocking thing you'll notice if you open A Course In Miracles is the deceivingly pretentious introduction that never fails to spark intrigue. It takes browsing a few pages to realize that actually, it is required, because it is the only spiritual message there is. It is the same message we hear from anyone that has ever grown into spiritual high levels and tried to tell us how to join them. BUT, to my surprise, and unlike the stories I heard in both, catholic-elementary AND catholic-high-school (such was my luck) --- this book interprets things correctly. You do the right thing, but you do not take revenge because the results of the actions of s/he, whom you perceive as your perpetrator, are NOT up to you, but up to a higher power. Here they are: 1.- INFINITE PATIENCE DELIVERS IMMEDIATE RESULTS. The first time I read this one I laughed. I needed to open a new bank account, and I knew these things take forever. When the bank representative asked for the usual documents and apologized for the computer being slow, I took it as a sign. Stepping into the present with an open heart (as you would if you really wanted it to work), gives you an advantage... You are operating from infinity. 2.- A MIRACLE IS A SHIFT IN PERCEPTION. The power of an alchemist lies not in turning dust into gold. That is just a metaphor to show the strength of the mind that lies behind such a miracle. A real miracle is one that happens when in spite of desperation, hurt, defeat, bankruptcy, we still shift our perception from lack, to abundance. We have our feet on the ground, we know where we are, but we also trust the infinite force that is keeping us alive right now, and we know we are abundant, in this moment, because we are here. The stuff of alchemists... 3.- I DON'T PERCEIVE MY OWN BEST INTERESTS. This one blew my mind right of its skull. There is a story of that enlightened monk who, one night, gets a visit from the parents of the teen-age girl that lives next door. A year later the parents come back and apologize, they tell him their daughter confessed that the child was fathered by the butcher. Check out the next two lines... "The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love's presence, which is your natural inheritance.""
Best Greek & Roman Philosophy

The Daily Stoic offers 366 days of Stoic insights and exercises, featuring all-new translations from the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the playwright Seneca, or slave-turned-philosopher Epictetus, as well as lesser-known luminaries like Zeno, Cleanthes, and Musonius Rufus. — Maria Popova , editor of Brain Pickings "A richly rewarding spring of practical wisdom to help you focus on what's in your control, eliminate false and limiting beliefs, and take more effective action. — Jack Canfield , co-author of The Success Principles ™. and the Chicken Soup for the Soul ®. series. " The Daily Stoic is a treasure for managing our choices, overcoming self-deception, and learning to act according to the true worth of things while keeping the common good always in view.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon""The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Daily Living" is the meditation book my son will remember, the one I'll read every day. The Daily Stoic isn’t simply a book to make me think, it’s an action guide, a “prescription for handling ourselves and our actions in the world.” The great Stoics remind me never to be satisfied with learning--I must always be doing."
"I became aware of Holliday when I read and reviewed his thoughtful and helpful book “The Obstacle is the Way.” It is a book about stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy and its principles, which has sold more than 100,000 copies and has been translated into 17 languages. It is a collection of spiritual exercises designed to help people through the difficulty of life by managing emotion; specifically, non-helpful emotion.”. In “Daily Stoic,” Holiday provides 366 daily meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. The meditations are organized under three primary topics (similar to those in “The Obstacle is…”) “The Discipline of Perception,” “The Discipline of Action,” and the “Discipline of Will.” Each topic is further divided into monthly themes: “Clarity,” “Passions and Emotions,” “Awareness,” “Unbiased Thought,” “Right Action,” “Problem Solving,” “Duty”“Pragmatism,” “Fortitude and Resilience,” “Virtue and Kindness,” “Acceptance,” and “Meditations on Mortality.”. Paul Tillich noted that Stoicism is “the only real alternative to Christianity in the Western world.” It came to many of the same conclusions about how to think and live. The meditations of the “Daily Stoic” can be a help in overcoming adversity, practicing self-control, being conscious of our impulses, realizing how short life is and making the most of it. The principles within Stoicism are, perhaps, the most relevant and practical sets of rules for those who choose to embrace the obstacles of life."
"I am a former mental health counselor and sadl had not heard that much of cognitive behavioral therapy parallels or originates from concepts of stoicism."
"This book is amazing."
"Awesome book."
"I read each day as the year progressed."
"My favorite daily reader, I love the philosophy expressed."
Best Religious Philosophy

"Cheap grace," Bonhoeffer wrote, "is the grace we bestow on ourselves...grace without discipleship....Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the girl which must be asked for, the door at which a man must know....It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life." The Cost of Discipleship , first published in German in 1937, was Bonhoeffer's answer to the questions, "What did Jesus mean to say to us?
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"While he waited for death to come he wrote about what it means to live for Christ and Christ alone."
"Not just from the deeply theological material covered, but from a personal convicting point of view."
"It's difficult, not just to take in (although you may sometimes need to read a paragraph two or three times to really comprehend its meaning), but to accept, because it's hard to imagine who can really live up to what Bonhoeffer shows us Christ is really asking of us."
"Being authentically christian is not always easy or lacking in peril."
"Understanding the simple command to "Follow Me" is something very mysterious and difficult to the carnal nature of man."
"Dietrich was the only speaking voice for Christianity in Nazi Germany and it cost him his life ,but not his soul."
"I reference this frequently and will for the remainder of my life."
"Bonhoffer was blessed and is an example for Christians today and always."
Best Modern Philosophy

However, according to Hofstadter, the formal system that underlies all mental activity transcends the system that supports it. Besides being a profound and entertaining meditation on human thought and creativity, this book looks at the surprising points of contact between the music of Bach, the artwork of Escher, and the mathematics of Gödel. Hofstadter's great achievement in Gödel, Escher, Bach was making abstruse mathematical topics (like undecidability, recursion, and 'strange loops') accessible and remarkably entertaining. Escher, Kurt Gödel: biographical information and work, artificial intelligence (AI) history and theories, strange loops and tangled hierarchies, formal and informal systems, number theory, form in mathematics, figure and ground, consistency, completeness, Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry, recursive structures, theories of meaning, propositional calculus, typographical number theory, Zen and mathematics, levels of description and computers; theory of mind: neurons, minds and thoughts; undecidability; self-reference and self-representation; Turing test for machine intelligence.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Some of the topics explored: artificial intelligence, cognitive science, mathematics, programming, consciousness, zen, philosophy, linguistics, neuroscience, genetics, physics, music, art, logic, infinity, paradox, self-similarity. Inbetween chapters, he switches to a dialogue format between fantasy characters; here he plays with the ideas being discussed, and performs postmodern literary experiments. GEB combines the playful spirit of Lewis Carroll, the labyrinthine madness of Borges, the structural perfectionism of Joyce, the elegant beauty of mathematics, and the quintessential fascination of mind, all under one roof. The task of reducing mind to math, of connecting the nature of consciousness to an idea in formal systems, is such a lofty goal, that even if true, the author could never rigorously prove this thesis, only approach it from every conceivable direction. In the grand line of reductionism, where we in theory reduce consciousness to cognitive science to neuroscience to biology to chemistry to physics to math to metamath, GEB positions itself at the wraparound point at unsigned infinity, where the opposite ends of the spectrum meet."
"There is sooo much content in this book it's going to take my whole life to even begin to understand."
"For those of you who want to know about how things are this is a must read."
"So far a fantastic book."
"If you are interested in fractals, improbable harmonies, math recursion, puzzles, artistic illusionary impossibilities and strange loopy weirdness where life seems to look back at itself."
"Book in great shape."
"Condition of book was good, not great, slightly worse than described but totally acceptable."
"arrived safe and sound."
Best Political Philosophy

In the book that People magazine proclaimed “beguiling” and “fascinating,” Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. THE BESTSELLING BOOK FOR THOSE WHO WANT POWER, WATCH POWER, OR WANT TO ARM THEMSELVES AGAINST POWER .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This has become one of my favorite books in a short period of time, and it has given me a new way to perceive the world around me. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to every single person in the world, because it is not for the faint of heart; but if you've ever been taken advantage of, shut out of someone's life, lost control of a situation, had someone feign authority over you (successfully), had relationship problems, problems in the workplace, etc, you deserve to give this a read-through at LEAST once."
"there seems to be a lot of love and hate surrounding this book, so if you are curious but unsure, this review should help you decide whether or not to buy the book, and how it will impact you. First, to understand the 48 laws of power, you must know two key ideas. 1. you CAN NOT escape the power game. you wil become exponentially more powerfull by knowing and understanding these laws. -CRYSTAL CLEAR. every law is clearly outlined with "transgression" of the law, "observance" of the law, keys to power, and a "reversal". -GREAT STORIES. the 48 laws are packed with mindblowing and sometimes humorous stories of people in history practicing these laws. OVERALL: If you want to have more power or a better understanding of why different situations turn out the the way they do, you should definitely read the 48 laws of power by Robert Greene."
"Complaint: I try to follow a story, then the author cuts it off and interjects a completely different story before completing the original one. Praise: in a world of humans full of ego, the author gives valuable insight into human behavior. Still I'm fascinated by human behavior so even these crazier stories were interesting to me."
"Some of them are a bit worrying, as they are about real events in history and you think about some of the horrible things that have happened to people... but in that light, following the rules in the book could help you avoid some of those more tragic fates, or at least take a more introspective approach at the behavior of others and yourself so that you might make better, or wiser decisions regarding certain situations."
Best Epistemology Philosophy

The authors credit six key principles: simplicity, unexpectedness, concreteness, credibility, emotions and stories. They illustrate these principles with a host of stories, some familiar (Kennedy's stirring call to "land a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth" within a decade) and others very funny (Nora Ephron's anecdote of how her high school journalism teacher used a simple, embarrassing trick to teach her how not to "bury the lead").
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"For example urban myths... stories about people having their kidneys stolen, the "fact" that humans only use 10% of their brains, or stories of people poisoning Halloween candy. All of these are myths- there is not a band of organ harvesters that steals kidneys, humans actually use 100% of their brains in a given day, and there have only been 2 true cases of poisoned Halloween candy and both cases were done by the children's own family. The answer: sticky stories need to have 6 attributes. News casters do this with their 10 second commercials telling you what the news stories will be at the "9 o'clock news"- they will say something like "A gorilla escaped from the zoo and ended up at a children's birthday party, find out more at 9." My favorite way of presenting this was the Mother Teresa principle: If I look at the one, I will act. 2. (A video of a young girl sitting in the dirt) With your donation you could help Cindy... your donation would help feed Cindy, put a roof over Cindy's head, and help send Cindy to school. Stories: Get people to act. It's difficult to find these stories, but when you find them you have a gold mine. There are so many great stories and insights within the pages. I would be more than happy to help anyone that wants it."
"Complete it, and you'd have more chances to create or spot this next sticky story."
"Chip and Dan cite people and companies who succeed by making good "stories" stick."
"Overall, I really enjoyed the concepts and the stories in this book, but I felt like some of the information could have been pared down a little bit because it seemed very repetitive."
"I know a book has had an impact on me when I find myself quoting it several months later ."
"A Must read for: Teachers/Trainers, Sales/Marketing, Managers, Leaders, Business Owners, Politicians, Parents, or anyone who needs to make a point or deliver a message."
"I read this book for an online class, but I plan to put the principles into action in my elementary classroom starting Monday."
""You can't have five North Stars.""
Best Medieval Thought Philosophy

One of the most influential philosophers and theologians in history, St. Thomas Aquinas was the father of modern philosophy of religion, and is infamous for his "proofs" for God’s existence. Fulvio di Blasi, President, Thomas International. "Lucid, cogent, and compelling.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Feser begins to remedy this problem by introducing us to Aquinas' view of the four causes (material formal, efficient, final) as well as his teaching on being and essence. Feser mentions that the Aqunas' full and thorough proofs for God's existence worked out in detail may be found in Aquinas' Summa Contra Gentiles. It is quite interesting because I too, unfortunately, had bought into the modern mindset that Aquinas' 5 ways were just sort of old hat, similar to intelligent design, not too deep, and all more or less the same. I was amazed at how careful and rigorous the proof from motion is when given in its full detail with all the necessray metaphysical background in place. Feser was also able to explain how Aquinas argued that even if the universe could have existed for an infinite amount of time, it would still require a first cause. Yet Feser looks a wide range of Aquinas' writings on these ways and argues that he had different things in mind and different properties of God that the arguments would deduce."
"Aquinas is an incredibly difficult thinker to grasp, so I was a little intimidated when a friend recommended I should read Aquinas's work."
"Someone without too much experience in philosophy will likely have problems with all the language he uses - form, matter, essence, existence, act, potency - since he doesn't offer a comprehensive introduction to these concepts."
"For someone looking to really get a better understanding into Aquinas/Aristotelian metaphysics this is a great intro."
"Great read in short bursts, lots to take in."
"An excellent introduction to Aquinas from a modern Thomist; everyone who wants to talk philosophy had best at least understand where Aquinas is coming from, and this certainly gets you started."
"I have picked up the summa theologica A few years prior, but I wasn't ready for it, I think Feser portrays Aquinas objectively and thoroughly in a brief introduction."
"Feser is a brilliant author and person and if you are. looking to expand your knowledge on his five. ways and what life is all about; this is the book."
Best Consciousness & Thought Philosophy

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST • This inspiring, exquisitely observed memoir finds hope and beauty in the face of insurmountable odds as an idealistic young neurosurgeon attempts to answer the question What makes a life worth living? At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a naïve medical student “possessed,” as he wrote, “by the question of what, given that all organisms die, makes a virtuous and meaningful life” into a neurosurgeon at Stanford working in the brain, the most critical place for human identity, and finally into a patient and new father confronting his own mortality. I’ll go on.’” When Breath Becomes Air is an unforgettable, life-affirming reflection on the challenge of facing death and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a brilliant writer who became both. And part comes from the way he conveys what happened to him—passionately working and striving, deferring gratification, waiting to live, learning to die—so well.” —Janet Maslin, The New York Times. The book brims with insightful reflections on mortality that are especially poignant coming from a trained physician familiar with what lies ahead.” — The Boston Globe. As he wrote to a friend: ‘It’s just tragic enough and just imaginable enough.’ And just important enough to be unmissable.” —Janet Maslin, The New York Times “Paul Kalanithi’s memoir, When Breath Becomes Air, written as he faced a terminal cancer diagnosis, is inherently sad. It is, despite its grim undertone, accidentally inspiring.” — The Washington Post “Paul Kalanithi’s posthumous memoir, When Breath Becomes Air, possesses the gravity and wisdom of an ancient Greek tragedy. [Kalanithi] is so likeable, so relatable, and so humble, that you become immersed in his world and forget where it’s all heading.” — USA Today “It’s [Kalanithi’s] unsentimental approach that makes When Breath Becomes Air so original—and so devastating. “Rattling, heartbreaking, and ultimately beautiful, the too-young Dr. Kalanithi’s memoir is proof that the dying are the ones who have the most to teach us about life.” —Atul Gawande “Thanks to When Breath Becomes Air, those of us who never met Paul Kalanithi will both mourn his death and benefit from his life. Kalanithi strives to define his dual role as physician and patient, and he weighs in on such topics as what makes life meaningful and how one determines what is most important when little time is left. This deeply moving memoir reveals how much can be achieved through service and gratitude when a life is courageously and resiliently lived.” — Publishers Weekly “A moving meditation on mortality by a gifted writer whose dual perspectives of physician and patient provide a singular clarity . Kalanithi describes, clearly and simply, and entirely without self-pity, his journey from innocent medical student to professionally detached and all-powerful neurosurgeon to helpless patient, dying from cancer. Every doctor should read this book—written by a member of our own tribe, it helps us understand and overcome the barriers we all erect between ourselves and our patients as soon as we are out of medical school.” —Henry Marsh, author of Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death, and Brain Surgery “A tremendous book, crackling with life, animated by wonder and by the question of how we should live. Paul Kalanithi lived and died in the pursuit of excellence, and by this testimonial, he achieved it.” —Gavin Francis, author of Adventures in Human Being.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Ultimately there's not much triumph in it in the traditional sense but there is a dogged, quiet resilience and a frank earthiness that endures long after the last word appears. Dr. Kalanithi talks about his upbringing as the child of hardworking Indian immigrant parents and his tenacious and passionate espousal of medicine and literature. He speaks lovingly of his relationship with his remarkable wife - also a doctor - who he met in medical school and who played an outsized role in supporting him through everything he went through. He had a stunning and multifaceted career, studying biology and literature at Stanford, then history and philosophy of medicine at Cambridge, and finally neurosurgery at Yale. The mark of a man of letters is evident everywhere in the book, and quotes from Eliot, Beckett, Pope and Shakespeare make frequent appearances. Metaphors abound and the prose often soars: When describing how important it is to develop good surgical technique, he tells us that "Technical excellence was a moral requirement"; meanwhile, the overwhelming stress of late night shifts, hundred hour weeks and patients with acute trauma made him occasionally feel like he was "trapped in an endless jungle summer, wet with sweat, the rain of tears of the dying pouring down". The painful uncertainty which he documents - in particular the tyranny of statistics which makes it impossible to predict how a specific individual will react to cancer therapy - must sadly be familiar to anyone who has had experience with the disease. There are heartbreaking descriptions of how at one point the cancer seemed to have almost disappeared and how, after Dr. Kalanithi had again cautiously made plans for a hopeful future with his wife, it returned with a vengeance and he had to finally stop working."
"He says this, “The secret is to know that the deck is stacked, that you will lose, that your hands or judgment will slip, and yet still struggle to win …You can’t ever reach perfection, but you can believe in an asymptote toward which are ceaselessly striving. In the foreword by fellow doctor and writer Abraham Verghese, that doctor writes, “He (Paul) wasn’t writing about anything—he was writing about time and what it meant to him now, in the context of his illness.” And in the afterword by his wife Lucy, the meaning of that time becomes even clearer."
"Paul's account of his love for his work and his patients really struck a chord with me as did the integrity and dignity with which he faced the prospect of his death."
"Like when you go running and forget you are on a run, because you are one with the run; reading this I was so absorbed, it was like I was listening to Paul, hearing his words, versus reading them...."
"This book tells the heart wrenching story of a family and physician who had to face death."
Best Philosophy Criticism

The Conspiracy against the Human Race is renowned horror writer Thomas Ligotti's first work of nonfiction. Should the human race voluntarily put an end to its existence? Do we even know what it means to be human?
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A must-read for anyone struggling with thoughts of existantialism and/or a fan of horror."
"Much of what is explained here is very interesting and I would say I responded to it, agreed with it, or saw his point...but didn't buy in all the way."
"Post-existential philosophy by a so-called weird fiction writer."
"I felt that Ligotti made interesting points and a strong case, while going through all the possible arguments and counter-arguments for the most basic questions about the nature of consciousness, life and reality."
"Whether Pizzolatto did rip Ligotti off is an important question, but either way, this book is an enjoyable companion to the show (or vice versa)."
"Any repulsion I experienced, any resitance, denial or refutation to what I read was instantly exposed as the very conspiracy I was being confronted with in reading this zen like arrow to the heart of my own convoluted quasi-existence. Human conscousness is a double dead ended cul de sac, a disater, a blunder of nature so horrifying that only it's demise is a valid decision for the most ruthlessly altruistic and reasonable."
"I am having a hard time deciding my opinion of this book."
Best Individual Philosophers

As Walter Kaufmann, one of the world’s leading authorities on Nietzsche, notes in his introduction, “Few writers in any age were so full of ideas,” and few writers have been so consistently misinterpreted. The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was born in Prussia in 1844.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This anthology of works by Nietzsche includes "Thus Spake Zarathustra", "The Antichrist", "Twilight of the Idols" and "Nietzsche contra Wagner" in there entirety, as well as many letters, excerpts, notes and insights from translator/editor Walter Kaufmann. Whether taking on the state, Christianity, German philosophers and theologians, or Richard Wagner, Nietzsche exudes passion and intelligence that the translation effectively transmits to the reader."
"I absolutely enjoy the Portable Nietzsche and do take it with me and read it frequently to work and college."
"Includes Thus Spoke Zarathustra, which is a dazzlingly brilliant thing of literature."
"A must have for any lover of Nietzsche...I personally enjoyed twilight of the idols and the very interesting anti-christ."
"A great collection of Nietzche's philosophies."
"Kaufmann is by far the best translator of Nietzsche."
"Good translation."
Best Philosophy Methodology

The Third Edition of the bestselling text Research Design by John W. Creswell enables readers to compare three approaches to research—qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods—in a single research methods text. Written in a user-friendly manner, Creswell's text does not rely on technical jargon. Presents the preliminary steps of using philosophical assumptions in the beginning of the book Provides an expanded discussion on ethical issues Emphasizes new Web-based technologies for literature searches Offers updated information about mixed methods research procedures Contains a glossary of terms Highlights “research tips” throughout the chapters incorporating the author’s experiences over the last 35 years. He teaches courses on mixed methods research, qualitative inquiry, and general research design. He also co-founded the SAGE journal, the Journal of Mixed Methods Research , and has been a popular speaker on mixed methods and qualitative research in the US and abroad.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book is absolutely required to develop a clear understanding of the research process!"
"Creswell does a good job reducing worldviews (paradigms, ontologies...) to 4 options, and in connecting them to 3 general strategies (quantitative, qualitative, mixed)."
"One of the study modules highly recommended the purchase of the APA Publication manual. I've referred to it on numerous occasions and I can cite and reference sources like it's cool."
"Needed it for School and it worked."
"This was our text-book in a research class, and I found it to be very helpful."
"Good book about market research."
"It was a required read for an Art Education class I took and it lays out different types of research well but it can be a bit boring."
"Comprehensive and clear, Creswell provides a scientifically useful and extremely well written guide to research design. If you are contemplating a career in research, either academic or practitioner, get this book."
Best Philosophy Movements

Its many fans include a former governor and movie star (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a hip hop icon (LL Cool J), an Irish tennis pro (James McGee), an NBC sportscaster (Michele Tafoya), and the coaches and players of winning teams like the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Cubs, and University of Texas men’s basketball team. Ryan Holiday shows us how some of the most successful people in history—from John D. Rockefeller to Amelia Earhart to Ulysses S. Grant to Steve Jobs—have applied stoicism to overcome difficult or even impossible situations. Read this book!”. — Steven Pressfield , author of The War of Art and Gates of Fire. This surprising book shows you how to craft a life of wonder by embracing obstacles and challenges.”. — Chris Guillebeau , author of The $100 Startup "A very, very good book with lots of examples about people who had to overcome great obstacles to have success." Ryan’s book is a how-to guide for just that.”. — James Altucher , investor and author of Choose Yourself “Ryan Holiday has written a brilliant and engaging book, well beyond his years. “Even though I was familiar with the basis for this book — the ancient philosophy of stoicism: overcoming obstacles through the practice of wisdom, courage, self-control, and mindfulness — it felt like a revelation when I read it.” —Allison K. Hill , Los Angeles Daily News.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"However, the tone is very focused on promoting modern busy culture instead of stepping back from it."
""Whatever we face, we have a choice: Will we be blocked by obstacles, or will we advance through and over them? Plenty of people have answered this question in the affirmative. And a rarer breed still has shown that they not only have what it takes, but they thrive and rally at every such challenge. ~ Ryan Holiday from The Obstacle Is the Way. Learning to turn our biggest challenges into our biggest opportunities is what this book is all about--"The timeless art of turning trials into triumph." Ryan Holiday is a brilliant writer (and guy) and this book is a *really* smart, lucid, compelling, inspiring manual on the art of living invincibly. Ryan masterfully integrates ancient Stoic wisdom from Marcus Aurelius + Seneca + Epictetus and brings that wisdom to life via inspiring stories featuring everyone from John D. Rockefeller, Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt to Amelia Earhart and Steve Jobs."
"Each year, at the end of the year, I would take about 20 minutes to write a list of all of the "bad" things that happened that year. Now, I make the same list, but instead of burning it, I go back over the list and beside each "bad" thing, I write a positive development that came from it."
"This is a nice summary of the basic teachings of Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and the other Stoic philosophers."
"I loved how it focuses on perception of obstacles and how none of the greats of the world actually viewed themselves as philosophers."
"Even though it's not practical to me, i did like to nourish the ideas and it led me to the current book that i'm reading which is the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, which i was aware of before but this book pushed me to actually start reading more about Stoicism in general."
"This book is excellent as well as inspiring."
"Also although its based on stoicism and famous stoics Holidays writes in a way thats much easier to read then what ive read of Seneca and other stoics."
Best Philosophy Metaphysics

As featured on Oprah’s “Super Soul Sunday,” the classic bestseller on a true case of past-life trauma and past-life therapy from author and psychotherapist Dr. Brian Weiss—now featuring a new afterword by the author. However, it is hard to dispute that this well-respected graduate of Columbia University and Yale Medical School has discovered a personal truth that has led him to be an enormously popular speaker, author, and leader in the field of past-life therapy.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book prompted me to read all of Brian's books and many more books about reincarnation and life selection."
"Influential and interesting book if you are open to the concept of past lives, and you believe that through hypnotherapy/hypnotism a therapist can access memories stored in a persons mind."
"I read this book years ago at the suggestion of a friend after my daughter (who was four at the time) began talking to me about past lives."
"I couldn't put this book down and look forward to reading it again."
"If you are searching for answers to why we seem to keep repeating mistakes or what happens when we die or just the why of life, this is a great book."
"Some may find it easier to dismiss as hokum, but it has a feeling of validity to it, especially considering that the writer had to face (and knew he would have to face) the inevitable dismissal and disapproval of his peers."
"He presents statements by his patient - about himself (her treating psychiatrist) - as evidence that his patient was credible in experiencing past lives. He states that his patient was persuasive in part because she was not being reincarnated as someone special or famous ---- but then presents stories in which she was a German fighter pilot in WWII (how many people alive during WWII were fighter pilots), an assistant in the house of the pharoh, etc. Oh, and his patient relates that he ---- her treating psychiatrist ---- lived previously and was Diogenes!"
Best Philosophy Aesthetics

A philosopher/mechanic's wise (and sometimes funny) look at the challenges and pleasures of working with one's hands Called "the sleeper hit of the publishing season" ( The Boston Globe ), Shop Class as Soulcraft became an instant bestseller, attracting readers with its radical (and timely) reappraisal of the merits of skilled manual labor. But most critics, while praising the book's overall premise, seemed a little hesitant about fully embracing Shop Class as Soulcraft , perhaps because, as the New York Times reviewer observed, many of the author's personal preferences and quirks, such as Crawford's defense of dirty jokes, seem to impede his argument.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"this guy speaks to anyone who sees value in learning how to do things yourself, and working with your hands."
"I enjoyed the deep thoughtful into some everyday activities and into some I am now motivated to pursue for new purposes."
"Then the social character of his work isn't separate from its internal or "engineering" standards; the work is improved through relationships with others."
"'Soulcraft' is about the deep satisfaction of sitting back after building or repairing something with your own hands that's difficult to describe but this book does a good job of it."
"I'd be interested to see this book as a springboard for a larger awareness-building movement... live talks, magazine articles, online forums, graphic novels, etc... What the author is saying is important to so many more people than might initially pick up and stick with the book."
"Okay but definitely not as good as the original Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."
"I am enjoying this book."
"The idea of these kind of works, which have existed for centuries, is to tie philosophical problems down to real-life experiences, making fundamental questions accessible to the layperson willing to work a little bit, or the philosopher wanting to come down from the clouds. Crawford presents his own (in my opinion interesting) experiences and (genuine) philosophical reflections to explain how has the (industrial/commercial/capitalistic) process which enables us to not worry about our many material items affects our view of the world and even our view of ourselves."
Best Philosophy of Ethics & Morality

In the book that People magazine proclaimed “beguiling” and “fascinating,” Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. THE BESTSELLING BOOK FOR THOSE WHO WANT POWER, WATCH POWER, OR WANT TO ARM THEMSELVES AGAINST POWER .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This has become one of my favorite books in a short period of time, and it has given me a new way to perceive the world around me. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to every single person in the world, because it is not for the faint of heart; but if you've ever been taken advantage of, shut out of someone's life, lost control of a situation, had someone feign authority over you (successfully), had relationship problems, problems in the workplace, etc, you deserve to give this a read-through at LEAST once."
"there seems to be a lot of love and hate surrounding this book, so if you are curious but unsure, this review should help you decide whether or not to buy the book, and how it will impact you. First, to understand the 48 laws of power, you must know two key ideas. 1. you CAN NOT escape the power game. you wil become exponentially more powerfull by knowing and understanding these laws. -CRYSTAL CLEAR. every law is clearly outlined with "transgression" of the law, "observance" of the law, keys to power, and a "reversal". -GREAT STORIES. the 48 laws are packed with mindblowing and sometimes humorous stories of people in history practicing these laws. OVERALL: If you want to have more power or a better understanding of why different situations turn out the the way they do, you should definitely read the 48 laws of power by Robert Greene."
"Complaint: I try to follow a story, then the author cuts it off and interjects a completely different story before completing the original one. Praise: in a world of humans full of ego, the author gives valuable insight into human behavior. Still I'm fascinated by human behavior so even these crazier stories were interesting to me."
"Some of them are a bit worrying, as they are about real events in history and you think about some of the horrible things that have happened to people... but in that light, following the rules in the book could help you avoid some of those more tragic fates, or at least take a more introspective approach at the behavior of others and yourself so that you might make better, or wiser decisions regarding certain situations."
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